ATTRACTIONS
BAT EMERGENCE VIEWING AREA OPEN TO PUBLIC WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS A
n old abandoned railroad tunnel is home to up to three million bats from May through October. During those months, visitors can watch the bats emerge from the tunnel nightly. Visitors can come to Old Tunnel State Park during these months to watch the bats emerge from the tunnel which was originally built in 1913. The tunnel was used by the Fredericksburg and Northern Railroad until its abandonment in 1941.
Millions of bats funnel out of the abandoned railroad tunnel nightly at Old Tunnel State Park between May and October, and eat 25 tons of moths per night. — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department photo
The activity tour fee for the upper viewing area is $2 per person regardless of age. The area will be limited to 30. The fee for the lower viewing area is $5 per person and seating will be limited to 15. Due to the bat’s sensitivity to noise disturbance, children must be four years old to go to the lower area.
Now it is home to three million Mexican free-tailed Programs at both the upper and lower viewing and 3,000 cave myotis bats that spread out over the region and feast on insects and moths across the Hill areas begin approximately one hour prior to bat emergence time. Portable toilets are available. Country. Bat viewing begins May 1. There are 30 permits available for the upper viewing area and 15 available for the lower viewing area. Permits for entry into the park and fees for the bat viewing must be purchased online. No permits will be sold onsite.
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The upper viewing deck contains interpretive displays about the railroad and bats. The park also has a nature trail that is open from sunrise until 5 p.m. There are no limits to the number of visitors that can visit the park during the day and no permit is required. The park does not charge an entrance fee.
Spring&Summer2021
