‘Piece of Hill Country.’ North Texas’ first new state park in 25 years resets opening date

   

STRAWN — The faint chug of a train echoed as colorful boxcars wound through the trees on railroad tracks along the border of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.

James Adams smiled as he pointed to the horizon and talked about how he always imagines men on horseback chasing the train through the rough country.

“We’re just off the highway but this place still feels like the Wild West sometimes,” Adams said.

Located about 75 miles west of Fort Worth, the former ranchland is slated to be one of Texas’ newest state parks.

The 4,871-acre swath of rolling hills, sheltered canyons and expansive vistas was most recently pitched for a soft opening during Texas State Parks’ centennial year in 2023, but construction sequencing and other delays pushed that date back.

The new goal is to open — at least for day use — by summer 2025.

A train passes through the countryside at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, Tuesday, Nov. 19,...
A train passes through the countryside at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Strawn, Texas.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

Adams was hired as park superintendent in 2017. A native of Mineral Wells, he was excited to return home and share Palo Pinto County with others.

“Not everyone gets to open a park, and certainly no one has gotten to do that in a long time,” he said. “It’s not just my legacy but the legacy of the large group of great, smart people who have also worked toward this opening.”

A few miles from Interstate 20, a two-lane road turns west just before downtown Strawn, a city of less than 1,000 people known for its six-man football and chicken fried steak at Mary’s Cafe.

Four miles and multiple “PARK CLOSED” signs down the road, is the entrance of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park and its newly installed welcome sign.

On a recent Tuesday in November, the park was abuzz with activity.

Beeping and hums from construction equipment filled the air as trucks drove through terrain muddied from rain the day before.

Roofers were atop of the park headquarters and visitor center buildings not far from the entrance. The exteriors appeared close to finished but Adams said he was looking forward to being able to move everything into the space and see it come to life.

Driving through the park, on a mixture of paved and dirt roads, the skeleton of what’s to come is visible.

A sign for at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is seen near the entrance, Tuesday, Nov. 19,...
A sign for at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is seen near the entrance, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Strawn, Texas.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

Some walkways have already been finished, the ramp that will lead to a floating dock on Tucker Lake next to a boat launch is taking shape, the foundations of a fishing pier poke out of the water, shelters stand over where picnic tables will be and playground toys wait to be installed.

The parks department wanted to be “light on the land” with construction and Adams said most everything they are building is essential.

When developing plans for the park, which included multiple public meetings, top priorities included the ability to accommodate large family groups and be accessible to all.

“We talk about public parks being for everyone and I think we accomplished that here,” Adams said.

Nearby, he stepped into the shell of a pavilion.

“Sorry the roof kind of leaks,” he joked, gesturing to where the shingles will eventually go. He talked about all the possibilities: ranger programs, weddings and school visits.

Construction continues on a pavilion at a scenic overlook at Palo Pinto Mountains State...
Construction continues on a pavilion at a scenic overlook at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Strawn, Texas.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

The park will offer an array of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, paddling, picnicking, bird watching, stargazing and more. Upon completion, there will be 60 various types of camping sites and 25 RV pads that each have an additional vehicle parking space.

There are also animals to see, such as white-tailed deer, porcupines and bobcats.

“It’s like a piece of Hill Country that’s an hour from Fort Worth,” Adams said. “We’re excited to share this place that is so different from the metroplex even though it’s so close to it.”

Once the park is fully open and functioning, they expect to welcome 75,000 to 100,000 visitors annually.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park will be the first new state park in North Texas in about 25 years.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park assistant super intended James Adams speaks during a media...
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park assistant super intended James Adams speaks during a media invite tour in Strawn, TX on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. The 4,871-acre park is the first new state park in Texas in 25 years opening in 2023. (Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer)

It’s been a long time coming as it’s been in the works for more than a decade.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department enlisted the help of the Texas Nature Conservancy to find land for a new state park in the region, and, in 2011, the department purchased the first 3,300 acres of the park using proceeds from the sale of property on Eagle Mountain Lake north of Fort Worth.

The city of Strawn deeded additional land, including along the park’s centerpiece Tucker Lake, a few years later.

The park’s opening comes at a critical time as Texas, especially the Dallas-Fort Worth area, continues to grow and the state parks recorded a record-breaking number of visitors in recent years.