Texas State Park Must Close Because Landlord Sells Property To Developer

DALLAS. Fairfield Lake State Park, 96 miles south of Dallas, is expected to close permanently by the end of the month as its landlord sells the land to a developer.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department received a lease termination notice from the owners of the 5,000-acre site. Vista Corp. sells land to Dallas real estate developer Sean Todd and his firm, Todd Interests, for $110.5 million.

Todd announced that the land will be developed into an exclusive gated community that includes multi-million dollar homes and a private golf course, according to the Dallas Morning News and Bloomberg.

A renowned fishing destination, Fairfield Lake attracts anglers who fish for bass, crappie, bass, catfish, tilapia, and red drum. The lake is also popular for swimming and kayaking.

The surrounding area has 15 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

About 250 bird species have been recorded, including the bald eagle, and the park is a bird-watching paradise.

“The loss of Fairfield Lake State Park will be a significant setback in our efforts to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for Texas’ rapidly growing population,” he said. Texas Parks and Wildlife Chairman of the Commission Arka “Beaver” Aplin III. “This loss is especially incomprehensible at a time when we are celebrating 100 years of state parks, but with no cooperation or interest in working with us from the developer, we have no other options.”

Aplin said the agency was trying to acquire the state park site, but neither the company nor the buyer considered selling some or all of the land to the state.

For over 50 years, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has leased land for the state park from energy companies Vistra and Luminant. Since 1976, the state has invested $72 million to renovate and improve the park.

“This is an unprecedented loss of a state treasure for Texans,” said David Yoskowitz, executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Demand for outdoor recreation exceeds supply in Texas, so the loss of even one state park is a setback for all of us who use public land.”

The department said the park would be permanently closed on February 28. A spokesman for Vistra said the state would have 120 days from Feb. 13 — the date the lease termination notice was sent — to vacate the area.

During this time, park staff will begin removing equipment, transferring staff to other parks, and canceling upcoming campsite bookings. According to the press release, more than 2,700 people have already made reservations for dates after February 27th.

Rep. Angelia Orr, of R-Itasca, whose district includes the park, filed a bill on Tuesday that, if passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, would allow the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to use eminent domain to confiscate the park’s land. .

Orr said lawmakers are also working on a bill to prevent more state parks from closing.

“This cherished piece of Texas has blessed our local families and countless visitors for generations, and it’s hard to see it lost,” she said. “I join park lovers in Freestone County and across the state in expressing my sincere disappointment at this news. As a result, we are now working on legislation to prevent this from happening in any of our other beautiful state parks in the future.”

Luke Metzger, executive director of advocacy group Environment Texas, said the park’s closure was especially tragic during the 100th anniversary of the state park system.

“Our state parks are sacred to us Texans,” Metzger said. “Unfortunately, this loss means fewer nights of camping, fewer fish caught and fewer memories with our families.

“Texas desperately needs more state parks, not fewer,” he added.

State Senator Charles Schwertner of Georgetown, who chairs the committee on business and commerce, voiced his displeasure on Tuesday.

“Today’s heartbreaking announcement of the closure of Fairfield Lake State Park is a huge loss for Freestone County and all Texans who love our state’s unique parklands,” he said. “Unfortunately, Vistra and this private developer were unable to reach an agreement that would allow the State of Texas to purchase the park from Vistra in order to preserve it for future generations of Texans.”

A spokesman for Vistra said the company leased the land free of charge to the state and gave the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department two years’ notice that it intended to terminate the lease as of October 2020. an application for the purchase of all property – but the state did not submit an application.