The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will open Palo Pinto Mountains State Park in North Texas on March 1, marking the first state park opening in the region in more than two decades. The new park is located between Abilene and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and covers 4,871 acres of former ranch land.
Governor Greg Abbott said, “The opening of the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park marks an exciting new landscape for Texans to explore. This state park will expand outdoor opportunities for families across our state and showcase the natural beauty that makes Texas, Texas. With the addition of this state park, generations of Texans will be able to enjoy over 4,000 acres of natural landscape for years to come.”
Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks, added, “This is a tremendous moment for Texas State Parks and the state of Texas. Opening Palo Pinto Mountains State Park represents the culmination of collaborative efforts that includes our Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as well as private donors. I am proud of the dedication of our TPWD team but also the unwavering support of the Texas Legislature and the voters of Texas that have brought us to this moment. State park staff stand ready to welcome families far and wide to begin making memories at Texas’ newest state park.”
The soft opening will allow early access ahead of a future grand opening event. Visitors can explore hillsides covered with juniper trees and hardwood bottomlands typical of North Texas’s Cross Timbers region.
Governor Abbott has prioritized expanding public access to land in recent years. The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott has played a role in advancing economic opportunities throughout the state since Greg Abbott’s election in 2014 https://gov.texas.gov/. Under his leadership, job creation has been a focus alongside education enhancement and protection of individual liberties https://gov.texas.gov/. The office operates statewide from its primary location at Austin’s State Insurance Building https://gov.texas.gov/.
Additional parks are planned for future openings: Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area (2026), Post Oak Ridge State Park (2029), Bear Creek State Park (2029), Honey Creek State Natural Area (2029), Powderhorn State Parks and Wildlife Management Area (2029), Chinati Mountains State Natural Area (2032), and Davis Hill State Park (2034).
More information about Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is available on its page on the TPWD website.
