Cozy Indoor Fireplaces | Hike NEW Parks on Jan 1 | Aerial Tramway News | Input Needed on a New Park | Planned Park Openings | and More!



View as a Webpage [ [link removed] ]


Reservations [ [link removed] ] | Find a Park [ [link removed] ] | Activities [ [link removed] ] | More [ [link removed] ]

header white orig font and SP logo




*Stay Cozy in a Cabin with a Fireplace*
Caddo Lake SP fireplaces in Cabin #9, link [ [link removed] ]

Cabin #9 at Caddo Lake State Park

Fires can make a room warm, inviting and romantic. There are a number of parks with indoor fireplaces [ [link removed] ] in their cabins or group halls, including: 


* Possum Kingdom [ [link removed] ] – North 
* Galveston [ [link removed] ] – South 
* Palo Duro [ [link removed] ] – West 
* Garner [ [link removed] ] – Central  
* Big Bend Ranch [ [link removed] ] has a fireplace in the hunting-lodge-turned-bunkhouse, perfect for a bachelor/bachelorette party or any adventure-group event.

Check for "fireplace" in lodging descriptions to be sure you reserve [ [link removed] ] the right facility (a "fire pit" is outdoors). Then look forward to relaxing in front of a cozy fire after a refreshing winter hike [ [link removed] ].




*Join in the Holiday Spirit at Your Parks*



LBJ State Park lit up with Christmas, link [ [link removed] ]

The holiday season [ [link removed] ] at your parks is a magical time to visit with family and out-of-town guests. Campers decorate their campsites, and there are plenty of seasonal events [ [link removed] ].  

Kick off the new year by participating in popular First Day Hikes [ [link removed] ] on Jan. 1. It's a fun way walk off that holiday feast with other lovers of the outdoors.



2025 SP Christmas ornament, link [ [link removed] ]

This year’s Texas State Parks ornament [ [link removed] ] features birds and birdwatchers at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park [ [link removed] ]. It's only available in our online store [ [link removed] ], where you'll find park-related gifts year-round and gift cards [ [link removed] ]. 

Don't forget to get your day pass [ [link removed] ] before heading to a park. Happy holidays! We'll see you out there. 





"A message from our non-profit partner Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation:"

*The Tramway Returns to Franklin Mountains*   
Franklin Mountains, with link [ [link removed] ]

The long-awaited rebirth of one of El Paso’s most beloved landmarks is underway. With $27 million in state funding secured, Phase I construction has begun on a new version of Wyler Aerial Tramway [ [link removed] ] at Franklin Mountains State Park [ [link removed] ] that will expand parking, improve accessibility and enhance visitor amenities.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation [ [link removed] ] has already committed to raising up to an additional $10 million for Phase II, which will deliver the new tramway system, visitor center and aerial station.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman and El Paso native Paul Foster praised the historic effort, hailing Wyler as an iconic attraction that “connects us not only to the grandeur of the Franklin Mountains, but also to the sense of pride that comes from being a Texan."




*New Parks in the Pipeline*



fall color at Kronkosky SNA, link [ [link removed] ]

Albert & Bessie Kronkosky SNA



Are you ready for more places to walk, hike, camp and watch wildlife? In 2025 alone, we acquired nearly 10,000 acres of land for future state parks.

Acquisition of parks continues as we speed up work to get some parks open to the public, including: Chinati Mountains [ [link removed] ], Albert & Bessie Kronkosky SNA [ [link removed] ], Post Oak Ridge [ [link removed] ], Enchanted Rock expansion [ [link removed] ], Powderhorn [ [link removed] ], Bear Creek [ [link removed] ] and Palo Pinto Mountains [ [link removed] ]. 



Post Oak Ridge SP,. link [ [link removed] ]

Post Oak Ridge SP



Interested in a sneak peek at some parks in the pipeline? These parks are offering First Day Hikes to a limited amount of people: Palo Pinto Mountains [ [link removed] ], Post Oak Ridge [ [link removed] ] and Chinati Mountains [ [link removed] ]. 

Find details about parks opening to visitors in coming years and news about phased openings in the "Texas Parks & Wildlife" magazine story New Texas State Parks Will Bring More Hiking, Camping and Scenic Views [ [link removed] ]. 





We Request Your Input on a New Park

We’re working on Post Oak Ridge State Park’s [ [link removed] ] Public Use Plan and want your input on how visitors might connect with the outdoors, cultural history and each other at the park. Join us at one of two upcoming in-person public meetings:


* *Austin* – Jan. 14, 6:00–8:00 p.m. at LCRA Redbud Center
* *Lampasas* – Jan. 15, 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Lampasas County Annex

Whether you love hiking, camping or the outdoors in general, this is your chance to be part of the planning process – find out more [ [link removed] ]. 

New Horned Lizard license plate, link [ [link removed] ]
*Chill Out Video: Cold Weather at Caddo Lake*
Cypress tress in turquoise water, video link [ [link removed] ]

Mysterious and beautiful Caddo Lake is located in northeast Texas and is easily accessible from Caddo Lake State Park [ [link removed] ]. Chill out with the sounds of nature as the mist dances on the water in our short video Caddo Lake – Postcard from Texas [ [link removed] ]. 

Tips from the CEOs of Camp Cooking

Vintage black and white image of cowboys using Dutch ovens, video link [ [link removed] ]

A Dutch oven is a heavy pot used in outdoor cooking. Due to its long history in Texas with cowboys and campers, it's been named the official state cooking vessel.

Members of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society are pros at outdoor cooking and claim you can cook anything in one, even ice cream! Watch them in action at Cleburne State Park [ [link removed] ] as they share tips and meals in the video Dutch Oven Devotees [ [link removed] ]. Then try making this easy Dutch oven peach cobbler [ [link removed] ] (video).



________________________________________________________________________



"A message from our sponsor:"

Sienna vehicle ad, link [ [link removed] ]

"Messages from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine advertisers:"

Padre Cleanup, link [ [link removed] ]
________________________________________________________________________


Visit El Paso, link [ [link removed] ]
________________________________________________________________________


Visit Rockport for hiking and biking, link [ [link removed] ]



"State Parks Getaways is made possible in part ""by the generous support of Toyota."

Toyota [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________



"Did someone forward this email to you? *Subscribe now [ [link removed] ] ⁠— it's free!*"




<!-- @media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { .mobile-footer .tablecell {border:none !important;} } -->

facebook [ [link removed] ]twitter [ [link removed] ]instagram [ [link removed] ]youtube [ [link removed] ]

download our mobile app [ [link removed] ]



*Texas Parks and Wildlife Department*

contact us <[email protected]>
update your account [ [link removed] ]
unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]


texas parks and wildlife [ [link removed] ]

You are receiving this message at [email protected] because you have done business with and/or signed up to receive email updates from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department [ [link removed] ]. Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe now [ [link removed] ] -- it's free!





 

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department · 4200 Smith School Road · Austin, TX 78744 · 800-792-1112 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]