Hill Country ranch to become Texas’ second

Key Points:

• The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has acquired nearly 54,000 acres of former Silver Lake Ranch in the Hill Country to create Silver Lake State Park, which will be the second-largest state park in Texas after Big Bend Ranch State Park.
• The land features a 30-acre spring-fed lake, limestone cliffs, rolling hills, river frontage along the West Nueces River, and diverse wildlife including white-tailed deer, javelina, and habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.
• The Moody Foundation donated approximately 88% of the ranch to TPWD, with the remainder purchased for $11.85 million using funds from the $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund and sporting goods sales tax.
• Silver Lake State Park is part of a broader effort to expand Texas state parkland, as the state currently ranks 35th nationally in park acreage per capita and aims to add 1.4 million acres by 2030 to meet growing demand.
• TPWD plans to develop the park in phases, seeking public input during the planning process, and will initially offer guided tours and limited day use via existing ranch roads before determining an official opening date.