In This Issue:
 A stone’s throw from central Houston and a world away, Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center awaits families and kids who want to spend a day outside in nature. Wildlife watching and fishing are the main attractions of the 400-acre, day-use park 15 miles east of downtown Houston. Get a taste of the park in this video.
What a great destination for a spring break day trip with the family. Getting close to nature can take many paths:
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Kids become “secret agents of nature” using the free new Agents of Nature mobile game for Apple and Android devices. Players complete educational challenges and learn about the plants, animals and park features.
- Free catch-and-release family fishing is permitted for children accompanied by adults.
- An 82-foot observation tower offers incredible views of the surrounding wetlands and lake, the park’s restored prairie, and even the downtown Houston skyline and the San Jacinto Monument - which are each more than 15 miles away in opposite directions.
- Stroll a 3,000-foot boardwalk through prairies and wetlands.
- Watch alligators from a half-mile self-guided nature trail along 28 naturalized ponds.
- Learn about native landscaping and how to recycle household leaves and grass.
- Study the green architecture of the LEED-certified TPWD regional headquarters building.
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 Mother Neff State Park is tapping her toes and ready to two-step with visitors! The park's grand re-opening in late January showcased a new 20-site camping loop and a new park headquarters with historical exhibits, multimedia room, and state park store, all designed in harmony with existing Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) structures, archeological sites and the natural habitat. See for yourself in this video and read more in this news release.
Established in 1937, the park suffered repeated flooding throughout the decades, which impacted park operations and closed the park to day users and campers for extended periods. The extensive renovations are situated at the park’s higher elevations and can be enjoyed regardless of frequent bottomland flooding.
Future developments, to be implemented as funding becomes available, include a group hall, campfire theater, small group bunkhouse, cabins, riverside kayak launch and comfort station, and repairs to the historic CCC structures.
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Spring and summer are the perfect times to get away and explore the outdoors. With online reservations, you can reserve your State Park trip at the most convenient time for you.
- New customers will need to create a username and password.
- Once you’ve logged in, search parks by Facility Type, Region, and Activity. Then, choose a park destination from the Selected Parks Menu and select your trip dates.
- A list of campsite names and their availability will appear at the bottom of the page. If a particular campsite option is unavailable, click on the Calendar Search icon to see a full listing of available dates throughout the year.
- After you select a park, input your Equipment/Lodging Type and the Number of People Per Site to further narrow your search.
- On the next screen, you can choose the number of sites to reserve. If you need to reserve more than 5 sites, reserve the additional sites with a new search.
- For problems logging in and making reservations, contact TPWD Customer Service at 1(512)389-8900.
Whether you’re roughing it under the stars or relaxing in a cozy cabin, hundreds of adventures await. Plan ahead and reserve your State Park home-away-from-home today.
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 Have an iPad or iPhone? Then get the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine plus bonus articles and videos at your fingertips with the brand new app, available now! Download and get the "Dark Skies" issue for free. This issue includes:
- Dozens of interactive Bat Facts
- Stunning Texas Night Skies Slideshow
- Video of the devastating McKinney Falls Flood
See how it works in this video.
Download the app for iPad or iPhone (5 or greater), and let us know what you think.
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 Preliminary public use plans for Palo Pinto Mountains State Park are now in place and await funding to convert the hilly, wooded parkland into a premiere recreational and nature-centered destination for campers, anglers and other outdoor lovers. Once funding is secured, progress can begin on more than 100 campsites, lakeside cabins, a recreation hall and an extensive trail system in what will be one the Texas’ busiest state parks, located midway between Abilene and Fort Worth. Watch a video about the park and the recent planning process.
The park will not open until facilities are in place, but when the gates do swing open, Executive Director Carter Smith believes the state’s investment “will pay recreational and conservation dividends for generations to come.”
While the park is not currently open to the public, special events such as star parties and trail rides are occasionally hosted there. Follow the park on Facebook to learn more about opportunities to explore the park, such as the upcoming April 18 Star Party.
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park was created in 2011 when TPWD purchased the original 3,300 acres for the new North Texas park that today encompasses more than 4,000 acres of former ranch land straddling the Stephens and Palo Pinto County line in the West Cross Timbers region. The property is roughly six miles long and two miles wide and includes two miles of frontage on Palo Pinto Creek and 80-acre Tucker Lake, the park’s centerpiece. The parkland contains diverse terrain ranging from hilltop vistas to riparian forests and is home to plentiful wildlife, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.
Staff continue to document the park’s diverse plant and animal life and identify sensitive archeological and historical resources at a “new gem being added to the crown jewels of Texas," according to State Parks Director Brent Leisure.
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It's true - 639 bird species have been officially documented in Texas. Here are some great ways to get a peek at some of them:
- Pick a state park as your location for the Great Texas Birding Classic which runs statewide April 15-May 15, 2015. The deadline to register is April 1, so get your team together and get ready to go. Read how to participate.
- Many parks host birding walks and talks. For a focus on Texas state parks by region, see the Birding in Texas State Parks pages.
- On your own anytime, take advantage of nearby state parks, cheaper gas prices, technology (better binoculars and cameras), social media and mobile apps to join the fun.
A few great resources will get you started:
- Birding checklists – for many Texas state parks
- All About Birds – This online guide from Cornell Lab of Ornithology helps identify any North American bird.
- TexaseBird.org – Wow! Search by species, location and month. Find birding hot spots. Check out recent activity and who saw what.
- Birding apps – Check out the latest birding apps such as Merlin, a free app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Once downloaded to your mobile device, you’ll have fun with birds wherever you go.
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Spring events abound in Texas State Parks with too many choices to describe here. The good news? The State Parks Events Calendar is available online and is now mobile-friendly. Wherever you’re headed, you can easily expand your trip plans: just download your favorite events to your personal calendar and hit the road. Here’s a sampler:
- March 7 - Spring Break Kickoff Kids’ Fishing Tournament, Purtis Creek State Park, near Athens
- March 9 - Become a Spring Break Junior Ranger, Garner State Park, near Concan
- March 10 - Zombie Apocalypse Hike, Galveston Island State Park, Galveston
- March 10 - Knot on My Watch, Martin Creek Lake State Park, near Marshall
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March 19 - Bats of the Texas Panhandle-Plains, Caprock Canyon State Park and Trailway, Quitaque
- March 17 - Discovery Cave Tour, Colorado Bend State Park, near Lampassas
- March 28 - Beasts of Burden: Draft Animals at Work, Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, Navasota
Some events are offered multiple dates. You’ll also find regularly scheduled bird walks, wildlife watches, moonlight hikes and more.
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A message from a Texas Parks and Wildlife sponsor
April is Texas State Parks Month at Whole Earth Provision Co. (WEPCO) for the fourth year in a row. The company will host two great events and donate the proceeds to help with state park day-to-day operational expenses and to enhance visitor programs. Try out these cool opportunities:
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During April, visit any of the nine Whole Earth Provision Co. store locations in Texas to pick up a State Parks Guide and make a donation to the parks. Donations in any amount will be gratefully accepted, but for a $20 donation or more, Whole Earth will give you a $5 Texas State Park gift card redeemable for park entrance fees and merchandise at all Texas state park stores. For a $50 or more donation, you’ll receive both a limited edition Whole Earth Buff and a $5 Texas State Park gift card.
- Banff Mountain Film Festival (Austin) - If you love travel, adventure and high adrenaline sports, plan on attending the Festival on April 18-19 at the Paramount Theater.
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 Need a change of scenery? Take a long weekend and hike in three parks within 10-40 miles of each other (all an hour's drive from Austin) for three sets of natural wonders including lakes, caverns and waterfalls.
Read about this relaxed itinerary in “Three Parks in Three Days” in Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. Then adjust it to fit your preferences.
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Caprock Canyons State Park has a new visitor shuttle, the Doodlebug. Named for the passenger train that transported its riders to various destinations along the Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railroad in the 1930s, it will take visitors on scheduled tours following the same route along the 64-mile Caprock Canyons Trailway and on state park roads as well.
The open-air, electric vehicle with a 14-passenger capacity will help visitors discover the Caprock Canyonlands, including “Bat Tours” down the Caprock Canyons Trailway to witness the emergence of a half million Mexican free-tailed bats and enjoy spectacular views of the rugged breaks of the Llano Estacado.
For more information on the Doodlebug or to schedule a “Bat Tour,” please call Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway at (806) 455-1492.
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Thanks to the following sponsors and partners:
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