85-year-old ranch is Texas’ newest state park

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department just bought a 650 acre ranch along Lake Palestine, one of the largest contiguous parcels of land along the river, with plans to develop the parcel into public land. While it is common for Texas ranches to become business parks or retail centers, this ranch is now Texas’ newest state park, and will open after the state completes planning and habitat restoration. 

“The property has 2,000 feet of frontage along Lake Palestine and 10 internal lakes and ponds, ranging from a half-acre to roughly seven acres. The land is about 60 percent wooded and 40 percent pasture, according to the listing,” Molly Wilhelm writes for the Houston Chronicle.

The owners originally listed the property for $9,995,000, although they did not disclose the final sale price to the Texas Parks & Wildlife department. It may take years before the property is available to visitors.