Texas Parks & Wildlife eyes new state park near Hill Country

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new state park may be on the way near the Texas Hill Country. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission announced Friday it hopes to purchase Silver Lake Ranch, located west of San Antonio in Kinney and Edwards Counties, for a new state park.

If the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) acquires the 54,000-acre ranch, it plans to develop the park in three phases, per a Monday news release from Environment Texas:

• Within 12 months of purchase: Offer guided tours, day usage and some recreational access
• Within 18 months: Install basic facilities like trails, parking and restrooms
• Within 48 months: Complete development with full access to camp sites, utilities and visitor amenities

The property’s waterfront includes an over 7-mile stretch of the West Nueces River, a 30-acre lake and various waterholes. Dryland venues include steep canyons and rolling hills. It’s also only a 15-mile trip from the neighboring Kickapoo Cavern State Park, according to TPWD’s website.

“This is a milestone for all Texans and the wildlife who share our great state with us,” Environment Texas Executive Director Luke Metzger said in the release.

Texas currently ranks 37th for state park acreage per person, and TPWD is hoping the purchase will help them change that.

The release said this would be the first purchase made through the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, a bipartisan law passed by voters in 2023, allocating $1 billion towards long-term financing of future state parks.

“As our state grows, more families need places to hike, fish, camp, and experience the wonder of the outdoors,” Sen. Tan Parker, who co-authored the legislation, said in the release. “It is our responsibility to safeguard the lands that define our heritage while creating opportunities for new memories — ensuring that future generations can enjoy the freedom and beauty of our great outdoors for decades to come.”

When establishing new state parks, TPWD looks at properties that can help them balance recreational opportunities for Texas residents while also protecting habitats for the state’s fish and wildlife.

The commission will decide on the acquisition in a meeting Thursday, Nov. 6. TPWD is taking public input on the purchase through email at real.estate.comment@tpwd.texas.gov or online through Friday, Nov. 5.