In 1950, Mr. and Mrs. Hoog purchased these 126.2 acres from the Ihnken Family. In 1968, they sold the land to the City of Castroville at a fraction of its worth, with the stipulation that it be turned into a park for everyone to enjoy. With a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife, an allocation of city funds, and the support of the Castroville Chamber of Commerce, that dream was realized when Castroville Regional Park was dedicated and opened in 1974. Although Joe and Gertrude Hoog had no children of their own, generations of children have benefited from their generosity and community spirit.