Silver Lake State Park will be in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is getting a massive new state park in the Hill Country.
State officials announced the acquisition of nearly 54,000 acres in Edwards and Kinney counties. It’s land that will eventually become Silver Lake State Park — the second-largest state park in Texas behind Big Bend Ranch State Park.
The property sits about 150 miles west of San Antonio between Rocksprings and Uvalde and features steep canyons, rolling hills, miles of river frontage along the West Nueces River and a 30-acre spring-fed lake known as Silver Lake. Officials say the landscape also includes caves, creeks, limestone cliffs and native Hill Country vegetation like live oak and juniper.
“This future state park will grant generations of Texans with a deeper understanding of the land that helps make our state the natural envy of the world,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a news release.
The deal was made possible through a partnership between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Moody Foundation, which is based in Galveston. The foundation donated its 87.5% ownership stake in Silver Lake Ranch, while TPWD bought the remaining interest for $11.85 million using funding approved by Texas voters.
State officials said development of the park will happen in phases. Early access could include guided tours and limited day-use opportunities while crews complete planning and infrastructure work. Eventually, the park is expected to add trails, camping areas, visitor facilities and paddling access. TPWD said it will also seek public input as plans move forward, though no opening date has been announced yet.
TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz said the property is expected to become a major destination for visitors, especially because it sits near one of the state’s most popular park regions. Ross Moody said the foundation wanted to help preserve the land while making it accessible to Texans for generations to come.
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