Founded in the late 1800s, San Angelo was initially a pioneer military post before becoming a vital trading and agricultural center. San Angelo is home to a vibrant arts scene, with the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, as well as the Concho Valley Archaeological Museum. The city has several galleries, murals, and art studios scattered throughout its historic downtown area. San Angelo also hosts a popular annual event called the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo. San Angelo is also home to Angelo State University providing higher education opportunities to students in the area.

Here are some of the other popular attractions in the area:

Fort Concho was established here in 1867 as part of the United States Army’s efforts to protect settlers and supply routes during the Reconstruction Era. It was originally built to provide security along the frontier and defend against Native American tribes who were resisting westward expansion. The fort played a significant role in the Indian Wars and the protection of mail and telegraph lines. It also provided a base for military operations in the region. Soldiers stationed here were known as “Buffalo Soldiers,” the term used for African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army in the post-Civil War period. Fort Concho was one of the main outposts in the defense of Texas during this time. The fort was abandoned in 1889 when the military no longer needed it due to changes in tactics and the closing of the frontier. The buildings and grounds eventually fell into disrepair, but several of the original structures were preserved and the fort is now a landmark.

Concho River Walk – Stroll along the Concho River Walk, a scenic 2.5-mile path that runs through downtown San Angelo. You’ll pass beautiful gardens, historic sites, and bridges while enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

The International Waterlily Collection – San Angelo is home to the largest collection of water lilies in the world. The beautiful, tranquil setting at Civic League Park offers a unique opportunity to admire these colorful aquatic plants.

Railroad Depot and History Museum – Learn about San Angelo’s history through its railroad heritage at the depot museum. The exhibits focus on the railroad’s role in the growth of the city and its economic significance.

San Angelo Nature Center – Perfect for nature lovers, this center features local wildlife exhibits, bird watching, and educational programs about the flora and fauna of the area.

Historic Downtown San Angelo – Explore the charming downtown area with its unique shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon, grabbing a coffee, browsing local boutiques, or enjoying the historic architecture.

Park Review – San Angelo State Park

San Angelo State Park was built on the west side of O.C. Fisher Lake. The lake was created by the construction of the O.C. Fisher Dam, which was completed in 1952 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The dam was built to provide flood control after the catastrophic flood of 1936, water supply, and recreation to the surrounding area. During our visit in April 2025, the lake was only 7.5% full. In 2012, it completely dried up during an intense Texas drought. If I recall correctly, the last (only?) time it was at 100% full was around 1958.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2
Location: San Angelo, TX
Type: State Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 2:00/12:00
Site Quality / Amenities: We stayed in the Red Arroyo campground site 22. Sites are pretty basic with 50/30A electric and water but no sewer although there is a dump station in the park. Each site has a covered picnic table, a grill and a fire ring. Due to a severe drought, fires were prohibited. Most sites are level and the weeds and cactus are cut back nicely. If you have pets, there are likely sticker burrs but we didn’t have any problems with them.
Access: Enter the park at the South Entrance from FM 2288 on the west side of San Angelo.
Staff: We only spoke with the attendant at the entrance when checking in but she was friendly and helpful with directions to the site and with trail information.
Cellular/WiFi: Site 22 had a clear view of the sky giving us unobstructed and fast internet from Starlink. T-Mobile had 5 bars and achieved 467 Mbps download and 29 Mbps upload.
Restaurants: The Original Henry’s – Lunch prices were inexpensive and portions were huge. We both had lunch fajita’s and they were very good.
Nearby parks: We didn’t took at any nearby parks.
What we liked: The park seemed to be very well maintained and in April the park was only about 10% full so there was a lot of space between us and other campers. San Angelo is only about 4 miles away with restaurants and stores including Walmart, Sams and I believe even a Costco. The park includes at least 12 miles of hiking and biking trails but with little or no shade.
What we didn’t like: It was already hot with temperatures already reaching the upper 80’s and lower 90’s so I can’t imagine what it would be like hiking here in the summer months. Due to perpetually low lake levels I suspect fishing or other recreation would be difficult in the lake. The boat ramp in our campground was clearly unusable and had been that way for a very long time.
Verdict: We would stay here again for a few days if we happened to be in the area.

We stayed in site 22 in the Red Arroyo Camping Area. Sites 1-15 look like they have a better view of the lake and the valley to the north.