State Park

Abilene State Park offers camping, fishing, and CCC history

Abilene State Park sits 16 miles southwest of Abilene and includes a no-wake lake, camping, horse trails, and Depression-era stone buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Taylor County The Great Outdoors

Abilene State Park is at 150 Park Road 32 in Tuscola, about 16 miles from downtown Abilene. Daily entry is $5 for ages 13 and older; kids 12 and under are free. The park has tent and RV campsites, screened shelters, and yurts you can rent. Reservations are strongly recommended because the park fills up.

The park borders Lake Abilene, a 595-acre reservoir. You can fish from shore without a license inside state park boundaries. The lake also has a boat ramp when water levels allow. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the stone concession building, a swimming pool, and a water tower here in the 1930s. Over five miles of horse trails circle the lake side of the park.

Source to confirm: TPWD — Abilene State Park

More Taylor County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two offices handle property taxes here

Taylor County has both an appraisal district and a tax assessor-collector, but the county tax office does not collect property taxes — the appraisal district handles collection for most taxing units.

Read note ->

Homestead Exemption

Homestead exemption cuts your school tax bill

Texas law requires every school district to exempt $140,000 of your home's value from taxation, but you must apply through the Taylor County Appraisal District to get the benefit.

Read note ->

Agricultural Valuation

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on productivity, not market value

Texas allows agricultural land to be appraised on what it can produce rather than what it could sell for, which usually means a much lower tax bill.

Read note ->

Tax Bill Breakdown

Multiple taxing units appear on your property tax bill

Your Taylor County property tax bill can include charges from up to 18 different taxing units — the county, a school district, and possibly a city or water district.

Read note ->