From the earliest days of the settlement of this area by the white man, Dickens Springs has attracted people from miles away as a place for sightseeing, picnics, reunions and, on occasion, as a site for wedding ceremonies.

Tourists enjoy the rugged and colorful scenery from the overlook points. The collection of plants unique only to this spring fed stream in its deep shaded valley has given pleasure to visitors for over a century.

In recent years the Dickens County Commissioners Court has overseen improvements to the roads and pathways in order to make the attractions of Dickens Springs more easily accessible. They have added features in keeping with the history and character of this area that have made visits to the park more attractive and educational to tourists passing along the four-lane divided U.S. Highway 82.

A terraced entryway complete with landscaping has been constructed at the entrance to the park on the north side of the highway by the State Highway Department. The county has placed life-sized steel cutouts of a mounted cowboy and an Indian coming together in a peaceful meeting of the races. This scene is just in back of and up the slope from the terraced entry. It makes a spectacular scene, especially when floodlights are turned on at night.

A paved road runs north from the entrance for about 200 yards to an outlook on the edge of a cliff high above the valley, with an overview of the Springs on the left and for miles across the Croton Breaks on the right. Just back of the lookout point is an oversized replica of a chuck wagon with wooden sides and a rounded top of sand colored stucco.

Brands of area cattlemen are burned into its sides. A large table with seats is inside and facilities for cooking are just outside the chuck wagon. It has already become a popular "top of the park" place for cookouts.

The entrance road forks about 100 yards before reaching the chuck wagon, with the left fork winding down to a parking area near the Springs. The Commissioners Court has overseen construction of a giant teepee of steel posts covered with wire mesh, which offers partial protection from the sun while allowing diners at the table inside to see over the green valley of the Springs and on for miles across the rugged Croton Breaks, colored with it's many shades of reds and greens.

The teepee sits on the edge of a cliff directly above the actual Springs. Concrete steps with guardrails lead down to the Springs. Tables and facilities for cooking are adjacent to the Springs and also at the teepee level. A hiking trail follows beside and over the stream, and other trails lead around boulders, over arroyos, and along cliffs at levels above the Springs.

Construction of a dugout similar to the ones lived in by settlers during the 1880s and 1890s has been started just north of the Springs parking lot.

A neighboring landowner has recently donated 60 acres of land to the county adjoining the 10 acres containing the Springs.

This generous gift has made possible the construction of scenic drives and other projects in keeping with the theme of the park.

Taken from Dickens Springs: "Site of Human History for over 10,000 years" by John Montgomery