Palo Duro Canyon State Park gears up for centennial celebration with Prairie Palooza
Plans have been released and are now set in place for Palo Duro Canyon’s State Park 100-year centennial celebration. There will be free admission on Sept. 16 and a host of different activities is expected to draw a large turnout. (Drew Powell/KVII)
CANYON, Texas (KVII) — Plans have been released and are now set in place for Palo Duro Canyon’s State Park 100-year centennial celebration. There will be free admission on Sept. 16 and a host of different activities is expected to draw a large turnout.
“We’re going to be having a back to the future event,” said Thomas Milone, assistant superintendent of Palo Duro Canyon State Park. “it’s going to be Prairie Palooza.”
“We’re celebrating the 100th Birthday of Texas State Parks and were going to be doing it in our Palo Duro Canyon way,” said Eric Miller, Partners in Palo Duro Canyon Foundation.
Events ranging from a 5K run to hiking along with mountain biking and a chuck wagon lunch will offer a variety of activities. Miller tells ABC 7 News Prairie Palooza is expected to attract a mix of locals and tourists.
“State organizations are important state parks are very important and are state parks started in 1923 when they formed the Texas State Parks board,” said Miller. “As far as tourism a one day like this is very important we’d love to have folks from Houston and Denver and Albuquerque and then overseas as well.”
“Hopefully, it will cool down a bit in September for us we're planning on having some great weather,” said Milone. “We’re prepared for all make sure you bring water but will have some stuff out here to cool you down as well.”
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is one of 89 Texas State Parks. All are celebrating the 100-year centennial in their way.
“This event is a special event for state parks,” said Milone. “We’re celebrating the last 100 years and were very proud to do that and were also prepping getting ready for the next 100 years."
The events get underway on Sat. Sept. 16 at 7 a.m. and will run until 7 p.m. Immediately following that is an after-hours party at the Sad Monkey Mercantile.
If parking gets congested park goers are encouraged to park at the Sad Monkey Mercantile and can catch a shuttle in and out of the park.