Texas Family Sells 650 Acres for $1M to Create State Park

After 80 years of family ownership, the Pollards decided their slice of East Texas paradise belonged to everyone.

Sam Pollard and his family sold 650 acres along Lake Palestine for $1 million, a fraction of its market value, so it could become a state park. The property includes pine woods, wetlands, scenic bluffs, and a working pecan orchard that has sustained the family business for generations.

"This land is part of my soul," said Pollard, president of Texas Pecan Nursery. "It means a lot to me that we can leave a legacy for people to enjoy."

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation stepped in to buy the property now and hold it until the state can complete the purchase in late 2027. Without this timing, developers could have snapped up the longest remaining contiguous shoreline on Lake Palestine.

The 58-foot-deep lake already attracts boaters, swimmers, and anglers chasing bass and catfish. Soon, families will camp under those same pecan trees the Pollards tended for decades and hike trails overlooking water where white-tailed deer, bobcats, and waterfowl roam.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department plans to open the park in phases, starting with guided tours before expanding to day use and overnight camping. The department will invite public input on amenities like bike trails, primitive campsites, and lakefront access points.

The Ripple Effect

This addition addresses a critical need in Texas, where state parks have struggled to keep pace with population growth. The Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, created specifically to expand park access, will fund the final purchase.

Anne Brown, executive director of the foundation, called it a rare opportunity. Properties like this, with intact ecosystems and prime recreation potential, almost never come to market for conservation purposes.

The Pollard family could have earned millions from private developers. Instead, they chose to ensure their land would welcome Texas families forever, turning personal sacrifice into public treasure.