Hill Country Drama

Northwest of Austin lies beautiful ranchland, with scenic Colorado River frontage and spring-fed creeks, dramatic cliffs and canyons, and a ridgeline that is home to an uncommon stand of post oaks. It’s now a Texas state park!

Vann Ranch

John Fletcher and Mattie Lou Vann settled here in 1889, making a home for seven children and their descendants. Over the years, Vann family members have ranched, chopped cedar and opened a popular fish camp on this land.

TPWD purchased 3,118 acres of land for the new park, including from descendants of the Vanns, beginning in January 2025. The agency will use funds from the voter-approved Centennial Parks Conservation Fund to develop the park.

Unique features

The land offers vistas across rolling hills, a beautiful stand of majestic post oaks, and a view of an otherworldly rock formation across the river. Surrounded by ranchland, this park will provide a quiet getaway from modern life.

Creating a park

Opening a park requires multiple steps. Many factors impact the length of this process, including weather.

Baseline surveys are the first step. These surveys determine sensitive areas as well as areas we can develop. The surveys also identify the scenic and interesting places at the site.

With that information in hand, TPWD creates a Public Use Plan to guide the park’s development. We share that plan with the local community for feedback.

Once we finalize the plan, the design phase begins. Park planners design the look of the buildings, placement of parking, and other park infrastructure.

Finally, construction can begin.

Check back here for updates on the development of this state park.

Centennial Parks

TPWD will speed up the development of parks funded through the Centennial Fund, including this one.

The first public access will be in fall 2025, with public hunts. Guided hikes will follow. Check our Events page to plan your first look at this new park!