North Texans have a fresh stretch of wild country to roam. Gov. Greg Abbott cut the ribbon yesterday on Palo Pinto Mountains State Park near the tiny town of Strawn, officially turning 4,871 acres of former ranchland into public parkland. The fanfare follows a long buildup: the park had a soft opening on March 1 and has been billed as the first new state park in North Texas in more than two decades. Hikers, anglers and campers can already hit the trails, lakeshore and basic park amenities while staff finishes final touches.
At the ribbon-cutting in Strawn, Abbott called the landscape “one of the most majestic of them all,” according to FOX4 Dallas-Fort Worth, which covered the April 10 grand-opening event. The outlet reports the park sits between the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and Abilene, and that state and local leaders turned out to celebrate the debut.
Park features and visitor access
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park spans 4,871 acres and offers about 16 miles of multi-use trails, including 1.25 miles that are accessible. The centerpiece is the 90-acre Tucker Lake, where boats with motors are not allowed. Visitors will find a kayak and canoe launch, a fishing pier, accessible facilities and a range of camping options, from RV pads to primitive hike-in sites. TPWD notes that weekends and holidays can hit capacity.
How the park came together
The road to opening stretched for more than a decade. The state purchased the first parcels in 2011, and rangers led preview hikes this winter as the land neared completion, The Texas Tribune reported. Construction picked up speed in 2021 after legislative funding and partner commitments helped push the project past pandemic-era delays.
The buildout has leaned on a mix of public money and private philanthropy. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation says philanthropic support will be paired with roughly $21 million in public funds to finish roads, utilities and campsites, and the foundation projects the park could eventually draw about 75,000 visits a year.
Reservations are open through the state’s booking system, and TPWD urges visitors to check maps and alerts before they go. Bookings are available at ReserveAmerica, while the park’s TPWD page includes maps and a calendar of ranger programs. The formal opening also ties into a broader state push to expand public access to conserved lands; a slate of future parks is now in development, according to the Office of the Governor.
