Texas Day/Night Doubleheader: A State Park and a Ballpark

WHEN I WAS a kid, spring’s arrival wasn’t marked by gradually warming temperatures, the emergence of bluebonnets or the turning of the calendar to April. Spring began the day pitchers and catchers reported to start their training for the upcoming season; baseball was the soundtrack of summer. Almost daily, we hastily organized pickup games at our local park. Baseball and the park — this is what summer looked like.

A few decades later, my wife and I are taking our boys to the Texas Panhandle so I can check Palo Duro Canyon off my bucket list. The night before our hike we watch the minor-league Amarillo Sod Poodles take on the Frisco RoughRiders. During the game, my son Clark leans over.

“Dad, you know what we should have done? Gone to the state park and then the ballpark, same day. That way it would have been a Texas state park/ballpark doubleheader.”

Clark instinctively knew what I did at his age — parks and baseball make for an awesome summer day. We’re here to help you plan your own Texas day/night doubleheader. We’ve focused on the eight minor-league teams across Texas and highlighted 25 state parks, all within an hour of one of these ballparks.

Play ball!

FRISCO

Team: Frisco RoughRiders (AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers)
Ballpark: Riders Field
Location: 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco
Capacity: 10,216 (7,748 seats)

The pavilions surrounding the concourse at Riders Field were designed to give the stadium a “coastal Galveston aesthetic.” They’re striking (and, um, landlocked). Also striking: the park’s 174-foot-long, 68,000-gallon Lazy River, the largest water feature in a professional sporting venue. Adding to the fun are the four mascots: prairie dogs Deuce and Daisy, Bull Moose and Ted E. Bear, who resembles Rough Rider (and President) Theodore Roosevelt.

DAY/NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER SPECIAL:
Bring your day-of state park admission receipt to the RoughRiders box office for a buy-one, get-one-free ticket offer.

NEARBY STATE PARKS

RAY ROBERTS LAKE (34 miles to Riders Field)
Ray Roberts Lake is perfect for those who can’t get enough of the water. Swim at one of the beach areas, paddle in the coves or drop a line in the lake or the kids’ fishing pond. Prefer to stay dry? Explore miles of trails on foot, bike or horseback. 

CEDAR HILL (40 miles to Riders Field)
Find lakefront fun at Cedar Hill, which sits on the shore of Joe Pool Lake. The park offers two lighted fishing jetties and a perch pond for junior anglers. At the park you can also tour the Penn Farm Agricultural History Center and see how farming has changed over the past 100 years.

BONHAM (60 miles to Riders Field)
Bonham State Park may be on the small side — the lake is a compact 65 acres — but it abounds in natural beauty. Explore the park’s plant life on the easy 1.3-mile Lake Loop Trail, or explore the CCC’s legacy on the more challenging 2.7-mile Bois d’Arc Trail. 

EISENHOWER (60 miles to Riders Field)
Eisenhower State Park sits on the shores of Lake Texoma, less than 10 miles from the early home of our 34th president. The park offers more than four miles of hiking and biking trails, plus places to swim, climb rocks, picnic, play horseshoes or just enjoy a push on the swings.  

CORPUS CHRISTI

Team: Corpus Christi Hooks (AA affiliate of the Houston Astros)
Ballpark: Whataburger Field
Location: 734 E. Port Ave., Corpus Christi
Capacity: 5,391

Occupying land once dominated by cotton warehouses, Whataburger Field features nods to the site’s heritage, including mammoth wood beams, panels of corrugated siding and a scoreboard flanked by antique cotton presses. The view beyond the outfield fences is spectacular — the Harbor Bridge spans from right field out to center, over the Port of Corpus Christi. Enjoy a game from the box seats or bleachers, or cool off in the pool and spa behind right field. You’ll also enjoy the on-field antics of the Hooks’ two mascots, Rusty Hook and Sammy the Seagull.

DAY/NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER SPECIAL:
Get free parking at Whataburger Field for any Hooks home game with your day-of state park admission receipt.

NEARBY STATE PARKS

MUSTANG ISLAND (26 miles to Whataburger Field)
What’s more fun than a day at the beach? Corpus Christi is the gateway to some of the best beaches in Texas, including more than five miles of coastline at Mustang Island State Park. Swim, surf, fish, picnic or build a sandcastle while you splash in the cool water of the Gulf of Mexico.

GOOSE ISLAND (40 miles to Whataburger Field)
Bring your Hooks gear (ha!) and fish from the park’s 1,620-foot-long fishing pier — you don’t need a fishing license to fish from shore or pier in a state park. Don’t have your own tackle? Borrow some from the park. Also, check out the Big Tree, one of the largest live oaks in the U.S. 

LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI (41 miles to Whataburger Field)
If freshwater fishing is more your thing, try your luck at catching bass, crappie, sunfish or catfish from one of Lake Corpus Christi’s two fishing piers, one of which is 400 feet long and wheelchair accessible. Keep your eyes out for birds as well — more than 200 species have been identified.

SUGAR LAND

Team: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros) 
Ballpark: Constellation Field
Location: 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land 
Capacity: 7,500 (6,200 seats)

Constellation Field is a relatively new ballpark with a classic feel. The seating bowl, which extends halfway down each outfield foul line, is intimate by AAA standards. On the right side of the outfield, behind the bullpens, you’ll find a sprawling grass berm seating area. A large in-ground pool, available as a group area, sits behind left field. Center field is dominated by a large Texas-shaped scoreboard, which rises from an expansive, splash pad-enhanced playground. Equally fun is team mascot Orion, a cosmic blue canine with orange paws and antennae.  

DAY/NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER SPECIAL:
Get free parking at Constellation Field for any Space Cowboys home game with your day-of state park admission receipt. 

NEARBY STATE PARKS

BRAZOS BEND (25 miles to Constellation Field) 
Nature takes center stage at this park, which features varied ecosystems including tallgrass prairie, woodlands and wetlands. Explore nature along 37 miles of trails and look for more than 300 species of birds documented in the park.

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (43 miles to Constellation Field) 
Step back in time to when Stephen F. Austin chose this area as home base for his early colony in Texas. Explore five miles of hiking and trails, then visit the nearby San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site and walk around the townsite and museum to learn more about early settlers.

SHELDON LAKE (45 miles to Constellation Field)
Explore all kinds of “green energy” at Sheldon Lake. Recharge among two miles of trails teeming with prairie grasses, wildflowers and wildlife. Fish the 1,200-acre Sheldon Lake or in one of two catch-and-release ponds. Enjoy panoramic views from the John Jacob Observation Tower.  

MIDLAND

Team: Midland Rockhounds (AA affiliate of the Oakland A’s)
Ballpark: Momentum Bank Ballpark
Location: 5514 Champions Drive, Midland
Capacity: 6,669 (4,709 seats)

Every year, more than a quarter of a million fans come to Momentum Bank Ballpark to root for the Rockhounds. The name is a slang term for a geologist, a fitting nod to the omnipresent oil and gas industry in the region. The ballpark boasts a 360-degree concourse with private picnic areas behind both left and right field, and a baseball-themed splash pad behind center field. You may find yourself distracted by the magnificent West Texas sunsets, or by one of the team’s three mascots: Juice the Moose, Rocky the Rockhound and Chip the Rock Hammer. 

NEARBY STATE PARKS

MONAHANS SANDHILLS (50 miles to Momentum Bank Ballpark)
Walk the dunes or rent sand disks from park headquarters and surf down the sand. When it gets too hot to be outdoors, the Dunagan Visitors Center is a great place to cool off and learn about the park’s natural and cultural history.

BIG SPRING (50 miles to Momentum Bank Ballpark)
A paved, three-mile loop road winds up and around the mountain to its peak 200 feet above the countryside, where a CCC-built picnic pavilion and a playground offer fantastic views. You can also explore the five-mile hike and bike trail that begins and ends at the park entrance.

AMARILLO

Team: Amarillo Sod Poodles (AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks)
Ballpark: Hodgetown
Capacity: 6,631
Location: 701 S. Buchanan St., Amarillo

The home-plate entrance to Hodgetown in downtown Amarillo features an Art Deco façade and a subtly striped rotunda inspired by the geology of nearby Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Amarillo City Hall sits down the third-base side of the ballpark, close enough to be struck by errant foul balls. Inside, all seats provide great sightlines to the game on the field; should you feel restless, there’s space to roam around, including a large grassy Kids’ Zone. Between innings, enjoy the antics of the mascot Ruckus, a fun-loving, oversized prairie dog.

NEARBY STATE PARK

PALO DURO CANYON (24 miles to Hodgetown)
Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the country, with more than 30 miles of beautiful hiking, biking and equestrian trails. If the Soddies are away, check out the Texas outdoor musical, a family-friendly show that runs Tuesdays to Sundays in the park during the summer.

EL PASO

Team: El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA affiliate of the San Diego Padres) 
Ballpark: Southwest University Park 
Location: 1 Ballpark Plaza, El Paso 
Capacity: 10,000 (approximate)

Southwest University Park is the only minor-league ballpark within walking distance to another country — a footbridge to Juárez, Mexico, is a short distance away. Located where El Paso City Hall once stood, the ballpark features a variety of distinctive, multileveled architectural quirks as part of its 360-degree concourse, including playing-field level views behind right field. Between innings, enjoy the antics of Chico, the team’s 7-foot-tall Chihuahua mascot.

NEARBY STATE PARKS

FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS (21 miles to Southwest University Park)
Looming behind left field, the Franklin Mountains offer more than 100 miles of great hiking and biking trails. If rock climbing is more your jam, there are designated areas for climbers in McKelligon Canyon or at Sneed’s Cory in the Tom Mays Unit. 

HUECO TANKS (34 miles to Southwest University Park)
For over 10,000 years, travelers in the Chihuahuan Desert have stopped at Hueco Tanks for water, food and shelter. The Jornada Mogollon people (circa A.D. 1150) painted more than 200 mask images in the park. Explore pictographs on a guided or self-guided tour. 

SAN ANTONIO

Team: San Antonio Missions (AA affiliate of the San Diego Padres) 
Ballpark: Nelson Wolff Municipal Stadium
Location: 5757 U.S. 90 West, San Antonio 
Capacity: 9,200 (6,200 seats) 

“The Wolff” is the only Texas League stadium that predates the 21st century. Its main entrance is flanked by a pair of beige bell towers, appropriate for a team named the Missions. A multi-level seating bowl wraps the infield; bleachers extend seating on either side. You can also bring a blanket and sit in the spacious left field berm. Planes from nearby Lackland Air Force Base frequently fly overhead. Keep your eyes on the field for the Ballapeño, the spiciest mascot in baseball. 

NEARBY STATE PARKS

GOVERNMENT CANYON (45 miles to Wolff Stadium)
Kids will enjoy the natural playscape, with logs to climb, rocks to scurry over and plenty of room to run around (there’s seating for adults as well). You can also explore more than 40 miles of trails.

GUADALUPE RIVER (45 miles to Wolff Stadium) 
With four miles of river frontage, Guadalupe River State Park is a great place to cool off. Swim,
fish, tube or bring a camp chair and just sit in the shallows as the water flows around you. You can also explore 13 miles of hiking and biking trails.  

BLANCO (60 miles to Wolff Stadium) 
This small park hugs a one-mile stretch of the Blanco River. Anglers can fish for bass or sunfish. The shallow wading pool next to Falls Dam is a great place for families with small children to splash around. You can also rent tubes from the park store and float your cares away.  

ROUND ROCK

Team: Round Rock Express (AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers) 
Ballpark: Dell Diamond
Location: 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock 
Capacity: 11,631 

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and in the case of Dell Diamond, it’s true — particularly when it comes to the stadium concourse. Arrive early and let the kids burn off energy at a huge train-themed playground behind right field or splash in the large swimming pool. The park also features a spacious picnic area and two indoor video-bay batting cages. Between innings, enjoy the antics of the team mascot, Spike, a giant dog who (legend says) hopped off a train and came to live at the ballpark.

NEARBY STATE PARKS

MCKINNEY FALLS (31 miles to Dell Diamond) 
Right in Austin's backyard, McKinney Falls is a great place for summer adventure. Swim below the park’s upper or lower falls, where Onion Creek flows over limestone ledges and splashes into pools, or walk the paved 2.8-mile Onion Creek Trail.

BASTROP (31 miles to Dell Diamond) 
Hike and bike the wooded trails, swim in the pool, or cruise Park Road 1C, a picturesque 12-mile road leading to Buescher State Park.

LOCKHART (54 miles to Dell Diamond) 
Lockhart State Park is a hidden gem, featuring a swimming pool, hiking trails, camping, fishing in Clear Fork Creek and a nine-hole, CCC-built golf course. 

LONGHORN CAVERN (55 miles to Dell Diamond) 
Enjoy nature's air conditioning at Longhorn Cavern — it stays around 68 degrees. Book a walking tour in advance and explore room after underground room of geologic wonders. After the tour, hike nature trails or bring a picnic.

BUESCHER (57 miles to Dell Diamond) 
Wander almost six miles of forest trails at Buescher. Try the Winding Woodland Trail, which takes you past cedar and oak trees. Or challenge yourself on the Pine Gulch Trail as you walk under towering loblolly pines. Be sure to visit the Big Tree — it's one of Texas' most beloved elms. 

PEDERNALES FALLS (60 miles to Dell Diamond) 
At Pedernales Falls, the Pedernales River flows over and around huge slabs of limestone. Come for an afternoon swim or hike, stroll through the butterfly garden, look for local wildlife at the bird blind, or load up your gear and stay for an overnight adventure. 

INKS LAKE (60 miles to Dell Diamond) 
The sparkling blue water of Inks Lake promises family fun, with swimming, fishing and a large, no-wake zone for paddling. Rent kayaks, paddleboards or paddle boats from the park store. Or enjoy nine miles of hiking trails across rocky hills or through fields of wildflowers.