Lake Corpus Christi State Park

MATHIS. Located along the Nueces River, this area of Southeast Texas was part of the disputed boundary between Texas and Mexico until the Rio Grande became the official boundary at the close of the Mexican War in 1848. In the late 1920s, a dam was constructed across the Nueces near Mathis, creating Lake Lovenskiold; however, the lake was washed out during massive flooding just months after the project was completed. Undeterred, the Civilian Conservation Corps rebuilt the dam in 1935, creating 21,000-acre Lake Corpus Christi, whose accompanying 365-acre state park offers everything from picnic shelters and bathhouses to boat ramps and sandy public beaches. Great fishing and calm, warm waters ensure that the lake stays busy throughout the year.