The park is home to the official State of Texas bison herd, a group of more than 300 animals that are considered a genetically pure herd of Southern Plains bison. The herd traces back to calves rescued in 1878 by rancher Charles Goodnight and his wife, Mary Ann, after bison populations were pushed to the brink of extinction.
Today, the animals roam freely across the park. A new calf was born there last week.
The expansion includes two properties acquired in separate deals. The 1,120-acre Hawkins Ranch was purchased in January. In 2024, the state also acquired the 1,066-acre Rocking W Ranch along the park’s northwest boundary.
“These are two beautiful pieces of property,” said Superintendent Donald Beard. “The Hawkins Ranch is the last piece of the property west [of the park] that protects our viewshed of the canyon and affects our watershed. The Rocking W Ranch was also important because it expands the park to the northwest, allowing the Texas State Bison Herd access to the high plains.”
The Hawkins property includes more than 4.1 miles of Holmes Creek and Dry Creek and features views of the Caprock Escarpment. Wildlife on the land includes quail, mule deer, coyotes and bobcats.
The Rocking W Ranch also includes a 5,000-square-foot furnished barndominium that could be used in the future for family-style retreats tied to activities like hiking and horseback riding.
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, shaped by wind and water over time, features rugged plains and red-walled canyons in the Texas Panhandle. Visitors can explore about 90 miles of trails, see bison roaming the plains and pass through Clarity Tunnel, where bats roost.
Before the newly acquired land opens to the public, TPWD staff will conduct natural and cultural resource surveys to help guide management plans and future exhibits.
The agency will also develop a plan with public input to determine how the land will be used. Potential uses include camping, hiking and biking, though a timeline for opening has not yet been announced.