Land Purchase Okay Will Expand Garner State Park

Media Contact: Rob McCorkle, TPWD, (830) 866-3533 icle__media__contact">Media Contact: Rob McCorkle, TPWD, (830) 866-3533 or robert.mccorkle@tpwd.texas.gov; Corky Kuhlmann, TPWD, (512) 389-4590 or corky.kuhlmann@tpwd.texas.gov

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SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today gave the go-ahead for the purchase of a 113.5-acre tract of ranch land contiguous to the southern boundary of Garner State Park in Uvalde County.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has negotiated a contract to buy the acreage at the appraised value from private landowners. The land is owned by John and Taylor Cummings, whose father, Jack, grew up on the ranch and worked to help develop Garner State Park as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. His sons later inherited the property from their aunt, who originally acquired the property in the 1930s.

Taylor Cummings retired to the ranch and still lives there. He will continue to live on the remaining 100-plus acres of the ranch.

TPWD approached the Cummings brothers about buying the property because it abuts the state’s recently acquired Old Baldy tract on the west and runs all the way to U. S. 83. When the sale of the Cummings tract is finalized, it will straighten out the southern boundary of Garner State Park and result in roughly 2,200 feet of highway frontage. The land is well-suited for primitive camping and hiking.

When TPWD completes the pending land purchase, Garner State Park will encompass more than 1,600 acres.

Half of the funds to acquire the Cummings ranchland come from monies allocated by the 81st Texas Legislature and 50 percent from a matching grant from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Garner State Park ranks No. 1 among Texas state parks in overnight camping and records approximately 330,000 visits annually. It is open seven days a week. For camping fees and other park information, contact the park at (830) 232-6132.