{{Short description|State park in Starr and Zapata County, Texas}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Falcon State Park | map =Texas#USA | relief = yes | map_caption = | image = Falcon State Park, Roma, TX.jpg | image_caption = Falcon Lake from Falcon State Park | location = Starr County, Texas; Starr County, Texas | nearest_city = Roma, Texas | coordinates = {{coord|26|34|58|N|99|8|34|W|region:US-TX|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | area = {{convert|576|acres|ha|0}} | created = 1949 | visitation_num = 75,076 | visitation_year = 2025 | visitation_ref = <ref name="Park visitation">{{cite web |author=Christopher Adams |publisher= |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/most-visited-texas-state-parks-2025/|title=What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here’s the top 10 countdown for 2025 |work= |website=KXAN.com |access-date=February 16, 2026}}</ref> | governing_body = Texas Parks and Wildlife Department | website = [https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/enchanted-rock Official site] }} '''Falcon State Park''' is a {{convert|576|acres|ha|0}} state park in Starr and Zapata counties, Texas, United States. It opened in 1965 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The park is located at the southern end of the Falcon International Reservoir.<ref name="TPWD History">{{cite web |title=Falcon State Park:History |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/falcon/history |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=17 February 2026}}</ref>
==History== Falcon Dam was dedicated in October 1953 and impounds Falcon International Reservoir. The state leased the land for the park from the International Boundary and Water Commission in 1949 and acquired ownership of the park land in 1974.<ref name="TPWD History"></ref>
==Nature== ===Animals=== Collared peccary, white-tailed deer, eastern cottontail, coyote, bobcat, raccoon and striped skunk are mammals found in the park.<ref name="TMN">{{cite web |title=Back Roads Nature–Falcon State Park |url=https://txmn.org/lostpines/2019/01/15/back-roads-nature-falcon-state-park/ |website=Texas Master Naturalist |publisher=Texas A&M University |access-date=17 February 2026}}</ref> Birds include plain chachalaca, green jay, great kiskadee, pyrrhuloxia, greater roadrunner, scaled quail, crested caracara and verdin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Birds of Falcon State Park |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4502_0060a.pdf |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=17 February 2026}}</ref> The park has a butterfly garden designed to attract species like the red admiral, crimson patch and white-striped longtail.<ref name="Rack card">{{cite web |title=Falcon State Park |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_cd_p4502_060c.pdf |website=tpwd.texas.gov |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=17 February 2026}}</ref>
===Plants=== Honey mesquite, huisache, Texas wild olive, Texas persimmon, Prickly-pear cactus and native grasses such as Texas fluffgrass grow in the park.<ref name="TPWD nature">{{cite web |title=Falcon State Park: Nature |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/falcon/nature |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=17 February 2026}}</ref>
==Activities== Camping, picnicking, boating, waterskiing, swimming, birdwatching, and fishing are popular activities in the park.<ref name="TSHA">{{cite web |last1=Garza |first1=Alicia A. |title=Explore Falcon State Park: A Gem in Texas |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/falcon-state-park |website=tshaonline |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=17 February 2026}}</ref>
==See also== *List of Texas state parks
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscat|Falcon State Park}}
{{Protected areas of Texas}}
Category:State parks of Texas Category:Protected areas of Starr County, Texas Category:Protected areas of Zapata County, Texas