The Concho River’s name comes from the plentiful freshwater mussels that live in its waters. ("Concho" means shell in Spanish.) These mussels produce beautiful iridescent pearls of all sizes and colors, including big purple gems that early Spanish explorers called Concho pearls. 

Four ecological zones meet here: the High Plains to the north, the Texas Hill Country to the south, the Rolling Plains to the east, and the arid Trans-Pecos to the west.

Because of that, a wide variety of plants and animals live here or pass through. We’ve identified some 350 species of birds and about 50 species of mammals.

The park is also home to bison and the Official Texas State Longhorn Herd.