North Texas is just a few months away from having its first new state park in 25 years.
The upcoming opening of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, nestled between Fort Worth and Abilene, will be a new addition to outdoor recreation in the area. The park spans nearly 4,900 acres and boasts several plant, animal, and human testaments to the region’s rich history.
“It’s really interesting to be able to go to one place and see so much of Texas history,” said James Adams, Palo Pinto’s superintendent, according to D Magazine.
The juniper and oak trees of the park’s innermost areas provide a habitat for bobcats and whitetail deer. At present, no trails lead to these areas. However, there are plans to construct 18 additional miles of hiking trails, hopefully providing public access to these quarters soon.
Before early Texans settled in this region, the land was traversed by various nomadic indigenous tribes. Workers later used the area to lay rail for the Texas and Pacific Railway. At one point, an abandoned town called Wyles Siding was also located in this area.
Interpretive spaces will pay homage to the park’s rich history once it opens to the public, according to Adams. There will be artifacts on display, including a rock oven that Adams unearthed at the back of the park. He suggested it might have been used by a makeshift railway community that passed through in the 1880s.
The park will boast 12.5 miles of multi-use trails with varying difficulty levels for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Those seeking a true getaway from city life can plan overnight stays in primitive camping areas tucked within the park’s sweeping vistas.
“The goal of this property is to provide more outdoor recreation opportunities for Texans, especially from the metroplex,” Adams explained.d
These opportunities include fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming around the 90-acre Tucker Lake at the heart of the park. However, gas-powered boats are not permitted on the lake because it is one of two water sources for Strawn residents. In addition, they are prohibited to minimize noise pollution.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department purchased the initial 3,300 acres of the park in 2011 with proceeds from the property sale on Eagle Mountain Lake.
In 2019, TPWD received a significant boost when Proposition 5 passed and guaranteed its receipt of 94% of the state’s sporting goods sales tax revenue. As a result, several new park projects are in the works, including initiatives to improve existing parks like Fort Boggy State Park and to develop new parks such as Powderhorn Ranch State Park, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
