The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation secured the 650‑acre Lake Palestine ranch on a $10.2 million deal that will use the state’s $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund to preserve a key stretch of East Texas wilderness. The purchase, announced in early 2024, follows voters’ approval of the fund in 2023 and reflects the Foundation’s strategy of holding land temporarily until the state can formalize ownership, allowing the state to earn interest on the money before the final transfer.
The estate, located in Henderson County about 18 miles west of Tyler, boasts 2,000 feet of shoreline, a 58‑foot‑deep lake, ten smaller ponds, pine forests, native grasses and a working pecan orchard. Wildlife includes white‑tailed deer, bobcats and waterfowl, making the property a valuable habitat corridor along Lake Palestine.
Anne Brown, executive director of the Foundation, said the timing was critical: "Opportunities to protect a property like this don’t come along very often, and when they do, timing is critical." She added that partnerships with charities give the state more flexibility to secure land that could otherwise be lost to private developers.
Sam Pollard, president of Texas Pecan Nursery, called the sale "a legacy for people to enjoy" and noted that the ranch has been in his family’s hands since 1940. Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks, welcomed the acquisition, promising guided tours, campsites, hiking trails, paddling launch sites and habitat restoration once the state assumes ownership in late 2027.
TexasLand, the real‑estate firm that represented the Pollards, spent a year conducting site visits, environmental assessments and inspections before finalizing the agreement. The Foundation will open the park in stages, starting with guided tours, then building permanent campsites and public facilities, and will hold community meetings to shape the park’s master plan.