Village Creek a wildlife haven for all lovers of the outdoors

VILLAGE CREEK STATE PARK — Electric vibrations crescendo from treetops to shoreline stifling out all other sounds as invisible musicians transport listeners with their hypnotic cadence into another world at the edge of Village Creek State Park.

Transfixed by the sudden symphony, the eye sweeps across Village Creek, several feet below the steep embankment where the current continuously cuts away soil, and follows its winding flow around the bend.

For that moment, a visitor might forget all that has transpired and be lulled into feeling all is as it should be. All is normal and natural at this creek-side haven for visitors camping in the Big Thicket National Preserve.

But it's not.

Normalcy for this 1,090-acre park changed abruptly at 4 a.m. on Sept. 24, 2005, as several twisters spewing off Hurricane Rita's western eye-wall touched down, twisting and snapping timbers — deftly thinning in seconds what had taken decades to re-establish here in this lower edge of the Big Thicket National Preserve, 10 miles north of Beaumont. Those areas touched by twisters lost 80-90 percent of their canopy, compared to others where 90-110 mph winds thinned out 10-30 percent, sending one pine through the roof of the nature building, said park ranger Jerry Rashall.

Stripped of its shade cover, nonnative plant species, including Chinese tallow and coral ardisia, threaten invasion, he said.

"We are going to have to fight exotic plants ... to keep them from trying to take over," Rashall said. Areas obliterated of trees will be reforested with longleaf pines, he said. Overall, "we are hoping natural regeneration will restore much of the forest."

Hurricane repairs cost the park $50,000, for which they are awaiting assistance from FEMA, Rashall said.

Seven months and 200-plus truckloads of tree debris later, Village Creek State Park partially re-opened May 1. Yet, several trails, including the one to the swimming beach, remain obstructed by debris.

"The draw to this area is the Big Thicket National Preserve," Rashall said. "Village Creek State Park was created specifically because the national preserve wasn't able to get any land along the creek ... also as a preserve they don't offer developed camping."

Village Creek, with its protected corridor for wildlife, is a lure to canoeists and kayakers who, like Dennis and Renee Bilyeu of Conroe, put in upstream with the service of several local liveries and spend several hours paddling back to the park.

"It was our very first time," said Dennis, 61, who spent four hours on a recent Saturday with his wife paddling and exploring the park's generous stretches of white sandbars. "We heard it was a great place to canoe."

Pulling their canoe ashore, they spoke of their frustration with Texas' management of its state parks — having traveled to several across the state.

"Cutting back on state parks makes no sense — it's a tremendous asset that they are letting go to waste. It really bothers me, it's just so pathetic I can't understand it," Dennis said. "I guess we need to be talking to our Legislature."

Citing a recent report she had seen, issued by Texas A&M University classifying Texas' state parks 49th in the nation, Renee said, "Thank God for Louisiana, or we'd be 50th!"

With annual revenue up about 38 percent, at $85,152, since its early days a decade ago, Village Creek hosted 53,411 visitors last year on a $176,827 budget — just $200 more than its 1998 budget. Although the park's operating budget increased to $200,141 this year, Rashall is under orders to reduce the next two years' budgets by 10 percent.

VILLAGE CREEK STATE PARK BY THE NUMBERS

— Land acquired ... 1979

— Opened to the public ... April 20, 1994

— Park size ... 1,090 acres

— Acreage impacted by Rita ... 640 acres

— Elevation ... 24 feet

— Gate open ... 8 a.m. -10 p.m.

— Entrance fee ... $2 per day, per person 13 and older

— Group School-Sponsored Trip entrance fee per person ... $1-5

— Checkout time ... 2 p.m.

— Walk-in tent campsites ... 16 (currently closed due to damage)

— Tent sites with water... $7

— Primitive sites ... $6

— Campsites with water and electric ... 17 out of 25 available due to damage

— Water and electric hookup ... $15

— Group campground ... 50 people, $30/night (currently closed due to damage)

— Lodge: 8-person ... $80

— Group pavilion ... 80 people, $30/day

— Playgrounds ... 1

— Canoe launch ... 1

— Canoe/kayak rental ... 3 local outfitters

— Hiking trail .... 8 miles (currently 4 due to damage)

— Nature study trail ... 2 miles (currently 1, due to damage)

— People employed .... 4 full-time, 2 seasonal

— 2005 visitors ... 53,411

— 2005 revenue ... $85,152

— 2006 budget ... $200,141

— Sales tax generated ..$2,279

— Impact on sales ... $455,970

— No. of jobs created ...14.2

— Miles southwest of Lumberton ... on the edge of Lumberton

— Miles from Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation ... 60

— Reservations ... (512) 389-8900

— Park information ... (409) 755-7322

IF YOU GO

— Camping ... Yes

— Picnicking ... Yes

— Mountain biking ... Yes

— Nature study ... Yes

— Fishing ... Yes

— Canoeing ... Yes

— Playground ... Yes

— Water body ... Village Creek

— Swimming area ... Yes, one mile hike to sandbar

TO GET THERE

Take U.S. 69 south to Lumberton, exit onto Mitchell Road and then east onto FM 3513 (Village Creek Parkway) — 2 miles and follow the state park sign.