Austin, TX
Between Waco And Austin Is Texas’ First State Park Known For Its Trails, Camping, And A Scenic Lookout Tower – Islands
Texas has dozens of state parks, each with its own stash of natural marvels and outdoorsy adventures. But if you enjoy exploring history and nature in one place, consider a trip to Mother Neff State Park. What sets this patch of wilds apart from the rest is the fact that it holds the distinction of being Texas’ very first state park. The recreation area officially opened its doors to the public in 1937, but its roots stretch back long before that.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department seems to give conflicting information about the park’s origin story online (you can read all about it here and here). But what can be ascertained is that some, if not all, of the land was once owned by husband and wife Noah and Isabella Neff, aka Mother Neff, both of whom decamped to the Lone Star State from Virginia in the 1850s. The grounds were later donated to the state after Mother Neff’s passing in 1921 — the same year the couple’s son, Pat Neff, was sworn in as the governor of Texas — and the park was eventually born.
Today, Mother Neff State Park encompasses just shy of 400 acres along the winding Leon River. The recreation area sits just west of the small community of Moody, between Waco and Austin. While the Waco Regional Airport is only about 45 minutes away. Many more flights arrive into the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (and it’s known for its food options), though it’s about twice as far away. However you get there, aside from its storied heritage, Mother Neff is beloved for its many hiking trails, scenic camping spots, and its historic lookout tower, which offers sweeping views of the Central Texas countryside.
Scenic trails and bird’s-eye views
Want to see some of the best panoramas of Mother Neff? Then venture up to the state park’s crown jewel: the old Rock Tower, which one parkgoer described on Tripadvisor as “truly a work of art.” The stone lookout tower was built by hardworking members of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public relief program that gave unemployed men jobs during the Great Depression. Made to store water, the tower is a fine example of American ingenuity. “Keep in mind, bulldozers and backhoes weren’t a part of the technology of the 1930s,” Texas Parks & Wildlife notes on its website. “It was all done by hand and by the sweat of their brows.” Scramble to the top of the observation deck via a spiral staircase by taking the short Tower Trail. The route is moderately challenging, given the stairs, but it’s pretty short at only about 0.6 miles.
The park has a handful of other trails, none longer than that. Stroll out to a scenic, spring-fed watering hole via the 0.5-mile-long Wash Pond Trail. See a craggy rock overhang once used by the Tonkawa Tribe along the Cave Trail, which spans just 0.2 miles. Or meander through the woods along the 0.4-mile Bluff Trail. More than 200 species of birds have been spotted in the state park over the years, according to eBird. Since Mother Neff rivals even the best birdwatching destinations in the US, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for flitting wings overhead. If you want to get close to the birdies without disturbing them, a bird blind can be found near the Rock Tower.
Hunker down for the night in Mother Neff State Park
Grab all the items you need for a quick and easy camping retreat, and spend the night under the Texas stars. Mother Neff State Park added a new camping area in 2015, which boasts 20 full hookup campsites if you’re traveling in an RV. Each spot goes for $25 per night at time of publication, and has a picnic table and a fire ring, perfect for toasting up some s’mores. A restroom decked with showers and even a dishwashing hub can also be found nearby. According to one past camper on Tripadvisor, the camping locale is pretty well-kept. “It is the cleanest state park we have been to — the sites are kept immaculate,” the reviewer wrote.
There are also tent-only camping sites, which are only $12 a night. However, they’re currently closed due to flooding from the Leon River. A few other sections of Mother Neff have been shuttered since August 2025 because of flood damage, so be sure to check online for updates when planning your trip. For a more homey abode, you can rent the park’s rustic, 4-bedroom lodge for $160 to $200 per night. Just be sure to bring along all your needed kitchen essentials, linens, and comfy pillows to rest your head.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department stated that SWAT was responding to “an incident” in the 9400 block of Grouse Meadow Ln. Sunday evening.
Officials first let the public know of the incident around 7:30 p.m.
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The call came in around 5:30 p.m., and SWAT was activated at approximately 7:10 p.m.
Police stated that the call originally was reported as a robbery service after a robbery occurred a few days ago. A suspect reportedly assaulted someone inside an apartment at the address after returning there and forcing entry.
Both the suspect and the victim live at the apartment complex,
APD stated that they would provide more information in a media briefing. The time of the briefing is unknown.
CBS Austin has a crew on the way to the scene.
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This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.
A brand new one from Carter Faith.
Last weekend was a big one for country music. The ACM Awards took over Las Vegas, George Strait did a two-night run at Austin, Texas’ Moody Center, and Treaty Oak Revival took over Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. While most people were in one location for the whole weekend, Carter Faith was jumping around as she was opening up for George Strait, and then had to jet over to Vegas for her ACM Awards performance of “If I Had Never Lost My Mind.”
The ACM Album of the Year nominee blew her performance out of the water and was riding a high all weekend as she had just announced a deluxe edition of her debut record, Cherry Valley Forever. Cherry Valley is filled with wild nights, heartbreak, growth, and lyrics that cut like a knife. The project turned a lot of heads here at Whiskey Riff, earning the title of the Best Debut Album of 2025 and landing at #15 on the 40 Best Country Albums of 2025. But beyond what we think here at Whiskey Riff, it turned heads by the big players securing a nomination for Album of the Year at the upcoming ACM Awards.
I am very excited to see how she expands on this sensational era, and she’s given fans a taste of what the deluxe record’s five additional tracks will feature by releasing “Ain’t Over Me Yet” in celebration of Cherry Valley Forever‘s announcement. Sonically, this tune fits perfectly into the Cherry Valley frame as Faith delivers the heartbreaking lyrics of meeting up with a former lover, knowing that the relationship is and has been over for quite some time. But she has a glimmer of faith that they might be able to turn things around and find that spark again. In the end, she ends up hurting her own feelings, having one night of pleasure.
Riding the high that release, Faith was on a roll of sharing new music, debuting a brand new song titled “If A Man’s From Texas.” Fitting to debut this one in Austin. The song is set to appear on Cherry Valley Forever, and, in true Carter Faith fashion, it’s a warning for women to watch out for boys who disguise themselves as men from Texas. The southern drawl might lure you in, but sure enough, you will see his true colors, and those Southern manners might be thrown out the door.
The upbeat tune has a slight Texas swing tempo that makes you want to dance, which is exactly what Faith does as she works the crowd, moving to every corner of the stage while delivering these catchy lyrics.
Cater Faith is on a roll, and I can’t wait to hear the studio cut of this one come July 24.
Check it out:
@heather2194 CHERRY VALLEY FOREVER TRACKS IN AUSTIN #CHERRYVALLEY #carterfaith #GEORGESTRAIT @Carter Faith ♬ original sound – Heather
And before you go, fire up “Ain’t Over Me Yet,” too:
Arizona State softball thrives with Red Mountain alum Brooklyn Ulrich
Arizona native Brooklyn Ulrich talks about her time growing up at Red Mountain and her journey to playing at Arizona State.
The Texas Longhorns refused to die, rallying late with a pinch-hit, two-run homer to overcome Arizona State, 4-3, in Game 2 of the Austin Super Regional Saturday night, May 23.
The Sun Devils have one more shot to beat the Longhorns and earn a trip to the Women’s College World Series, which would mark their first trip back since 2018. Game time on Sunday was still listed as TBD Saturday evening.
Arizona State catcher Samantha Swan, a native of nearby Georgetown, Texas, hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning, but the Sun Devils were unable to hold the 3-2 lead.
Each coach had a tough decision before the action began.
Arizona State’s Megan Bartlett chose to start Meika Lauppe instead of sending her ace, Kenzie Brown, back to the circle after a powerful performance in the Sun Devils’ Game 1 win.
Texas’ Mike White, albeit in a different position with his team’s season on the line, sent out his ace, Teagan Kavan for a second consecutive day.
ASU struck first when Brooklyn Ulrich doubled in Katie Chester in the top of the second inning.
Kavan appeared to run out of gas in the third inning as Taylor Windle doubled to lead off, and Kaylee Pond singled.
White replaced Kavan with Citlaly Gutierrez, but Swan drove home Windle, giving ASU a 2-0 lead.
Lauppe was able to keep Texas off the scoreboard through four innings, though she put runners on first and second with nobody out in the third before inducing a flyout and an inning-ending double play.
An error by third baseman Emily Schepp on a Kaia Altmeyer ground ball leading off the Texas fifth ended the night for Lauppe, who was replaced by Brown.
The Longhorns touched up the ASU ace with a double by Katie Stewart to knock in Altmeyer, and a game-tying base hit by Reese Atwell to score Stewart, but Brown struck out Leighann Goode to prevent further damage.
An inning later, leading by a run after the Swan homer, Brown allowed a one-out single to Ashton Maloney, retired Altmeyer on a fly to left, but then served up the pinch-hit blast by Victoria Hunter.
Gutierrez shut down the Sun Devils in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
Swan had two of ASU’s six hits, and Brown allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with five strikeouts over her three innings of relief.
(This story has been updated to add information.)
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