Fairfield Lake State Park temporarily reopens after being sold
Fairfield Lake State Park will temporarily reopen for day use only beginning Tuesday, March 14.
Houston Chronicle Staff
After announcing its permanent closure, Texas officials have temporarily reopened Fairfield Lake State Park starting Tuesday, March 14, according to a news release on Monday, March 13. The state park was originally permanently closed on February 28 after the owners sold the property to developers, instead of renewing the contract with Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Since 1976, the 1,800-acre state park that looks over a 2,400-acre lake has been offering miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and fishing. The park, about 100 miles southeast of Dallas-Fort Worth, was sold by Vistra, the owner of the site, to private developer Todd Interests, which has plans to build a gated community with multimillion-dollar homes and a private golf course.
Vistra gave the state 120 days to vacate the property on February 13. TPWD closed the property at the end of last month to begin preparations for decommissioning the park. However, officials said they want to keep it available as long as they can.
Visitation is on a first-come, first-served basis until the park reaches daily capacity. No overnight stays are available.
Shannon Faulk
“Since closing the park in February, we have heard an outpouring from Texans who would love to visit their park,” said TPWD State Parks Director Rodney Franklin. “While we still stand committed to reaching a compromise that would save Fairfield Lake State Park for future use, our team will be working hard to keep this gem as accessible as possible for as long as possible.”
Starting Tuesday, the park will reopen for day use only. It will be on a first-come, first-served basis until the park reaches its daily capacity. No overnight stays will be available during this time. Reservations will also not be accepted, TPWD said.
It’s unclear how long the park will remain open. TPWD said it has been in talks with members of the Texas legislature on ways to keep the park and work out a compromise with the property owners and Todd Interests.
