John Henry Kirby Memorial State Forest
The Kirby State Forest is a 600-acre forest located in Hardin County. The state forest, originally known as State Forest #4, was gifted to the agency in 1929 from lumber baron John Henry Kirby.
The deed for the Kirby State Forest stipulates that a portion of all revenues from the tract be donated to the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University, for student scholarship purposes.
The Kirby is a working forest providing revenue to our agency and the association. Since 1949 more than $600,000 has been generated for the Association’s student financial aid programs.
Hours
The forest is open during business hours to foot traffic only. Contact the district office prior to entry. Special arrangements are needed for vehicle access.
Educational opportunities
Forest resource education and nature study tours for schools and other civic groups are available by appointment only. There are no restroom facilities on the site.
Recreational opportunities
- Hiking
- Bird watching
- Wildlife viewing
Hunting is prohibited on the Kirby State Forest, with the exception of the yearly youth hunt conducted in cooperation with Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Special attractions
- Forest management demonstration sites
- John Henry Kirby historical marker
- Historical fire tower (not available for public use)
- Pitcher plant bogs
Map
Find your way through the trails and paths with a map of the John Henry Kirby Memorial State Forest.
History
The forest is named after John Henry Kirby, also known as the “Prince of Pine”. He was one of the most successful businessmen of his time. The Kirby Lumber Company owned thirteen sawmills which operated off approximately 300,000 acres of timberland in its control.
On top of his forestry businesses success, Kirby:
- Was a founding member of the Southern Pine Association and served as president from 1917 to 1921,
- Served as president of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association for two years,
- Helped bring the Kansas City Southern Railway into southeast Texas and Louisiana,
- Owned Kirby Petroleum Company,
- And is one of the founding fathers of forest regeneration and other healthy forest management practices such as selective cutting.
Prior to acquisition, the Kirby State Forest was dominated by longleaf pine, with loblolly pine found in streamside areas. The forest was heavily cutover and in need of reforestation though.
Following the land transaction, we immediately got to work replanting the new forest. At the time, non-native slash pine was the species of choice for much of the restoration due to its superior growth characteristics.
In the 1930s, Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees conducted timber stand improvements and constructed a residence on the forest. They also built various roads, fire breaks, bridges, and a fire lookout tower which still stands today.