Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Work Session
Acquisition of Land – 88 Acres
For Addition to Goliad State Park and Historic Site
January 22, 2015

I. Executive Summary: One of the Goliad massacre sites is available for acquisition and addition to the Goliad State Park and Historic Site.

II. Discussion: In 1749, Mission Espiritu Santo and Presidio La Bahia were established on opposite banks of the San Antonio River in present day Goliad. Today the Mission and its grounds are operated as the Goliad State Park and Historic Site (SPHS). Goliad and the Presidio gained notoriety during the Texan War for Independence when the Presidio was used as a fort and prison. On March 27, 1836, 303 Texan prisoners were marched out of the fort in three columns to three different locations nearby, and all were shot at point blank range by their Mexican captors. All three locations are presently on privately owned lands.

One of the massacre sites, across the river from the SPHS, has been offered for sale to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. There is an opportunity to fund the acquisition through a proposed Natural Resource Damage Assessment settlement with an oil company for an oil spill in the San Antonio River watershed. If acquired, the 88-acre tract would be added to the 188-acre SPHS for conservation of habitat and interpretation of the historic events associated with the site.

III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire approximately 88 acres in Goliad County for addition to Goliad State Park and Historic Site.”

Attachments – 3

  1. Exhibit A – Location Map
  2. Exhibit B – Vicinity Map
  3. Exhibit C – Site Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit A

Location Map for Goliad SPHS in Goliad County

Location Map for Goliad SPHS in Goliad County


Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Goliad SPHS – 20 Miles Southwest of Victoria

Vicinity Map for Goliad SPHS - 20 Miles Southwest of Victoria


Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit C

Site Map for Subject 88 Acres at Goliad State SPHS
Park in Green; Subject Tract Outlined in Red

Site Map for Subject 88 Acres at Goliad State SPHS - Park in Green; Subject Tract Outlined in Red