Hill Country ranch west of San Antonio to become giant new state park

May 27-A 54,000-acre ranch west of San Antonio is about to become the second-largest state park in Texas, behind only Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Texas Parks and Wildlife has acquired the Silver Lake Ranch - which is in both Edwards and Kinney counties - and plans to turn into Silver Lake State Park.

The Moody Foundation donated its share of the property ownership - almost 90% - to the state agency, which purchased the rest from the Libbie Shearn Moody Trust for $11.85 million. That money came from the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which voters created in 2023, and from sales tax on sporting goods.

The land was previously used for sheep and cattle ranching, Texas Parks and Wildlife said.

The property, which is about 150 miles west of San Antonio, includes a 30-acre spring-fed lake and more than 7 miles along the Nueces River, agency staff said previously. There are also other creeks and water features on the property, as well as caves and pictographs.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted in November to approve the purchase.

"The Moody Foundation is proud to help preserve this remarkable stretch of Texas Hill Country and make it accessible for generations to come," foundation vice president Ross Moody said in a written statement. "Silver Lake Ranch represents the natural beauty, history and spirit of our state, and we are honored to make this gift to Texas Parks and Wildlife to ensure it remains protected and enjoyed by all Texans for years ahead."

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said it will develop the park in phases, starting with guided tours and limited day-use opportunities.

Later phases "will add trails, basic visitor facilities and eventually expanded recreational amenities such as camping and paddling access," the agency said.

The property is near Kickapoo Cavern State Park and less than 50 miles west of Garner State Park, which is Texas' most-visited state park.

Silver Lake is the latest in a series of acquisitions of new state park land, including several in the Hill Country. Last August, the state purchased 1,700 acres for the new Bear Creek State Park, less than a mile from Garner, and in 2024 and 2025, it bought more than 3,700 acres to expand Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 6:52 PM.