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(TPWD/Contributed photo) Governor Greg Abbott, Secretary of State Jane Nelson, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director David Yoskowitz and others cut a ribbon Friday, April 10 for the grand opening of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. -
(TPWD/Contributed photo) The 90-acre Tucker Lake at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park which offers fishing, boating and swimming. The lake does not allow boats with motors, but includes a kayak and canoe launch, fishing pier and fish cleaning station that are accessible.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department held a grand opening for Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, the newest state park in North Texas in more than 25 years located less than one hour from Breckenridge.
The state park is located on 4,871 acres of former ranch land which offers options such as hiking, biking, fishing and more.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday, April 10 with Gov. Greg Abbott, Secretary of State Jane Nelson, TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz, TPW Commission Chairman Emeritus Lee Bass, TPW Foundation Chairman Michael S. Greene, and Texas State Parks Director Rodney Franklin in attendance.
“The Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is one of the most majestic of them all,” Abbott said. “Preserving our lands is crucial. It allows communities to reconnect with the land that made Texas, Texas. We are going to live up to our commitment to preserve our state parks so that future generations have access to the beauty of Texas that was originally seen by Sam Houston and Davy Crockett.”
The state park had a soft opening which began Sunday, March 1, with a huge turnout from visitors looking to walk its more than 16 miles of trails, fish, boat and swim in the 90-acre Tucker Lake and see all the park has to offer.
“It’s a shining day for the department and the state of Texas as we officially commemorate the opening of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park,” Yoskowitz said. “We could not be more grateful for the support from numerous partners and the Texas Legislature in their commitment to bringing these special places to the people of Texas.”
During the first month of operation, the park has seen more than 15,000 visitors for day use and overnight camping.
The park offers 23 campsites with electricity, 12 campsites with water and 13 primitive campsites. The primitive campsites require a two-mile hike to access and no campfires are allowed.
“Palo Pinto Mountains is home to a kaleidoscope of color with year-round green foliage, blue colored, berry-like cones and tinted red bark,” TPWD said in a release. “The park’s visitors this spring could see the landscape go technicolor with blooming wildflowers like Indian blankets, yellow coneflowers, white prickly poppies, lemon beebalm, evening primrose and more.”
The Nature Conservancy was asked by TPWD in 2009 to identify land for the park and worked with landowners to create Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. The park was purchased by TPWD in 2011 and was originally slated to open in 2023, but construction projects were delayed.
Funding for the park’s construction was supported through the Texas Legislature and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF). The Sporting Goods Sales Tax along with federal funding and $10 million in private philanthropy raised by TPWF made the park possible.
“We are deeply grateful to the Texas Legislature for its leadership, and to the generous donors whose private support helped bring this park to life,” TPWF Executive Director Anne Brown said. “That support came from people who care deeply about conservation and about Texas.”
TPWD encourages those wanting to visit the park to reserve a day pass in advance since the new park is reaching its capacity limit often. Day passes can be reserved online through the TPWD reservation website or calling 512-389-8900.
