Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

We usually say that state parks are for everyone, right? Well…there is one exception.

Big Bend Ranch State Park is not for everybody. Not everyone is going to enjoy a visit there.

Dan Sholly is Deputy Director of Texas State Parks. By all means visit the park—it’s fantastic. Unless, of course, you need creature comforts.

If you don’t want wildness…if you don’t want desolation and desert solitude and you want to have your cell phone work—don’t go to Big Bend Ranch, because you cell phone’s not going to work there; you’re going to be on your own to figure out what it is that you want to do out in the middle of an incredibly beautiful, sacred, wild land.

The park is 300-thousand acres of diverse, rugged, unspoiled beauty. Until recently, access was tightly controlled while staff developed a visitation plan. Regional Interpretive specialist, Linda Hedges.

Now we do have a plan in place that addresses safety issues, where every visitor who goes to the ranch to go into the back country—off the beaten path—goes through an orientation session with park staff. So, we now feel we are equipped with a plan to deal with public safety so that folks can enjoy the ranch safely.

On November 13 through 15, the park hosts a Fiesta to introduce visitors to everything the park has to offer—except a cell phone signal.

We’ll have details about Fiesta tomorrow.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Big Bend Ranch State Park Play Now | Play in Popup | Download