Old Tunnel State Park is the smallest state park in Texas. But don’t let that little piece of trivia keep you from visiting!

A scenic, windy 20 mile drive from Boerne, TX, Old Tunnel State Park rests on the edge of Fredericksburg, essentially out in the middle of nowhere. Spanning 16 acres of land, not only is it the smallest Texas state park, but it’s also one of the newest, having just been established in 2012.

The tunnel is cut through a limestone hill, and was part of the Fredericksburg, San Antonio, and Northern Railway for many years. It was decommissioned in 1941. The 920 feet railroad tunnel was the first built east of the Pecos River, and is the only one in the Texas Hill Country.

But not only is the park popular for its history, but it’s also well-known for the fact that it houses over 3 million bats throughout the year! During the season starting May 1st through October 31st, visitors can see the bats leave the tunnel at night in a mass exodus as they begin their nightly hunt.

While visiting the park is free, you have to get a ticket to stay past 5 pm and view the bats. You can get those tickets here.

The park also features a half-mile nature trail. While the trail is short, it has some steep portions and is fairly primitive, so be prepared for a bit of a challenge.

Also worth noting, the park is right next to the famous Alamo Springs Cafe.