The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has officially begun construction on the new Post Oak Ridge State Park, a 3,118-acre parkland development located along the Colorado River in Burnet County and Lampasas County in Central Texas.
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The future state park is situated northwest of Austin and sits across the river from Colorado Bend State Park, a popular outdoor destination known for hiking, caves and waterfalls.
A new state filing submitted March 4 with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation outlines plans for a $2.1 million public-use development project at the park site. According to the filing, construction work began March 9 and is scheduled to conclude by Aug. 28, 2026, although timelines may change as the project moves forward.
Early construction work will focus on preparing the site and building basic park infrastructure required for visitors and park operations.
According to the regulatory filing, crews will begin with trash removal and demolition of minor structures remaining on the property. Contractors will also pave gravel park roads and develop crushed-stone trails to provide initial access routes throughout the park.
Additional work will include construction of a park host site, installation of gates and park signage, development of a maintenance yard and the installation of carports and utility infrastructure across the property.
The filing indicates the initial phase of development will cover approximately 135 million square feet of parkland.
These early improvements are designed to establish essential operational facilities before the state begins developing expanded recreational amenities and visitor services in later phases.
Planning for the new park is still underway, and the agency expects to gather public feedback as the development progresses.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, public input meetings for the park’s long-term design and recreational planning are expected to begin later this summer.
The state purchased the property in April 2025 using funds from the $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, a statewide initiative approved by voters in 2023 to expand public park access and conserve natural landscapes.
The land was formerly part of the historic Vann Ranch. Portions of the property once belonged to John Fletcher and Mattie Lou Vann, who settled in the area in 1889 before passing the land to their seven children and future generations of the family.
Today, the rugged landscape includes spring-fed creeks, limestone cliffs and canyon formations. The property also features roughly 1.5 miles of Yancey Creek and several limestone bluffs overlooking the Colorado River.
"On this rugged, ecologically diverse landscape, we will provide outdoor access, protect sensitive habitats, and celebrate the area’s culture and heritage," the site reads.
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State officials say the new park will expand outdoor recreation opportunities while also protecting environmentally sensitive areas across the property.
The site’s diverse terrain and riverfront location could support activities such as hiking, camping, wildlife observation and water recreation once the park is fully developed.
Officials have emphasized that protecting natural springs, wildlife habitats and historic landscapes will remain a priority throughout the planning and construction process.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department previously said the park will help address the growing demand for outdoor recreation across Central Texas, where population growth has increased pressure on existing state parks.
Once complete, Post Oak Ridge State Park is expected to become one of the largest new state park developments in Texas in recent years, adding thousands of acres of protected land and public recreation space near one of the state’s fastest-growing metropolitan regions.
Originally reported by Mia Valdez,Boerne Reporter in My San Antonio.
