A breath of fresh air for Travis County: the Austin area will soon be home to nearly 2,000 acres of newly acquired public parkland, thanks to a hefty $276 million parks and land bond approved by voters last November. Travis County Commissioners have sealed deals on two significant patches of land that are poised to offer the public vast expanses of natural beauty and an escape from the urban sprawl.
The larger slice of the great outdoors comes in the form of RGK Ranch, a former private retreat nestled between Bee Cave and Spicewood, off State Highway 71. This 1,500-acre property was the pride and joy of philanthropists Ronya and George Kozmetsky for over half a century. In an effort to stave off eager developers offering upwards of $130 million, descendants of the Kozmetskys turned their backs on the lucrative offers, choosing instead to conserve the land's wild heritage. As a boon to the county, the land was acquired at the discounted price of $90 million — a deal sweetened by Nadya Scott, daughter of the Kozmetskys, who donated her family share valued at $30 million. "I want to preserve the land for future generations," Scott professed in a statement obtained by Austin Monthly.
The RGK Ranch isn't quite ready for nature enthusiasts to stampede its trails; Travis County Parks projected the park's public unveiling for late 2025. Developing a master plan that includes trails, parking, and essential amenities is still in the pipeline. "You can’t just buy a piece of property and just open the gate and let the public go all over it," explained Charles Bergh, a former director of Travis County Parks, in an interview with the Austin Monitor.
The county's commitment to conserving natural spaces doesn't stop there. Another 475-acre tract, known for its proximity to Milton Reimers Ranch Park, was saved from a fate as a housing subdivision. Thanks to the Topfer brothers, who opted for conservation over development, this land was snatched up by the county for a cool $40 million. The county's recent shopping spree all but exhausts the $100 million set aside from the bond for western Travis County land purchases. Yet, officials still have their eyes peeled for potential acquisitions in the eastern parts of the county, according to a report by Austin Monthly.
Both acquisitions signify a larger movement in Travis County to preserve nature against the relentless push of urbanization. The new parklands will serve as a bulwark, protecting local fauna and flora while offering future generations a taste of the Hill Country's unspoiled splendors. Commissioner Ann Howard stressed the importance of this strategic land grab: "We have a duty to protect those edges of that Hill Country because the more we encroach on the edges, the more we erode the beauty," Howard told the Austin Monitor. With the addition of RGK Ranch and the expansion of Reimers Ranch Park, the county will bolster its wilderness parkland to roughly 7,000 acres – a significant victory for conservationists and outdoor buffs alike.
