Palo Pinto Mountains State Park: A Texas Escape

• Palo Pinto Mountains will be Texas’ 90th State Park and is expected to open in 2023:
  • About the Property
  • Tucker Lake
  • Amenities
  • When will it be ready?

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Monitored and administrated by Texas Parks & Wildlife, Palo Pinto Mountains will be Texas’ 90th state park — the first in 25 years. A little over an hour from Possum Kingdom Lake, the park is the perfect escape from urban expansion. From sprawling prairies to a placid, mirror-smooth lake, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park defines the modern outdoors.

About the Property

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park rests at a crossroads 75 miles between Fort Worth and Abilene, and Mineral Wells is a brief 40-minute drive away. Within the 4871-acre property are rolling hills, deep ravines, sky-high ridges, wide-open grassy prairies, and striking mesas. Despite that almost 90 percent of Texans now live in urban locations, this welcome natural paradise expects to draw 75,000–100,000 visitors annually.

A historied site, the area was inhabited by the Caddo and Tonkawa tribes before western expansion, and they left their mark. An avid archaeologist may spot sparse artifacts, as 3,500-year-old arrowheads, among other items, have been found around the property.

If the topography doesn’t awe and impress, the abundant flora and fauna in the biodiverse park will surely catch your eye. All across the park sit ancient oak, elm, mesquite, juniper, and pecan trees. Be on the lookout for prairies, as these fields make the perfect blooming ground for wildflowers, such as Texas bluebells, poppies, bluebonnets, and prickly pear cacti. Have your cameras ready, as the brilliant orange, red, and yellow autumn hues are complemented by an unexpected guest: monarch butterflies. During autumn, monarch butterflies migrate from the northeast to the southwest and fly through Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.

Tucker Lake

Every good park needs a centerpiece, and Tucker Lake is Palo Pinto Mountains’ crown jewel. The 90-acre lake’s quaint charm began as a water source for Strawn — a nearby town — in the 1930s, constructed by the Works Progress Administration. Residents of Strawn reveled in their newfound aquatic escape and were granted leases by the city for surrounding land. Soon after,  they built cabins around the lake and created the Strawn Recreation Club. The club persisted until the 1980s when Strawn’s city council chose not to renew leases. But Strawn and other nearby communities are ready to return to their beloved lake.

Palo Pinto Mountain State Park’s headquarters is currently under construction near the lake. Motorboats are not permitted for usage, but kayaks will likely be available for rent.  From these kayaks, anglers will have the best, quiet spot to fish for sunfish, bass, bluegill, and others. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) currently studies fish populations at the lake.

Amenities

The park is still under construction, but expect it to be filled with interconnected trails, campsites, and more! The administration carved out at least 18 miles worth of hiking and biking trails that take visitors on a wild, rural adventure. In addition, TPW plans for 59 campsites throughout the property, and some offer primitive camping. For a truly Western experience, some trails and campsites come equipped to handle horseback riding and lodging.

Outside the rugged terrain and trails, amenities include bathhouses, pavilions, children’s play areas, and no-water restrooms. On Tucker Lake, a boat ramp and floating dock will be available for kayaks, and visitors can swim and fish in the tranquil waters.

When Will It Be Ready & Strawn’s Contribution

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is expected to open in late 2023 or early 2024. Constructing a park, let alone a state park in the wilderness, is a much more arduous task than many might assume. For example, TPW bought the bulk of the property, more than 3,300 acres, in 2011, and those grounds have been in development since.

The nearby city of Strawn has been a pillar of stability for the park’s construction and donated 120 acres to its formation. In addition, through fund-raising efforts, community members created the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Partners — a non-profit group to support the park. Residents of Strawn and the surrounding areas, particularly Mineral Wells, hope this and other projects will revitalize the region. And when the park opens, the entrance road will be in Strawn.

A slice of the hill country, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is here to put the area back on the map!