Texas Opens First New State Park

Spanning 4,871 acres of former ranchland, the park's creation was a multi-year effort. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began acquiring the land in 2011, a process initiated with the help of The Nature Conservancy in 2008 to identify and assemble the property. Funding for the new park came from a combination of sources, including legislative appropriations, the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, and federal funds. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation also played a crucial role, raising $10 million through private philanthropy to support the park's development. The park sits in the Cross Timbers ecoregion and features varied topography with juniper-covered hills and hardwood forests. Its centerpiece is the 90-acre Tucker Lake, built by the Works Progress Administration in 1937, which offers opportunities for fishing, swimming, and paddling; no motorboats are allowed. Visitors can explore more than 16 miles of trails suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The park's ecosystem supports a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and numerous bird species. It also provides crucial nesting habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler during the summer. Originally slated to open in 2023, the park's debut was postponed due to construction delays. This opening marks the first new state park in North Texas in over 25 years. The land has a rich history, with evidence of use by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years, including a campsite fire pit dated to be roughly 3,500 years old. More recently, the Texas and Pacific Railroad was built along the northern boundary in 1880, and an oil boom in 1915 led to the short-lived boomtown of Wiles within the park's current boundaries. Daily entrance fees are $7 for adults and children 13 and older, with free admission for children 12 and under. Due to expected high demand, officials strongly encourage visitors to reserve day passes in advance to ensure entry.