Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says they've been given 120 days to vacate Fairfield Lake State Park before the land is turned over to a new owner.
After more than 50 years of public use, the 4,200-acre state park that hosts an average of 80,000 visitors a year will close permanently at the end of the month, bringing an end to decades of horseback riding, family reunions, paddling, fishing, camping and hiking at the park south of Navarro County.
Beginning Feb. 28, visitors will no longer have access to the park, public boat ramps, or the fishing pier. Public recreation on the lake will also be closed. TPWD said approximately 2,700 people had overnight reservations at the park after Feb. 27 that will have to be canceled.
The land the park is located on is in Freestone County, southeast of DFW, and is currently owned by Vistra Energy. The company leased the land to the state at no cost for the last five decades but said in a statement to NBC 5 on Wednesday that when the Big Brown Power Plant at the lake was retired in 2018 they gave the state a two-year notice that they intended to sell the property and terminate the lease.
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Vistra said they have since amended the lease to allow the park to stay open beyond October 2020 and they would instead end the lease with 120 days notice after the property was sold.
Vistra said the property went up for sale in 2021 and that they encouraged the state to submit a bid but that the state did not attempt to buy the land. Vistra said they agreed to sell the property in 2022 to a potential buyer.
TPWD said Vistra is selling the land to Todd Interests, the developer responsible for high-end projects in downtown Dallas, including The National and East Quarter. The Dallas Morning News reports the popular state park is slated to become an exclusive community with multimillion-dollar homes and a private golf course.
David Yoskowitz Ph.D., executive director of TPWD, said in a statement Tuesday that the parks department tried to find a solution that would allow the state to purchase a part of or all of the property, but that agreement could not be reached with Vistra or the buyer.
In a statement Tuesday, the TPWD said "the park’s recent lease with Vistra was extended until the fall of 2022, contingent upon the sale of the property after the energy company closed the coal power plant located on the lake in 2018. TPWD sought to purchase the state park site, but Vistra would not consider a sale of just the parkland. TPWD also hoped to partner with a potential buyer or possibly acquire the property for continued operations. The new owner does not intend to use the property as a state park."
TPWD said funds now available from the constitutional amendment dedicating sporting goods sales tax to support state parks could have been tapped to make the land purchase.
“Losing Fairfield Lake State Park would represent a significant step backward in our efforts to expand outdoor recreational opportunities for Texas’ booming population,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Arch “Beaver” Aplin III. “This loss is especially unfathomable at a time when we are celebrating 100 years of state parks, yet absent any cooperation or interest in working with us from the developer, we have no other options. Rest assured Commissioners remain committed to working with Todd Interests to maintain this important public asset and grow outdoor recreation in Texas.”
TPWD said they will continue to work to buy and potentially expand the park.
“I am extremely disheartened that Fairfield Lake State Park can no longer provide the outdoor fun and memories it has created for families in the local community and across Texas for nearly 50 years,” said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks. “I would like to thank the community, partners, visitors and all the employees for their hard work and unwavering support to bring incredible recreation and outstanding service to the state of Texas for so many years.”
NBC 5 has reached out to Todd Interests for comment but has not yet received a reply.
