On Onion Creek - RETIRED LbNA #29861 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Boots Tex  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 3, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Austin |
| County: | Travis |
| State: | Texas |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Ms. Bee |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jun 22, 2007 |
| Status: | F |
| Last edited: | Apr 3, 2007 |
***This box has been confiscated by the park ranger and will not be replaced.***
McKinney Falls State Park is located 13 miles southeast of the Texas state capitol building in the city of Austin ON ONION CREEK. The land that the park occupies was originally part of an eleven league grant that Mexican land speculator Santiago del Valle purchased from the government of Mexico. Samuel May Williams acquired ten leagues of the grant from del Valle and sold the land to Michael B. Menard, who in turn sold nine leagues (39,852 acres) to Thomas F. McKinney in 1839 for $4,500. McKinney did not move to his land until 1850 and took two years to build a stone house, barns and a gristmill. The mill was destroyed by a flood in 1869 and the house by a fire in the late 1940’s. The ruins of the house still stand, on Homestead Trail in the park. McKinney lived on the land ranching and raising race horses until death in 1873. In 1885, his widow, Anna, sold most of the land to James. W. Smith. In 1971, J. E. “Pete” Smith, the grandson of James Smith, donated 682 scenic acres of the ranch to the State of Texas for a park.. I intended to place this box on the Homestead Trail, but the only way to access that trail is to cross the creek, which is normally low enough to make that possible. On the day we were there, the creek was up, which made the lower falls spectacular, but also made the crossing impossible. If you’re here when the water is low enough, cross the creek and view the ruins.
Directions:
This letterbox is in McKinney Falls State Park. Located 13 miles southeast of the Texas state capitol in Austin. From Austin, take Highway 183 south to McKinney Falls Parkway. Park is 2 miles west of this intersection. Enter the park, pay fee at entry station and get a map. Find the Smith Nature Center and park in the parking area. It’s open from 10:00 to 3:00 depending on staff availability.
To the Box:
Go to the trailhead for the Rockshelter Trail and read the sign, then head down the trail to the right. Watch for numbered posts along the trail. This trail goes along a bluff along the creek and there are little overlook paths off the main trail, so be sure that the kids don’t get too close to the edge. You will pass the largest bald cypress tree in the county and the rock shelter. From marker no. 6, walk about 65 steps. The trail is uneven, rocky and has a lot of tree roots, so the number of steps may not be exact. Look up the bank for a dead standing tree stump next to the rock ledge. The letterbox lies in the hollow of the stumps covered with rocks.
Lone Star Quilter’s “Chimney and Cornerstones” letterbox is also located on this trail and Baby Bear’s “Bad Hare Day” on another trail in this park.
McKinney Falls State Park is located 13 miles southeast of the Texas state capitol building in the city of Austin ON ONION CREEK. The land that the park occupies was originally part of an eleven league grant that Mexican land speculator Santiago del Valle purchased from the government of Mexico. Samuel May Williams acquired ten leagues of the grant from del Valle and sold the land to Michael B. Menard, who in turn sold nine leagues (39,852 acres) to Thomas F. McKinney in 1839 for $4,500. McKinney did not move to his land until 1850 and took two years to build a stone house, barns and a gristmill. The mill was destroyed by a flood in 1869 and the house by a fire in the late 1940’s. The ruins of the house still stand, on Homestead Trail in the park. McKinney lived on the land ranching and raising race horses until death in 1873. In 1885, his widow, Anna, sold most of the land to James. W. Smith. In 1971, J. E. “Pete” Smith, the grandson of James Smith, donated 682 scenic acres of the ranch to the State of Texas for a park.. I intended to place this box on the Homestead Trail, but the only way to access that trail is to cross the creek, which is normally low enough to make that possible. On the day we were there, the creek was up, which made the lower falls spectacular, but also made the crossing impossible. If you’re here when the water is low enough, cross the creek and view the ruins.
Directions:
This letterbox is in McKinney Falls State Park. Located 13 miles southeast of the Texas state capitol in Austin. From Austin, take Highway 183 south to McKinney Falls Parkway. Park is 2 miles west of this intersection. Enter the park, pay fee at entry station and get a map. Find the Smith Nature Center and park in the parking area. It’s open from 10:00 to 3:00 depending on staff availability.
To the Box:
Go to the trailhead for the Rockshelter Trail and read the sign, then head down the trail to the right. Watch for numbered posts along the trail. This trail goes along a bluff along the creek and there are little overlook paths off the main trail, so be sure that the kids don’t get too close to the edge. You will pass the largest bald cypress tree in the county and the rock shelter. From marker no. 6, walk about 65 steps. The trail is uneven, rocky and has a lot of tree roots, so the number of steps may not be exact. Look up the bank for a dead standing tree stump next to the rock ledge. The letterbox lies in the hollow of the stumps covered with rocks.
Lone Star Quilter’s “Chimney and Cornerstones” letterbox is also located on this trail and Baby Bear’s “Bad Hare Day” on another trail in this park.