 The Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area near Freeport has expanded by 2,500 acres, bringing the protected coastal landscape to more than 17,500 acres.
Chase Fountain/TPWD
A family held this Texas coastal land for generations. Now it's protected forever
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Original Article by Ariana Garcia, Assistant News Editor for CHRON. Original article posted on June 22, 2026
One of the Texas coast's largest remaining expanses of prairie, wetlands and tidal marsh just got bigger. A 2,500-acre conservation deal has expanded the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area near Freeport to more than 17,500 acres.
The newly protected tract sits west and north of the existing 15,033-acre wildlife management area in Brazoria County. The land was conserved through a partnership between the Ward family, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
This map shows the newly protected 2,500-acre tract added to the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area in Brazoria County.
Coastal Prairie Conservancy
The Ward family sold the property to the conservancy, which transferred the land to TPWD to become part of the wildlife management area. The conservancy retains an easement to ensure the land remains protected.
The expansion creates more than 17,500 acres of connected habitat, including coastal prairie, wetlands and tidal marsh that support species such as Black Rails, Mottled Ducks, migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.
Staff from the Coastal Prairie Conservancy and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department visit the newly protected property in Brazoria County.
Chase Fountain/TPWD
"This project permanently protects an extraordinary piece of the Texas coast," said Mary Anne Piacentini, president and CEO of the CPC. She said the acquisition strengthens connections between existing protected lands, including the nearby San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, while preserving habitat and natural resources for future generations.
Known within the family as "Down Below," the property has been owned and stewarded by the Wards for generations. The family traces its Texas roots to Emily Austin Perry, Stephen F. Austin's sister, whose descendants helped shape the region's ranching history.
 Aerial views of land recently added to the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area near Freeport.
Chase Fountain, TPWD
For the family, protecting the land also honors the legacy of the late Lee Taylor Ward, a rancher and outdoorsman who spent decades caring for the property.
"He loved that land," his wife, Emily Ward, said. "He loved getting up every morning and going out there. He believed this landscape mattered, not just for our family, but for wildlife, for ranching, and for the future of the Texas coast."
 The newly protected property includes coastal prairie, wetlands and marsh habitat near Freeport.
Chase Fountain, TPWD
David Butler, TPWD's project leader for the Central Coast Wetland Ecosystem Project, said the agency plans to continue many of the land management practices used on the property for years, including cattle grazing, prescribed burns and hunting programs that help maintain habitat and wildlife populations.
Newly protected wetlands and marsh habitat near Freeport support waterfowl, shorebirds and other coastal wildlife.
Maegan Lanham/Maegan Lanham/TPWD
Funding for the acquisition came through a RESTORE Act grant. Established after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the program directs Gulf Coast restoration funds toward projects that protect and restore coastal ecosystems.
Long-term plans call for incorporating the 2,500-acre tract into the broader Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area public access system. The wildlife management area currently offers year-round access to the Jones Creek and Live Oak nature loops, as well as scheduled tours and special permit hunts.
The wildlife management area provides regulated hunting opportunities while conserving native coastal habitat.
Maegan Lanham
Texas has roughly 50 wildlife management areas covering more than 700,000 acres. Managed by TPWD, they serve as research and conservation areas while also providing opportunities for activities such as hunting, birdwatching and hiking.
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