Land Acquisition – Parker County - Approximately 50 Acres at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway

Please limit submissions to one per person. (Por favor limite sus comentarios a uno por persona)

• English
• Español

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Presenter: Trey Vick

Action
Land Acquisition – Parker County
Approximately 50 Acres at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway
March 26, 2026

I.      Executive Summary: Staff requests authorization to acquire a 50-acre parcel adjacent to Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway. This tract is available for acquisition from a willing seller and would add operational utility to the park and provide greater access to portions of the park for recreational opportunities.

II.     Discussion: Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway consists of 3,280 acres located on Rock Creek, a large tributary of the Brazos River. The trailway stretches 20 miles from the town of Weatherford to the downtown district of Mineral Wells, in both Parker and Palo Pinto counties. In 1922, the City of Mineral Wells built Lake Mineral Wells to address the city’s increasing water needs. In 1963, the city found an alternative water supply and stopped using Lake Mineral Wells as its main source of water. In 1975, after the closing of Fort Wolters, the city and Fort Wolters donated the lake and surrounding acreage to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), with the city retaining responsibility for upkeep of the dam and spillway. The 3,280-acre state park opened on July 1, 1981.

Staff prioritizes acquiring state park inholdings and adjacent properties from willing sellers to minimize operational and management conflicts and ensure the conservation of TPWD public lands. Staff has identified a 50-acre tract adjacent to Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway that is available for acquisition from a willing seller. The subject tract will add operational utility to the park, including for emergency response, and provide greater access to a 200-acre portion of the existing park that has limited and unreliable access. Additional access will provide greater recreational opportunities such as hiking and hunting.

III.   Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire from a willing seller in Parker County approximately 50 acres at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway.”

1. Exhibit A – Location Map
2. Exhibit B – Vicinity Map
3. Exhibit C – Site Map of Proposed Acquisition

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit A

Location Map for Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway Parker County
Parker County

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit B

Vicinity Map for Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway
Mineral Wells, Texas

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit C

Site Map of Proposed Acquisition
Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway Outlined in Red
Subject Tract Outlined in Yellow