Texas Opens Post Oak Ridge State Park to Public
The 3,100-acre park spanning Burnet and Lampasas counties opened for public day use on Sept. 24.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in National Parks
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Texas Parks & Wildlife Department opened Post Oak Ridge State Park for public day use. The park combines a 2,020-acre ranch acquired from Vann family descendants in January 2025 with 1,100 acres of adjacent land.
Why it matters
The park adds a new public recreation site to Texas's state park system, funded through the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund approved by voters in 2023. Its opening follows a century of private ranching and fish-camp use on the land.
The 3,100-acre park was assembled from a 2,020-acre ranch bought from Vann family descendants and 1,100 acres of adjacent land. It currently has no drinking water access, cell service, or headquarters, and future amenities remain in planning.
The players
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
The state agency responsible for managing Texas's state parks, wildlife areas and natural resources, and the operator of the new park.
The details
John Fletcher and Mattie Lou Vann settled in northwest Burnet County in 1889, ranching, chopping cedar and running a fish camp for more than a century. Filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation outline trash removal, demolition of minor structures, and paving of gravel roads and trails, while guided hikes, classes and burn ecology education began during the first year.
Timeline
1889: John Fletcher and Mattie Lou Vann settle the land.
January 2025: Texas Parks & Wildlife acquires the 2,020-acre ranch.
2023: Voters approve the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund.
March: Construction on the park begins.
Sept. 24: Post Oak Ridge State Park opens for public day use.
Roadmap
The park is one of the projects funded by the $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund approved by Texas voters in 2023. TPWD policy requires newly acquired parkland to open for limited public use within 18 months and full public use within 48 months.
Visitors should note the park currently lacks drinking water, cell service and a headquarters, so plan supplies accordingly. Future RV sites and primitive camping are planned, but major amenities are targeted for 2029.
The takeaway
Newly opened state parks often start with limited facilities that expand over several years, so visitors should check current conditions before going. Post Oak Ridge's phased build-out reflects Texas's standard timeline for bringing acquired land into public use.
What happens next
Future plans call for RV sites, primitive camping, more trails and eventually river access, with the goal of adding major amenities by 2029.
Further reading
Explore more on National Parks to see how Texas's new state park fits among other protected landscapes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by People.
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