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Enchanted Rock Expansion = Twice the Enchantment
There will be more land to love at one of Texas’ favorite state parks, thanks to the recent purchase of a 3,073-acre property adjacent to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (SNA) in Llano County. The purchase will double the size of the existing park, which encompasses the Texas Hill Country’s most enchanting natural landmark.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) purchased the property utilizing a combination of a one-time funding appropriation and funds from the sporting goods sales tax. The newly added land will be developed through the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, a $1 billion fund overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2023 to create a dedicated funding stream for acquiring and developing new state parks.
“Texas is home to 88 state parks that showcase our great state’s natural beauty to Texans and visitors from all over the globe,” said Governor Abbott. “The expansion of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area will allow tourists from across the state and around the world to enjoy even more of the majesty of Texas. Together, we will continue to ensure that what makes Texas unique and beautiful is preserved for generations."
Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) is proud to have played a role in the acquisition. “We can always depend on TPWF to provide a helping hand to get this and so many other vital projects across the finish line,” said TPWD Chief of Land & Conservation Initiatives Zach Spector. “We’re thrilled to be expanding such an iconic and cherished park for the citizens of Texas."
Previously, the privately owned property was primarily used for hunting. Now it will extend the footprint of Enchanted Rock and expand opportunities for all Texans to access and enjoy more outdoor adventures and recreation. The property also features its own unique rock formation that will provide visitors with an entirely new scenic vantage point of the iconic pink granite dome the park is named for. The acquisition will combat light pollution by conserving the park’s dark skies and viewshed in a rapidly developing area of the state.
TPWD’s next steps will be to develop a plan with input from the public to determine recreational opportunities for the property, and they will communicate upcoming milestones, including a potential opening date, as details emerge.
The purchase of this property is just one of several large land acquisitions TPWD has made in as many months in an effort to expand its park portfolio and provide public access to Texas’ natural spaces in more corners of the state. Soon after the ink dried on the Enchanted Rock purchase, TPWD announced in late January the purchase of 2,020 acres near Colorado Bend State Park.
Thanks to the support of countless Texans who voted in favor of the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, TPWD stands at the cusp of an exciting new era for Texas State Parks.
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A New Generation Born of Bighorns
Last December, Texans witnessed a truly standout moment for our Texas wild as stakeholders convened at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area to give desert bighorn sheep a fighting chance at reversing a roughly 50 percent decline in population since 2021. The primary cause for the current decline is pneumonia, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, (M. ovi), which bighorns are highly susceptible to .
Nearly 80 bighorns were translocated from Elephant Mountain WMA to Franklin Mountains State Park. With the herd deemed free of disease and no aoudads in sight (often carriers of M. ovi), the Franklin Mountains provide a promising new horizon for the iconic Texas native.
And in grand Texas fashion, the herd’s very first new lamb made its debut last week—a true Valentine’s gift to warm the hearts of all Texans. The sight of bighorns in bloom has us counting sheep and our wild blessings that we are able to witness bighorn history in the making.
Learn how TPWF and a coalition of invested Texans are working to bring back bighorns.
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Join Stewards of the Wild
Are you between the ages of 21 and 45 and looking for ways to connect with other conservation-minded Texans? Want to make lasting friendships while supporting Texas’ lands, waters, and wildlife? Stewards of the Wild is for you!
For over a decade, Stewards of the Wild, TPWF’s conservation leadership program, has equipped emerging leaders aged 21 to 45 with opportunities to actively participate in the stewardship of Texas’ wild things and wild places by providing education, networking, and outdoor experiences. Member-led Stewards chapters are all over Texas, with 850 members statewide.
And new this year, Stewards members can deepen their involvement and understanding of Texas’ complex ecological issues by participating in Stewards’ newly formed Statewide Conservation Committee. Members can choose to take part in any of five subcommittees that cover the full gamut of Texas conservation issues—legislative, game species, private lands, coastal, and native habitats.
Join or renew your Stewards of the Wild membership between Feb. 10 - March 10, 2025, and you will automatically be entered for a chance to win a custom Gen 2 Turtlebox speaker!
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And, for members and non-members alike, you can gain an extra entry into our giveaway for each new member you refer. Simply fill out this form. If your referral joins Stewards between Feb. 10 - March 10, 2025, you will receive an extra entry!
FIND YOUR CHAPTER AND JOIN TODAY
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| *The price of membership pays for Stewards of the Wild membership only and not for the chance to win the Gen 2 Turtlebox speaker. Members who join or renew their membership between Feb. 10 and March 10, 2025, are automatically entered in the drawing. |
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Garrison Brothers and TPWF team up for Texas Independence Day!
Join Garrison Brothers and TPWF for a toast to Texas Independence Day on Saturday, Mar. 1, from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the heart of Hye, Texas. Together, we’re celebrating all things Texas, including great Texas-made bourbon and a Texas-sized cause: conserving the natural wonders that make Texas so uniquely Texas.
This year, Garrison Brothers is proud to feature bottles from 11 different Cask Strength Single Barrels of Balmorhea Bourbon, available only at this event. These bottles are a tribute to Texas traditions and a testament to Garrison Brothers’ commitment to conserving the wild beauty of our great state. Proceeds will benefit TPWF, furthering our mission to conserve our wild things and wild places for current and future generations of Texans.
Garrison Brothers has an exciting event lineup planned, and you can expect line dancing, custom cowboy hats, a hay-less hayride distillery tour, and much more. Sip on their signature Balmorhea Old Fashioned and indulge in specially crafted dishes from the Whiskey Shack. And don’t miss live music from Jeremy Parsons from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and Noah Kurtis from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Learn more and join us in a salud to Texas Independence!
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