The Palo Pinto Mountains State Park will open its gates to visitors for a soft opening March 1.
PALO PINTO COUNTY, Texas — Sunday is a big day for anyone who loves the outdoors in North Texas.
The Palo Pinto Mountains State Park will open its gates to visitors for a soft opening March 1. It will be the first time in 25 years that Texas is opening a new state park, officials said.
The 4,871-acre park, located between Fort Worth and Abilene in Palo Pinto County near Strawn, has been in the works for years. Crews are still “putting the finishing touches” on the park, according to a press release from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office, and a grand opening is expected to happen sometime this spring.
But starting Sunday, a limited number of visitors can get early access by reserving day passes online here.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department purchased the former ranch land in 2011, and the park was expected to open by 2023. Construction delays pushed the opening until this year.
“This is a tremendous moment for Texas State Parks and the state of Texas,” Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks said in the release. “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.”
The park will feature more than 16 miles of trails and the 90-acre Tucker Lake for fishing, swimming and kayaking. Motorboats won’t be allowed at the park. Camping and RV sites are also available at the park, and the state is touting the park’s variety of foliage and blooming wildflowers this spring.