54,000-Acre Hill Country Ranch Set to Become Texas’ Second-Largest State Park

Texans looking for a new state park to explore will soon have 54,000 acres at their disposal.

A New Jewel in the Hill Country: Texas Secures Huge 54,000-Acre State Park

The Texas State Park System is about to see its largest expansion in decades. Following a huge land acquisition in the western reaches of the Texas Hill Country, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has successfully taken ownership of the sprawling Silver Lake Ranch. The newly acquired 54,000 acre property will eventually become Silver Lake State Park, the second-largest state park in the entire Lone Star State, behind Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Funding a Conservation Milestone

The transition from a private working ranch into a public sanctuary was made possible through an extraordinary philanthropic partnership. The Moody Foundation generously donated its dominant 87.5% ownership stake in the historic ranch property directly to the state.

Topography, Hydrology, and Ancient Culture

Situated across the borderlands of Edwards and Kinney counties, about 150 miles west of San Antonio, the property represents a diverse ecological cross-section of the western Hill Country. Formerly used for commercial cattle and sheep grazing operations, the landscape consists of limestone canyons, sheer cliff faces, and sweeping wave-like hills.

Silver Lake

The park takes its name from Silver Lake, a pristine 30-acre, spring-fed body of water located on the ranch. Beyond the lake, the land is rich in biodiversity and historic human heritage, with deep limestone caves, and ancient Native American pictographs preserved on the rock walls.

Ecological Sanctuary for Native Wildlife

The vast acreage provides essential habitat for the animals and birds that thrive across the property.

Mammals: Large populations of native white-tailed deer and collared peccaries (javelina).

Avian Wildlife: Robust populations of wild turkey and migratory mourning dove.

Phased Development and Public Access

Texas Parks and Wildlife plans to approach the engineering and opening of the huge park through a multi-year rollout strategy. While infrastructure design and ecological preservation planning are underway, state officials intend to incorporate public feedback to shape the park's ultimate layout. While an official grand opening date has not yet been set, the initial phases will focus on allowing Texans a sneak peek of the landscape while heavy infrastructure planning continues behind the scenes.