After 80 years of ownership, the Pollard family has sold 650 acres on Lake Palestine in Henderson County, Texas to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation for $1 million. The goal? Turning the land, which includes pine woods, bluffs, wetlands, and a working pecan orchard, into a state park everyone can enjoy.

The foundation will hold the property until the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquires it in late 2027, using money from the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. It’s the longest remaining contiguous stretch of shoreline on Lake Palestine, which makes it a major win for conservation in the region. Once the park opens in phases, visitors can expect camping, kayaking, hiking, and lake access, all shaped by public input.

Sam Pollard, the current owner and president of Texas Pecan Nursery, put it simply: the land is part of his soul, and he wanted to leave a legacy for people to enjoy. Anne Brown of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation added that chances to protect a property like this don’t come around often. What would you want to see included in Texas’s newest state park?