The Old Tunnel State Park is a railroad tunnel abandoned by the Fredericksburg and Northern Railways in 1942. Since then, the state has protected the tunnel and opened it to the public as a state park. In 2012, the park officially became a state park. There are many things to do in the park, from hiking to camping.
Old Tunnel State Park has an interesting history and provides an opportunity to explore both human and natural history. While it is the smallest state park in Texas, it is full of unique activities and offers an intriguing history. The park’s name hints at its history. This historic railroad tunnel was once used by the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway, but it came under state park management in 2012.
Visitors can take a walk along the nature trail, which is less than half a mile long. The nature trail is open every day of the year, and is free to explore. You can walk through the tunnel and see bats. The trail is closed Monday through Wednesday nights during bat emergence, but it is open every other night of the week, May through October. The nature trail is primitive, so it isn’t ideal for small children.
The Old Tunnel State Park is located near Fredericksburg, Texas, and is a popular attraction for nature enthusiasts. It is home to up to three million Mexican free-tailed bats and three thousand cave myotis. You can watch the bats at the park emerge from the May and October tunnel.
The park is open every day except Monday and Tuesday. It is free to visit during the day, but you must pay an activity fee of $2 per person after five p.m. There are two viewing areas for visitors to view the bats: the lower viewing area offers a close view of the bats, and the upper viewing area is more distant. Both viewing areas have educational programs. Tickets for the lower viewing area must be purchased in advance.
Visitors can also enjoy the park’s nature trail, which is a half-mile walk open from sunrise to 5 p.m. Visitors are reminded not to go inside the tunnel, as they risk disturbing the bat colony. The park also offers picnic tables and restrooms, though they are only open during bat season.
Another feature of Old Tunnel State Park is its historic railroad tunnel. The tunnel was built in the early 1900s to serve the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway, a railroad stretched between Fredericksburg and Comfort. In 1913, it was completed and opened for business. However, the railroad had trouble starting, and the tunnel was ultimately abandoned in 1942. At the time of the tunnel’s construction, the town of Fredericksburg depended on ox-drawn freight wagons to transport their goods to San Antonio. However, times were changing fast.
