Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is a 4,871-acre Texas state park near Strawn in the Western Cross Timbers, preserving wooded hills, grasslands, and lakeshore that were once private ranchland. Texas Parks and Wildlife bought the property in October 2011 with help from The Nature Conservancy, but repeated delays, including COVID-19-era labor and supply problems, postponed its debut until March 1, 2026, with a grand opening on April 10, 2026. A centerpiece is Tucker Lake, a 90-acre reservoir built in 1937, still owned by the City of Strawn and used for drinking water. The park also protects diverse plant and animal life, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.