The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has purchased 1,700 acres in Uvalde County for $33.5 million to create Bear Creek State Park, a major addition to the Hill Country park system expected to reshape outdoor hospitality demand across the Frio River valley.
Located less than a mile from Garner State Park, Texas’ most-visited state park, the new property includes frontage on the spring-fed Frio River, a popular destination for tubing, swimming, and fishing.
Garner frequently reaches full capacity by noon on summer weekends, with campsites and day-use areas selling out during the Memorial Day–Labor Day season.
Governor Greg Abbott said the acquisition underscores the state’s commitment to expanding recreation access.
“The acquisition of Bear Creek State Park will provide Texans access to the Frio River along with streams, canyons, and hiking trails for visitors to explore,” Abbott said in a written statement.
“I encourage all Texans and out-of-state visitors to witness our beautiful Texas parks up close.”
TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz called the land “another picturesque slice of the Texas Hill Country to enjoy.”
“The rolling grasslands and unnamed creeks stretching across the landscape will one day provide visitors with a new place to explore the peaks and valleys that make up Uvalde County,” Yoskowitz told the San Antonio Express News.
The purchase was made with a one-time state appropriation, while development will be funded by the $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, approved by voters in 2023.
TPWD said the planning process—including natural and cultural resource surveys—will take “many months,” and no opening date has been announced.
The property offers access to Bear Creek, Spring Creek, and several smaller tributaries, along with postcard-ready views of Old Baldy across the water.
Initial surveys show the land provides prime habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and “a potential for rare and sensitive floral species in the ravines throughout the property,” according to TPWD.
For campground and RV park owners near the Frio River, Bear Creek State Park’s development signals new demand.
Garner State Park’s sellouts already push overflow guests to private parks; the arrival of a second state park in the same corridor is likely to intensify competition for RV pads, tent sites, and day-use parking.