A Texas Family's 650 Acres on Lake Palestine Are Set to Become a State Park

About 650 acres of pine forest, ponds and lake shoreline in East Texas are on the path to becoming a state park. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) announced on October 2 that it acquired the Henderson County property on Lake Palestine on October 1 from the Pollard family, who have owned it since 1940.

"This land is part of my soul." — Sam Pollard, president of Texas Pecan Nursery

How the deal works

The foundation says the price was more than $10 million. TPWF used its Land Conservation Loan Fund, a donor-supported revolving fund whose inaugural funders include Lyda Hill Philanthropies, and the NextEra Energy Foundation contributed $100,000. TPWF will hold the land until the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department can buy it, expected in late 2027 when Centennial Parks Conservation Fund money becomes available.

What visitors can expect

The site sits roughly 18 miles west of Tyler and 20 miles east of Athens. It includes native pine forest, pecan orchards, blufftop lake views and habitat for wildlife and birds. The department identified it as a possible state park in 2025.

• Phased opening: guided access first, then day use, and eventually full day and overnight access
• Planned features: hike and bike trails, traditional and primitive campsites, day-use areas, lakefront access and habitat restoration

After the purchase, the department plans to ask the public for input on the park's future.

Why it matters

Large, intact stretches of shoreline rarely come up for sale, and TPWF executive director Anne Brown said it was able to step in and secure the land now. Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks, said the department is excited to add the site to the system.

The park is still more than a year from its public debut, and the state purchase depends on funding arriving as planned.