Park History

In May of 1910, Mrs. Flora B. Cameron and her family purchased 125 acres of land around Procter Springs. They donated it to the City of Waco to be used as a park in memory of William Cameron.

Cameron, who died in 1899, was a Scottish immigrant and civic leader in Waco who owned a thriving lumber business. The park, given for the “perpetual enjoyment of the people,” was dedicated May 27, 1910.

Many businesses shut down that day, and a large celebration took place with a parade that traveled through the streets of downtown Waco to the new “people’s park.”

In 1920, the Cameron family donated additional land to the city and provided financial support for its maintenance and development. The second major gift included the clubhouse and grounds of the old Waco Country Club, along with the area that includes Lover’s Leap. Subsequent donations of land brought the park to its current size of 416 acres.

One of the largest municipal parks in Texas, Cameron Park remains largely undeveloped, preserving the natural beauty as the Camerons intended.

Where do those cliffs come from?

Cameron Park’s cliffs are the work of the Balcones Fault, which fractured the landscape millions of years ago. The fault caused the southeast area of the park to drop 200 feet, and a shallow sea covered the region.

When the sea receded for the last time, vast deposits of limestone and shale were left behind and formed much of the terrain of Cameron Park.The rock formations and abundant spring water created a hospitable home for Native Americans and still welcome area residents today.