McKinney Roughs Nature Park
History
History
-------

### Pre\-historic era

In ancient times, the area now encompassing McKinney Roughs Nature Park served as a camping ground for [prehistoric communities](/wiki/Archaic_humans "Archaic humans") at the conclusion of the [Archaic Period](/wiki/Archaic_period_%28North_America%29 "Archaic period (North America)"), approximately 2,100 years ago. Archaeological evidence suggests that at least three times within the period spanning 2,100 to 850 years ago, these communities temporarily camped on the hills of McKinney Roughs. Their activities during these brief stays included deer hunting, collecting [mussels](/wiki/Mussel "Mussel") from the Colorado River, and gathering various plants from the surrounding area. At the site, archaeologists uncovered 15 features (such as human\-made sites), 2,159 [artifacts](/wiki/Artifact_%28archaeology%29 "Artifact (archaeology)") (encompassing tools and weapons), and 1,129 [biofacts](/wiki/Biofact_%28archaeology%29 "Biofact (archaeology)") (unmodified natural materials like shells, otoliths, and bones). Hunter\-gatherers at McKinney Roughs had designated specific toss and drop zones for discarding tools or storing them for later use. This practice has assisted archaeologists in comprehending the spatial patterns and activities at the campsite, including cooking, hunting, and toolmaking.

The findings at the archaeological site, known as the McKinney Roughs site (41BP627\), were unearthed in 2001 during initial excavations conducted by SWCA Environmental Consultants. These excavations were carried out as part of preparations for the construction of the neighboring [Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa](/wiki/Hyatt_Regency_Lost_Pines_Resort_and_Spa "Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa"). The artifacts recovered from the site were encased in flood sediments, providing a natural preservation environment for non\-perishable items, including ancient cooking ovens, stone tools, fireplaces, and mussel shells. However, items crafted from plants, bones, and hides had disintegrated over time. Archaeologists characterized the site as having "developed under relatively rare circumstances", benefiting from the preservation provided by flood sediments. During the Transitional Archaic period, this region experienced substantial rainfall which caused periodic floods near the Colorado River.

The first discovery at the McKinney Roughs archaeological site revealed a compact fireplace with charcoal, charred rocks, and [lithic rubble](/wiki/Stone_tool "Stone tool"). These findings provided evidence for archaeologists, indicating the presence of ancient campfires. Subsequent extensive excavations uncovered additional campsites from the same Archaic Period. During the exploration, archaeologists unearthed various ancient tools and weaponry, including [flake scrapers](/wiki/Scraper_%28archaeology%29 "Scraper (archaeology)"), [raw chert cores](/wiki/Chert%23Prehistoric_and_historic_uses "Chert#Prehistoric and historic uses") used in crafting tools and weapons, and a small [dart projectiles](/wiki/Projectile_point "Projectile point") known as Ensor and Darl.

[Radiocarbon dating](/wiki/Radiocarbon_dating "Radiocarbon dating") of the Ensor points at McKinney Roughs indicates an age roughly between 100 B.C. and 200 A.D., corresponding to approximately 1800 to 2100 years ago, marking the early phase of the Transitional Archaic period. Additionally, the Darl projectile, found at the site, serves as a "time marker," dating the location to approximately 1,100 to 1,150 A.D. The Darl, a transitional weapon utilized by hunters during the Transitional Archaic period, represents an early form of the arrow point. Researchers consider the arrow as the hallmark weapon of the forthcoming [Late Prehistoric](/wiki/Late_Prehistoric_%28North_America%29 "Late Prehistoric (North America)") period, signifying that the ancient people at the McKinney Roughs site were alive during the last years of the Archaic Period.

### Modern day

In the early 1850s, the land and Windmill Ranch, which now constitutes McKinney Roughs Nature Park, belonged to the family of John Calhoun Wise. Mr. Wise married Cynthia Houston, a close relative of [Sam Houston](/wiki/Sam_Houston "Sam Houston"), and they had eight children together. Their descendants resided on the property until the 1950s, after which it changed hands among various owners for over 50 years. In 1990, the land title passed to the Wilton and Effie Hebert Foundation, which subsequently sold the tract in 1995 to the [Lower Colorado River Authority](/wiki/Lower_Colorado_River_Authority "Lower Colorado River Authority") (LCRA), a power utility company overseeing the [Colorado River](/wiki/Colorado_River "Colorado River"). The LCRA expanded its holdings by acquiring two adjoining parcels in 1996 and 1998, culminating in the creation of McKinney Roughs.

[thumb\|A hiker heads out at the trailhead near the main entrance.](/wiki/File:Trailhead_McKinney_Roughs_Nature_Park_Texas_2022.jpg "Trailhead McKinney Roughs Nature Park Texas 2022.jpg")
Opened to the public in 1998, the park first unveiled 9 miles (14 km) of hiking and horseback riding trails. The park bears the name of [Thomas F. McKinney](/wiki/Thomas_F._McKinney "Thomas F. McKinney"), an early settler of the State of Texas who had a large influence in the development of Austin and Bastrop. Thomas F. McKinney did not own the land that currently comprises McKinney Roughs, but he managed a [lumber mill](/wiki/Sawmill "Sawmill") located across from the Colorado River, potentially utilizing timber resources from what is now McKinney Roughs. Local residents had already been referring to the land as McKinney Roughs for many years before its official designation. The term "roughs" is derived from the challenging local terrain, which posed obstacles to extensive agricultural endeavors and may have served as a potential hiding place for frontier outlaws. In addition to McKinney Roughs, another park in Austin, about 12 mi (19 km) away, is named after him – [McKinney Falls State Park](/wiki/McKinney_Falls_State_Park "McKinney Falls State Park").

In 2009, there was a proposal to downsize and relocate the [Brackenridge Field Laboratory](/wiki/Brackenridge_Field_Laboratory "Brackenridge Field Laboratory"), a research field lab owned by the [University of Texas at Austin](/wiki/University_of_Texas_at_Austin "University of Texas at Austin"), to McKinney Roughs to accommodate mixed\-use development. Faculty members opposed the relocation, arguing that the lab's original location was closer to campus and that moving to McKinney Roughs would negatively impact students' learning. They also noted that McKinney Roughs' other activities, such as horseback riding, did not align with the lab's research interests. Ultimately, the lab was not moved.

In 2011, parts of [Bastrop County](/wiki/Bastrop_County%2C_Texas "Bastrop County, Texas") were [engulfed by large fires](/wiki/Bastrop_County_Complex_Fire "Bastrop County Complex Fire") as a result of [exceptional drought](/wiki/2010%E2%80%932013_Southern_United_States_and_Mexico_drought "2010–2013 Southern United States and Mexico drought") and [record\-high temperatures](/wiki/2011_North_American_heat_wave "2011 North American heat wave"). The fire was the most destructive wildfire in the history of Texas, and burned about 96% of the neighboring [Bastrop State Park](/wiki/Bastrop_State_Park "Bastrop State Park"). McKinney Roughs was spared from the wildfires but utility infrastructure was damaged. The LCRA temporarily closed McKinney Roughs and the two parks at Lake Bastrop throughout the weekend. Several months later, discussions about replantation emerged, and various park organizations were contemplating the installation of pine cone collectors in seed production areas. McKinney Roughs was being considered for this initiative due to its abundant pine cone seed production.

In 2014, [Bastrop](/wiki/Bastrop%2C_Texas "Bastrop, Texas") earned a nomination as one of the top 40 travel destinations in Texas, as per a poll conducted by *[Texas Highways](/wiki/Texas_Highways "Texas Highways")* magazine. The magazine specifically emphasized McKinney Roughs' prime location in the Lost Pines region and recommended horseback riding activities as a noteworthy experience in Bastrop. In 2017, the LCRA implemented enhancements at McKinney Roughs, including the construction of a wildlife\-viewing blind, a designated bird feeding area, and a demonstration garden. Later that year, McKinney Roughs underwent a expansion of its trail system, extending it to cover a distance of up to . The majority of these trails consist of dirt paths with diverse elevations, including some that ran alongside the Colorado River.

In 2018, an [ozone](/wiki/Ozone "Ozone") monitoring station located in McKinney Roughs, operated by the Capital Area Council of Governments, was moved to Bastrop. The relocation was prompted by an analysis indicating that the trees and vegetation in McKinney Roughs were affecting the accuracy of the system's readings. In 2020, the LCRA temporarily closed McKinney Roughs and its two parks at Lake Bastrop during the [COVID\-19 lockdowns](/wiki/COVID-19_lockdowns "COVID-19 lockdowns"). The closure was a response to shortages in cleaning supplies necessary to disinfect the facilities and mitigate the risk of possible contamination. As of 2024, the outdoor and group activities offered at McKinney Roughs continue to draw visitors and residents of Bastrop to its park grounds.


Why were the trails at McKinney Roughs expanded?