Texas officials consider reopening Fairfield Lake State Park
Although Fairfield Lake State Park has closed permanently, Texas legislators support saving the property and possibly reopening it for day use. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said that committee members championed the park during a hearing on Thursday, March 9.
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.
The park closed on February 28 after Vistra terminated its lease with TPWD. Since then, Texas officials have been talking to Todd Interests and Vistra Corp. about how to save the park. Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Arch “Beaver” Aplin III said he looks forward to coming back to the table and trying to find a compromise that would allow Texans to keep it.
Fairfield Lake State Park contains nearly 14 miles of shoreline.
Matt Wyatt
“For Texans, Fairfield Lake State Park is a rare treasure providing vital recreational space,” Aplin said. “When I hear Texans talk about this park, I hear them call it ‘our park.’ I heard it again today, when Freestone County Judge Linda Grant talked about the significant economic impact ‘our park’ and its 80,000 annual visitors generate for her county. She referred to it as ‘our park,’ and it is our park. It’s everyone’s park.”
In fiscal year 2022, the park welcomed 82,555 visitors, according to TPWD. Visitation increased significantly in the last four years – up from 58,991 in 2019. TPWD said it has committed $70 million in infrastructure, including buildings, barns, residences, roads, utilities, and a boat ramp.
During the hearing, committee members, including Chairman Trent Ashby, voiced support for preserving the park for public use only. Additionally, committee members asked TPWD to consider temporarily reopening the park.
Officials also discussed their desire to honor and protect the two cemeteries on the property, including gravesites that date back to the 1880s. TPWD also hopes to save the lake and its recreational fishing as the body of water hosts some of the nation’s finest bass, officials said.
Aplin pointed out this could reduce the lakeshore by half and devastate aquatic life. TPWD said its staff is discussing reopening options at the moment.
