Outdoors enthusiasts in Texas can look forward to a new park to explore in the coming years: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently purchased a 2000-plus acre tract of land in the Hill Country with the goal of turning it into a state park.

An hour west of Austin, the Hill Country has some of that fast-growing city’s funky demeanor, yoked to a slower pace of life. This is where Austinites come to play, after all. One thing the Hill Country doesn’t have is Austin’s night-owl habits: most restaurants and breweries close by 9pm,

Texas Parks and Wildlife purchased about 2,000 acres near Colorado Bend State Park in Burnet County, which will become a new state park. The property, shown in yellow, is across the Colorado River from the existing park. State officials have finalized a $35 million deal for 2,020-acre tract that will be part a new Hill Country state park.

Gruene (pronounced like the color green) is a one-street town located in the Hill Country. Most people know it for its historical music hall, Gruene Hall, which has famously hosted Willie Nelson, George Strait and The Chicks.

Becoming an SA Current Supporter for as little as $5 a month allows us to continue offering readers access to our coverage of local news, food, nightlife, events, and culture with no paywalls.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has purchased 2,020 acres of land in Burnet County, north-west of Austin, which it plans to use for a new state park. The land cost $35 million and was funded via money raised from sporting goods sales tax and a one-time funding appropriation,

A new state park in Central Texas is in the works. Why it matters: With so much of Texas property in private hands, the new park will be key to expanding public access to the stat