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The opening comes nearly three months after the Bastrop County Complex fire tore through the area, devastating much of the park.

The fire created a massive challenge that many in the region didn't think park managers would be able to overcome so soon.

"When we first drove up, I thought that everything was going to be really burnt. But then when we drove through, the golf course was still good,” visitor Brian Schmidt said. “A lot of the trees were still green. So it didn't have as much of an impact as we thought it would."

The part of the park familiar to more visitors survived the historic blaze relatively untouched, park managers said.

Not all of the park was reopened Friday. Crews armed with chain saws and wood chippers are still scattered around the park, clearing out charred trees.

To look on the bright side, Bastrop State Park now offers visitors a never-before-seen view, an increased deer population and a clearer landscape, all new ways to appreciate the park’s beauty.

"There's definitely going to be a shock value,” Bastrop State Park Superintendent Todd McClanahan said. “We’re shocked every time we drive around, but what's different is there are different things to see."

So far, Texas Parks and Wildlife has spent around $400,000 clearing debris from the grounds. McClanahan said the community can come out and volunteer to help, but the best way to help is to visit the park.

“Just generating revenue from entrance fees and camping fees. That’s going to help us tremendously. Bastrop State Park is one of the top 10 revenue-generating parks continuously in the state, and to have it shut down for three months really hurts the system,” he said.

If you’d like to contribute to the effort, head over to FriendsoftheLostPines.org

Check below for YouTube video of the park: