Old Tunnel

Old Tunnel SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/old-tunnel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Tunnel_State_Park Old Tunnel State Park is a railroad tunnel of the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway, which ceased operations in 1942. It is located halfway between Fredericksburg and Comfort on Old San Antonio Road. Since the shut down of the railway, the tunnel has become a bat cave, hosting over 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats and 3000 Cave myotis bats. The bats emerge at sunset during the months of May through October, and viewing is open to the public.

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE OLD TUNNEL STATE PARK While you marvel at the bats or admire the old railroad tunnel, please remember that everything you see is protected. Artifacts, rocks, animals, and plants are all part of the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage. Help us keep Old Tunnel State Park a special place for everyone. DISCOVER HOW AN ENGINEERING MARVEL TURNED INTO A COZY HOME AT OLD TUNNEL STATE PARK. AT JUST 16 ACRES, OLD TUNNEL IS THE SMALLEST STATE PARK IN SIZE, BUT HAS THE LARGEST SEASONAL POPULATION OF WILDLIFE. COME FOR THE BATS BUT STAY FOR THE HISTORY AND HIKING TRAIL THAT MAKE THIS LITTLE • Hike only on designated trails and stay out of closed areas, including the tunnel. • Leave no trace. Keep your park clean by picking up your trash. • Safeguard the park for future generations and leave plants, animals, and fossils where you find them. • Never touch or handle a bat. • Volunteer opportunities are available, especially during the evenings when the bats are in residence! Email the park for more details: old.tunnel@tpwd.texas.gov Old Tunnel State Park 10619 Old San Antonio Road Fredericksburg, TX 78624 (866) 978-2287 www.tpwd.texas.gov/oldtunnel PARK A BIG DESTINATION FOR NATURE LOVERS. © 2022 TPWD. PWD BR P4503-0259D (7/22) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/park-pubs O L D T U N N E L S T A T E P A R K A RAILROAD LEGACY Old Tunnel State Park’s namesake—the railroad tunnel— symbolizes persistence and resourcefulness. When European settlers moved into this area in the mid-1800s, they needed a reliable way to connect nearby Fredericksburg to San Antonio. They were thwarted by the cost of breaching the Big Hill, the site of what is now Old Tunnel State Park. Since trains weren’t quite powerful enough to climb this ridge, the rail line needed a tunnel. By 1913, local residents had raised enough money to build the tunnel. Workers bored 920 feet through solid limestone—that’s the length of two and a half football fields! Around 100 workers, probably local laborers of German descent, dug out most of the tunnel by hand. During its construction, the tunnel became a popular tourist attraction, much like it still is today. The San Antonio, Fredericksburg, and Northern Railway used the tunnel until 1941. Despite its popularity with local residents, the rail line was never profitable. It was deemed unessential to the World War II effort and was dismantled so the ties and rails could be used for other things. Some of these pieces were used on the Alaska-Canadian Highway, and others went to railroads as far away as Australia. Once the tunnel was abandoned by people, new residents moved in—bats. A GREAT PLACE TO HANG OUT During the summer, millions of Mexican free-tailed bats spend their days in the tunnel and their nights on the wing. The Old Tunnel provides them a secure roosting place, protected from predators while they rest. This is a pseudo-maternal colony. In the spring, female Mexican free-tailed bats migrate and land here, but they move out to have their babies elsewhere. Male bats then move in. In August, the females return with their babies and the population of the tunnel balloons to approximately three million bats. It’s this time of year that the evening bat flight is the most astounding. Millions of bats spiral out of the tunnel near sunset, gaining speed and altitude to spend the night hunting insects. Everyone leaves for warmer climates when the weather cools down, and the tunnel is mostly empty again until spring. Old Tunnel is vital to the survival of millions of bats, but it’s also an important place for scientists. Bat researchers at universities and government agencies like Texas Parks and Wildlife have gathered data here to learn more about these flying mammals. Some of the studies have changed our understanding of bat migration, winter food sources for bats, and their importance to the environment. MEXICAN FREE-TAILED VERSUS CAVE MYOTIS BATS Two kinds of bats live in the tunnel, though it is hard to tell who’s who when they are zooming through the air. One thing that Mexican free-tailed bats and cave myotis bats have in common is that they like to roost in similar places. However, since they’re separate species, they have a lot of differences, too! Mexican Free-tail Bat Cave Myotis Bat 3 million 3,

OLD TUNNEL SP BIRD CHECKLIST This checklist is a list of common and specialty birds seen in the park. Staf and volunteers have used previous checklists as well as eBird data to compile these lists. This list should not be used as a comprehensive list of birds seen in this park. Please help us protect the natural avian communities by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Thank you for your cooperation. Waterfowl ___ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Woodpeckers ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Grouse, Quail, and Allies ___ Golden-fronted Woodpecker ___ Wild Turkey ___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker Pigeons and Doves Falcons and Caracaras ___ Rock Pigeon ___ Crested Caracara ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove ___ American Kestrel ___ Inca Dove ___ Merlin ___ White-winged Dove ___ Peregrine Falcon ___ Mourning Dove Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies Cuckoos ___ Greater Roadrunner ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo Nightjars ___ Common Nighthawk ___ Chuck-will’s-widow Hummingbirds ___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird Herons, Ibis, and Allies ___ Great Blue Heron Vultures, Hawks, and Allies ___ Black Vulture ___ Turkey Vulture ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk ___ Red-shouldered Hawk ___ Red-tailed Hawk Owls ___ Great Horned Owl ___ Eastern Wood-Pewee ___ Acadian Flycatcher ___ Least Flycatcher ___ Eastern Phoebe ___ Ash-throated Flycatcher ___ Great Crested Flycatcher ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Vireos ___ White-eyed Vireo ___ Bell’s Vireo ___ Hutton’s Vireo ___ Yellow-throated Vireo ___ Blue-headed Vireo ___ Red-eyed Vireo Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens ___ Blue Jay ___ Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay ___ Chihuahuan Raven ___ Common Raven Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice ___ Lesser Goldfnch ___ Carolina Chickadee ___ American Goldfnch ___ Black-crested Titmouse New World Sparrows Martins and Swallows ___ Chipping Sparrow ___ Purple Martin ___ Field Sparrow ___ Barn Swallow ___ Lark Sparrow ___ Clif Swallow ___ Dark-eyed Junco Long-tailed Tits and Bushtit ___ Bushtit Kinglets ___ White-crowned Sparrow ___ White-throated Sparrow ___ Lincoln’s Sparrow ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet ___ Canyon Towhee ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ___ Rufous-crowned Sparrow Gnatcatchers ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Wrens ___ Spotted Towhee Blackbirds ___ Orchard Oriole ___ Rock Wren ___ Canyon Wren ___ Brown-headed Cowbird Wood-Warblers ___ House Wren ___ Black-and-white Warbler ___ Winter Wren ___ Orange-crowned Warbler ___ Carolina Wren ___ Nashville Warbler ___ Bewick’s Wren ___ Common Yellowthroat Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers ___ American Redstart ___ Northern Mockingbird Thrushes ___ Yellow Warbler ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler ___ Golden-cheeked Warbler ___ Hermit Thrush ___ American Robin Waxwings ___ Black-throated Green Warbler ___ Wilson’s Warbler Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies ___ Cedar Waxwing Old World Sparrows ___ House Sparrow Finches, Euphonias, and Allies ___ House Finch ___ Summer Tanager ___ Northern Cardinal ___ Blue Grosbeak ___ Indigo Bunting ___ Painted Bunting ___ Pine Siskin © 2021 TPWD PWD CD P4503-0259C (5/21) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. 

frankie_the_bat.qx 7/26/07 2:53 PM Page 1 story by Nyta Hensley & Patricia Morton illustrated by Steve Stratakos Introduction If adults could only see the world through the eyes of children, they could relive the wonderment and excitement of discovery they too once experienced in their youth. New discoveries also are exciting for sci­ entists, including those who conduct research on bats. After all, bats are creatures of the night; they often live in dark places, and thus are rarely seen directly by most people. Because of this, children and adults often develop unfounded, false attitudes toward bats that are more often based on myth than on fact. These negative attitudes can sometimes contribute to misunderstandings and false perceptions, with conse­ quences that can have adverse impacts on these fasci­ nating animals. Discovery is one of the primary goals of science and for those who spend their lives seeking and gaining new knowledge. Scientific knowledge often becomes buried in highly technical journals and books that are not readily available to the public. Thus, one of the great challenges that scientists face is to discover ways to convey what they have learned to broader audiences. Established in 1950, the U.S. National Science Foundation has long supported the research of scien­ tists to make discoveries in natural world. The con­ tent of this book is based on observations and experi­ ments conducted by scientists who have studied the lives of free-tailed bats for over 50 years. In recent years, one of the primary goals of the National Science Foundation has been to help promote the transfer of new knowledge gained by scientists to the broader public that ranges from curious children to interested senior citizens. This book, developed as part of an outreach effort with funds made available through a National Science Foundation grant awarded to Boston University, with collaborators from the University of Tennessee, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. We chose to produce this as a bilingual book so that its content would be readi­ ly available to children and adults on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border whose first language may not be English. Frankie the Free-tailed Bat is a story about a Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) that was born in a cave located in the Texas Hill Country, but each year migrates to and from Mexico with thousands to millions of other members of its kind (or species). It tells a delightful story, based on scientific discoveries, that not only imparts new knowledge about this fascinating bat species to young readers, but it also contains new information that will be of interest to a broader audience—that this species and others like it, are valuable members of our environ­ ment that need to be protected. Each night, Brazilian free-tailed bats feed on flying insects, many of whose larvae damage valuable crops such as cotton and corn that humans depend upon for their everyday exis­ tence. This book also conveys an important conserva­ tion message that bats are beneficial to agriculture and the environment. I hope you will read this book and discover for yourself! Thomas H. Kunz, Principal Investigator, Boston University, July 2007 frankie_the_bat.qx 7/26/07 2:53 PM Page 2 Introduction If adults could only see the world through the eyes of children, they could relive the wonderment and excitement of discovery they too once experienced in their youth. .(need to remove this second period) New discoveries also are exciting for scientists, including those who conduct research on bats. After all, bats are creatures of the night; they often live in dark places, and thus are rarely seen directly by most people. Because of this, children and adults often develop unfounded, false attitudes toward bats that are more often based on myth than on fact. These negative attitudes can sometimes contribute to misunderstandings and false perceptions, with consequences that can have adverse impacts on these fascinating animals. Discovery is one of the primary goals of science and for those who spend their lives seeking and gaining new knowledge. Scientific knowledge often becomes buried in highly technical journals and books that are not readily available to the public. Thus, one of the great challenges that scientists face is to discover ways to convey what they have learned to broader audiences. Established in 1950, the U.S. National Science Foundation has long supported the research of scientists to make discoveries in natural world. The content of this book is based on observations and experiments conducted by scientists who have studied the lives of free-tailed bats for over 50 years. In recent years, one of the primary goals of the National Science Foundation has been to help promote the transfer of new knowledge gained by scientists to the broader public that ranges from curious children to interested senior citizens.

-Official- FACILITIES Get the Mobile App: MAPS ACTIVITIES TexasStateParks.org/app T O Y O T A T U N D R A The Toyota Tundra is built to explore the great outdoors. No matter what the weekend throws at you, your Tundra takes it on with ease. | toyota.com/tundra Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation CONTENTS 4 100 Years of Texas Parks 6 Parks Near You 8 90 Checklist DIRECTORY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 52 68 20 38 60 30 84 68 David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Mischelle Diaz Communications Director TPW COMMISSION Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman Lake Jackson Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman Wimberley James E. Abell Kilgore Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Paul L. Foster El Paso Anna B. Galo Laredo Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth 52 Panhandle Plains 48 State Parks Map Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cover illustration: Brad Woodard, bravethewoods.com Texas State Parks Official Guide, Nineteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/23) TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.texas. gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528. In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. WELCOME from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director This year is very special for Texas State Parks: We are celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2023. More and more Texans are discovering the beauty of State Parks and exploring the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Our teams across the state are incredibly excited to welcome outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who have yet to discover what our parks have to offer. The variety of Texas’ lands is unmatched; from the mountains of west Texas to the Gulf shores, the Texas State Park system celebrates and preserves the natural and cultural treasures that make Texas such a special place. The 640,000-plus acres that make up the state park system are nearly as diverse as the people of Texas. Since 1923, our mission has been to help connect our visitors with the outdoors. As we honor those who have come before us, I invite a new generation to be a part of the story of the lands that connect us all. There is more to enjoy in our parks than you know, so please join us in our celebrations and activities. Every day we look for new and better ways to ensure your state parks are welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience being outside. I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while bringing your friends and family along. YOU are a natural and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary of state parks with you! WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS Galveston Island State Park reopened the beachside of the park with a new headquarters, campsites, restrooms, and more. Bastrop State Park unveiled an extensive new group of trails, the “Tree Army Trails,” many of which are ADA-accessible. Improvements and major repairs are planned for Indian Lodge, Tyler, Inks Lake, Cedar Hill, South Llano River, Eisenhower and several other state parks All-terrain “GRIT” wheelchairs are now available at 10 parks with more adaptive equipment on the way to help people of all abilities experience Texas State Parks. Learn more about our accessibility efforts, page 14. More information: TexasStateParks.org/whatsnew 100 Years of Texas Parks The crown jewels of Texas road trips started as an unfunded wish list before the Depression. Back in 1923, Governor Pat Neff realized rising numbers of new car travelers needed places to camp overnight on multi-day trips. Neff convinced the state legislature to create a six-member State Parks Board, half men, half women. Isabella, the Governor’s mother, and her family donated acreage on the Leon

Guía de Parques INSTALACIONES Descarga la Aplicacíon Móvil MAPAS ACTIVIDADES texasstateparks.org/app ¡Los niños entran gratis! La entrada es gratis para los niños de 12 años y menores. Encuentra un parque: parquesdetexas.org Contenido Estero Llano Grande SP 2 Actividades y Programas 4 Parques Cercanos 6 Lugares para Quedarse 8 Tarifas y Pases 9 Directorio 10 Mapa de Parques 18 Instalaciones y Actividades BIENVENIDO Rodney Franklin, Director de Parques Texas tiene algunas de las tierras públicas más diversas del país, con una gran riqueza natural y cultural. La vida silvestre está por todas partes, los paisajes florecen con belleza, y la historia es abundante. Sus parques estatales son parte del legado que nos enorgullece. La gente de Texas ayuda a asegurar ese legado para las generaciones futuras al visitar y ser voluntarios. ¡Gracias! Estos más de 630,000 acres exhiben algunos de los grandes tesoros del estado. Los parques nos ayudan a crear recuerdos con la familia y a encontrar consuelo en la naturaleza. Los parques fortalecen las economías locales y unen a las comunidades. Sobre todo, los parques nos permiten pasar tiempo al aire libre para recargar energías, estar saludables y relajarnos a nuestra manera. Les invito a disfrutar de sus parques estatales, explorando lo mejor de Texas con amigos y familia. Los parques están aquí para todos. Nos pertenecen a todos. ¡Visítelos, diviértase y ayude a protegerlos para siempre! Foto de portada: Estero Llano State Park, Chase Fountain © 2021 TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/21) TPWD recibe fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. (USFWS por sus siglas en ingles). TPWD prohíbe la discriminación por raza, color, religión, nacionalidad de origen, discapacidad, edad y género, conforme la ley estatal y federal. Para solicitar un acomodo especial u obtener información en un formato alternativo, por favor contacte a TPWD en un Teléfono de Texto (TTY) al (512) 3898915 ó por medio de “Relay Texas” al 7-1-1 ó (800) 735-2989 ó por email a accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. Si usted cree que TPWD ha discriminado en su contra, favor de comunicarse con TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, o con el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU., Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. De acuerdo con la Ley de Depósito del Estado de Texas, esta publicación está disponible en el centro de Distribución de Publicaciones del Estado de Texas y/o las Bibliotecas de Depósito de Texas. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS ¿Qué puedo hacer en los parques estatales? ¡Disfruta de un día de campo, visita un sitio histórico o elige entre muchas otras opciones! Bicicletas Pedalea a lo largo de los parques a cualquier velocidad, en cualquier estilo, con cualquier grupo. Elige las rutas, el tipo de terreno y las distancias que cumplan con tu zona de confort. Caminatas Empieza con un circuito más corto, avanza a terrenos más difíciles o únete a una caminata guiada. Pescar Puedes pescar sin licencia en tantos como 70 parques estatales. Muchos parques ofrecen equipo para pescar a manera de préstamo y eventos especiales para aprender a pescar. Barcos Renta canoas y kayacs y explora uno de los senderos acuáticos en Texas. Nadar Animales Silvestres Acampar Descubre aves, mamíferos y plantas que tienen su hogar en Texas. Muchos parques tienen señalamientos y listados que te ayudan a aprender más. Encuentra un lugar que cumpla con lo que quieres. Prueba nuevas recetas, comparte historias favoritas y disfruta de las estrellas. 2 Más información y reservaciones: parquesdetexas.org Escape del calor en arroyos, ríos, lagos, manantiales, piletas y playas del mar. Tu seguridad en el agua es muy importante. Lleva el chaleco salvavidas. Aprende a nadar. Guarda a los niños. (512) 389-8900 ¡Pregunta en tu parque cuáles están disponibles! Los niños de 12 años y menores entran GRATIS Cielos Estrellados Escapa de las luces de la ciudad y goza de maravillosas vistas del cielo que no encontrarás en ninguna otra parte. Ven a una fiesta de estrellas o toma una excursión de constelaciones auto-guiada. Familias en la Naturaleza Elige un taller o diseña tu propia aventura. ¡Monta una tienda de campaña, cocina al exterior, prende una fogata y juega al exterior! Nosotros te Toma una publicación gratuita de actividades o pregunta por los paquetes gratuitos con los parques proporcionamos todo el equipo. No es necesario tener experiencia. participantes. Usa los binoculares, lupas, libros de bosquejos y libros de guías para explorar el parque. Mochilas para Exploradores Soldados Búfalo de Texas Descubre la historia con cuentos, vestuarios y herramientas. Sigue la pista de un animal, pesca con caña, cocina sobre una fogata, visita los fuertes y más. Adéntrate en las historias de vida de aquellos que sirvieron valientemente en los primeros regimientos Áfrico-Americanos de las Fuerzas Armadas. ! Seguridad en el Parque Ten cuidado con el agua Pre