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| Entrance to the Aranama Trail at Goliad |
Although small, this is a very pretty park with well-shaded sites in the
trailer camping area and lots of vegetation. (Including what seemed to be a bumper crop of poison ivy.) The restrooms/bathhouses
were fairly clean. Each site in the main camping area is a pull through with full hook ups and individual sewage dump stations.
The group camping area has one shared dump station.
Being that this is a historical park, there is not an abundance of hiking
trails. There was trail which ran by the river and the short trail which we ventured down- the Aranama Trail which runs near
the historic Mission Espiritu Santo. This trail was well marked and it was cool to see a couple of horned toads along the
way. Not many of those around anymore. There is also a nice day use area with a playground, grills and picnic areas in the
park.
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| Rob & our little guy on a bridge along the Aranama Trail |
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| Three of us taking a photo opportunity along the trail |
The Mission Espiritu Santo sits inside Goliad SHP. The mission was
built in 1749 by Spanish priests. Park guests are allowed to tour the mission and grounds for free. There is a small museum
which documents life for the missionaries and Indians who lived there. Guests can also ring the mission bell -kids might find
this the most interesting part of the whole mission.
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| playground at Goliad SHP with the mission in the background |
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| The Mission Espiritu Santo |
| Justin ringing the mission bell |
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| Looks kinda scared doesn't he? Wonder what he's expecting to happen. |
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| The front of the Presidio La Bahia |
A couple of miles from the SP is the Presidio La Bahia which, according
to the literature is the oldest surviving fort west of the Mississippi River. It was founded by the Spanish in the mid 1700's.
Admission to the fort is $3 for adults and $1 for kids under 12 years old. During the Texas Revolution, James W. Fannin ,
commander of the Texas forces took over and renamed La Bahia "Fort Defiance". Fannin's troops were defeated on a battlefield
about 10 miles outside of Goliad. (Also a SP, but with only 24 hours,we didn't get to visit that site). The survivors of the
battle were marched the 10 miles back to the Presidio and taken as prisoners of war. On Palm Sunday, 1836, they were shot
by Santa Anna's troops and the bodies burned.
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| Inner grounds of the Presidio La Bahia |
After the Battle of San Jacinto which gave the Texas forces their final
victory over Santa Anna (their battle cry was,"Remember La Bahia!Remember the Alamo!") some Texas troops made the trip to
La Bahia where they gathered the bodies of Fannin and his men and buried them in a grave which now sits across the street
from the fort. A large monument was erected at the site in 1938.
The fort also has a statue of the "Angel of Goliad" , a woman who helped
some of Fannin's men escape and the birthplace of Ignacio Zaragosa, who fought for Mexico against France about 30 years after
the Texas Revolution. Just loads of history in this place! There is also a chapel inside the fort which still has weekly services
at 5 p.m. every Sunday.
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| The chapel at the Presidio |
Although not necessarily the best state park for water sports enthusiasts,
hikers or bicyclists, Goliad SHP is a great park to take the kids if they're learning about the Texas Revolution. The area
is rich in history and the park is a nice one for camping. We all had a great time and learned a lot. The most rewarding aspect of
the trip is hearing the kids talk about Texas history days after we've come home and knowing that they had a good time learning
it.
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| Gravesite of Colonel James Fannin and his men |
For more Goliad pictures, click here
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