Falcon State Park
| Falcon State Park | |
|---|---|
Falcon Lake from Falcon State Park | |
| Location | Starr County, Texas; Starr County, Texas |
| Nearest city | Roma, Texas |
| Coordinates | 26°34′58″N 99°8′34″W / 26.58278°N 99.14278°W |
| Area | 576 acres (233 ha) |
| Created | 1949 |
| Visitors | 75,076 (in 2025)[1] |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
| Website | Official site |
Falcon State Park is a 576 acres (233 ha) state park in Starr and Zapata counties, Texas, United States. It opened in 1965 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The park is located at the southern end of the Falcon International Reservoir.[2]
History
Falcon Dam was dedicated in October 1953 and impounds Falcon International Reservoir. The state leased the land for the park from the International Boundary and Water Commission in 1949 and acquired ownership of the park land in 1974.[2]
Nature
Animals
Collared peccary, white-tailed deer, eastern cottontail, coyote, bobcat, raccoon and striped skunk are mammals found in the park.[3] Birds include plain chachalaca, green jay, great kiskadee, pyrrhuloxia, greater roadrunner, scaled quail, crested caracara and verdin.[4] The park has a butterfly garden designed to attract species like the red admiral, crimson patch and white-striped longtail.[5]
Plants
Honey mesquite, huisache, Texas wild olive, Texas persimmon, Prickly-pear cactus and native grasses such as Texas fluffgrass grow in the park.[6]
Activities
Camping, picnicking, boating, waterskiing, swimming, birdwatching, and fishing are popular activities in the park.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Christopher Adams. "What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown for 2025". KXAN.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ a b "Falcon State Park:History". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ "Back Roads Nature–Falcon State Park". Texas Master Naturalist. Texas A&M University. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ "Birds of Falcon State Park" (PDF). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ "Falcon State Park" (PDF). tpwd.texas.gov. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ "Falcon State Park: Nature". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ Garza, Alicia A. "Explore Falcon State Park: A Gem in Texas". tshaonline. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 17, 2026.