The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department purchased the land it previously leased for Lake Colorado City State Park, state officials announced Thursday.
The park is about 500 acres and located in Mitchell County.
The state previously leased the land at no cost from privately owned energy company Vistra Corp. and its predecessors in a setup similar to the land deal utilized for the now-closed Fairfield Lake State Park, which was purchased by a Dallas-based developer last year. Then, in August 2023, the TPWD commissioners unanimouslyvoted to authorize department staff to enter into a real estate deal to purchase the property.
“I am thrilled that we were able to complete the transaction that will ensure public access to Lake Colorado City State Park for future generations of Texans,” Rodney Franklin, Texas State Parks director, said. “Thanks to the support of our legislature and the voters of Texas, we will continue to acquire and protect the wild spaces of Texas.”
The department did not say how much it paid for the property but noted it utilized funding from the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, which was dedicated to the department through the passage of Proposition 5 in 2019. The proposition puts 93% of sales taxes on sporting good to support state parks, historic sites and local park grants.
Kyle Box, Vista’s vice president of real estate, said the company values its longtime partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife, adding that it’s exciting to see the land transfer hands but serve the same purpose of acting as a “respite for our fellow Texans.”
Lake Colorado City State Park is south of Interstate 20 between Midland and Abilene and sits on the banks of Vista-owned Lake Colorado City, which serves as a cooling reservoir for the company’s power plant. The parks department said Vistra will continue to provide an easement for lake access to park visitors.
Since 1971, the park has attracted visitors to swim, fish, boat, paddle, hike, camp and enjoy nature amid the dry West Texas climate. More than 24,000 people went to Lake Colorado State Park in 2023.
“Lake Colorado City State Park is a special place and we are thrilled that the park will continue to be a respite where people can recreate outdoors and build lasting memories that they can revisit year after year,” Leslie McGuigan, interim superintendent of Lake Colorado City State Park, said.
This land purchase benefiting Texas’ state park system comes just months after the department bought more than 600 acres adjacent to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg to expand the popular site.
