The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has completed acquisition of nearly 54,000 acres of Hill Country ranchland that will be developed into Silver Lake State Park. Located about 150 miles west of San Antonio between Rocksprings and Uvalde in Kinney and Edwards counties, the property includes a 30-acre spring-fed lake, steep canyons, limestone cliffs and miles of river frontage along the West Nueces River.
The transaction closed following a significant gift from the Moody Foundation—which contributed roughly 87.5 percent of the ranch—and a purchase of the remaining interest for $11.85 million using funds from the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund and the sporting goods sales tax. Announced publicly on May 27, 2026, the acquisition will make Silver Lake the second-largest park in the Texas state system, exceeded only by Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Landscape, water features and wildlife
The landscape is a textbook example of Hill Country topography: rising limestone cliffs, rolling hills carpeted in live oak and juniper, and multiple creek corridors. The land contains several named waterways including Sycamore Creek, Lost Creek and North Spring Creek, along with natural features known locally as Blue Waterhole and Dutch Waterhole. The property’s namesake, Silver Lake, is a spring-fed lake of approximately 30 acres.
Habitat and species of interest
Wildlife observed across the property includes white-tailed deer, turkey, javelina and doves, while aquatic life in Silver Lake includes the greenthroat darter. Portions of the ranch have been identified as potential habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, and the site also contains caves, pictographs and oak motts that contribute to its ecological and cultural value.
Funding, donors and the conservation context
This acquisition is the first parkland purchase made using the voter-approved Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, a $1 billion endowment intended to expand and create state parks. The interest from that fund plus the sporting goods sales tax covered the purchase portion of the transaction. The Moody Foundation’s donation of its ownership interest—along with the state purchase of the remaining share—illustrates a public-private partnership approach to large-scale land protection in Texas.
Why it matters for Texas
Advocates point out that Texas ranks relatively low in per-capita state park acreage, and recent reports have suggested the state needs to grow its parkland to meet recreational demand. The Silver Lake acquisition both preserves an important swath of Hill Country landscape and increases public access to natural areas. State leaders described the project as creating opportunities for future generations to explore and learn about the region’s natural heritage.
Planning, access and next steps
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff will develop the new park in phases. Initial public access could include guided tours and limited day use along existing ranch roads while planners complete natural and cultural resource surveys and design visitor facilities. Over time, TPWD expects to add trails, basic visitor infrastructure and expanded recreational amenities such as camping and paddling access, following public input and formal planning steps.
As part of the planning process TPWD will solicit community feedback, publish draft management plans and share milestones that lead toward a general opening. Staff and contractors will carry out resource inventories to inform how historic sites, sensitive habitats and recreational opportunities are balanced within the park’s management framework.
Local and statewide implications
Located near other popular Hill Country destinations, the new park is expected to draw visitors from the greater Texas Triangle as well as regional visitors seeking large, scenic open spaces. The acquisition highlights a strategy by TPWD to target parcels that deliver high natural and recreational value, particularly those that protect riparian corridors, significant habitat and cultural resources.
Officials thanked the Moody Foundation and other partners for their roles in the transaction and emphasized that transforming private ranchland into public parkland is often a lengthy, multi-step process involving surveys, phased infrastructure development and public engagement. While a firm opening date has not been set, the completion of the acquisition marks a major milestone toward making Silver Lake available for generations of Texans.