The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired 630 acres adjacent to one of its state parks in the Hill County with the hopes of expanding recreational opportunities.
TPWD announced Tuesday that it purchased the land from Comanche Rock Acquisitions, LLC after staff at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in Fredericksburg noticed a for-sale sign on the property and alerted the department.
The 630-acre Comanche Rock Ranch was listed for $18.9 million on Hood Real Estate Inc.’s website.
“We are so excited that we were able to acquire this property and that we will be able to give the hundreds of thousands of Enchanted Rock patrons new opportunities to recreate in this part of the state,” Rodney Franklin, Texas State Parks director, said in the news release. “This addition is the latest win for Texas State Parks as we work towards enhancing some of our existing sites and continuing our gold medal-winning stewardship to the people of Texas.”
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area already spans more than 1,640 acres and is an International Dark Sky Park.
TPWD reviewed potential opportunities across the state to determine feasibility and worked with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to purchase the land using funds from the sporting good sales tax, Franklin said.
The property will become part of Enchanted Rock, expanding recreational opportunities at one of the most visited state park sites and protecting the natural resources in an area seeing rapid development, including helping “ensure the view of the hill county from on top of the rock remains beautiful and expansive.”
“Acquiring this property will allow for a more expansive experience when visiting while adding to the protection of resources and recreational opportunities in the area,” Doug Cochran, superintendent of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, the release said. “Currently people who visit Enchanted Rock experience the dome up close and personal. There is excitement with this acquisition that visitors will now be able to experience the dome from a distance without the threat of development.”
Next, TPWD will develop a plan — with public input — to decide what recreational opportunities for the property will be. The process will take “many months” to complete but updates will be released as available, including on a potential opening date.
