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, TX
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Austin, TX
Camp Mystic warned of safety plan problems as it seeks to reopen this summer after deadly 2025 flood
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas state regulators found nearly two dozen deficiencies in the emergency operations plan submitted in Camp Mystic’s bid to reopen less than a year after 27 children and counselors were killed in a devastating flood.
Camp Mystic’s owners have applied for a license to reopen the all-girls Christian camp in late May in part of the campus that did not flood. That has angered families of the girls killed, some of whom have filed lawsuits against the camp, and prompted several prominent state officials to call for the license to be denied or delayed pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
The 11-page letter from the Department of State Health Services notes deficiencies that include problems with flood warning evacuation plans, use of an emergency warning and public address system, monitoring safety alerts and training campers on safety.
It was sent to the camp about a week after a three-day court hearing in the family lawsuits when several camp operators and staff acknowledged they missed official flood warnings, lacked a detailed evacuation plan and waited too long to try to get the children out. One of the camp’s owners, Richard Eastland, also died.
The letter notes that Camp Mystic is allowed to revise the emergency plan. Camp Mystic officials said they would work with the agency to address the problems cited.
“Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our campers, and we hope to continue the nearly century-long mission and ministry of Camp Mystic to provide a Christian camping experience for girls that allows them to grow physically, mentally and spiritually,” the camp said.
The camp’s emergency plan was submitted as part of strict new guidelines imposed by state lawmakers after the deadly flood.
DSHS spokesperson Lara Anton said many camps have received deficiency notices ahead of summer opening.
“This is part of the licensing application review process, and most youth camps have received a notice of deficiency letter for their emergency plan due to the statutory changes and increased emergency plan requirements,” Anton said.
Texas lawmakers have scheduled two days of hearings next week on what happened during the flood that ripped through the Guadalupe River and killed more than 130 people in all. Several lawmakers and the Texas Rangers, the state police elite investigations unit, visited the camp site this week.
Austin, TX
Austin ISD is under state investigation for celebrating Pride Week
The Texas Education Agency launched an investigation into the Austin Independent School District for celebrating its annual Pride Week.
A TEA spokesperson confirmed with KUT News the state has opened an investigation, but declined to comment since “the matter remains ongoing.”
The investigation comes after conservative State Board of Education member Brandon Hall, from the Fort Worth area, raised concerns in March about AISD breaking the law and working to “indoctrinate” students by celebrating Pride Week.
“It’s time to defund AISD and criminally investigate Superintendent Matias Segura,” Hall said in a social media post.
During an interview with the conservative nonprofit Texas Values, Hall said taxpayers in his district were concerned about state funding going into a district where “instead of focusing on education they are focusing on gender identity and celebrating pride and things like that.”
“[If] we don’t stop it in Austin ISD, we are going to see more of this across the state,” Hall said. “We need to make a statement and set an example. We will not put up with you breaking the law.”
Hall stated that AISD was not complying with Senate Bill 12. The law passed in 2025 and prohibits “diversity, equity and inclusion duties,” including activities that reference gender or sexual orientation, at K-12 public schools. The law also bans the creation of clubs based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
AISD held Pride Week from March 23 to 27 with the theme “beYOUtiful.” Students’ participation was voluntary, and activities took place outside instructional time, including before or after school or during lunch.
Activities included displaying photos of students’ families, wearing wacky socks and sitting with different people during lunch. On the last day each grade level wore a different color to school.
In their guidelines, district officials said AISD celebrated Pride Week during March to “show support” for the diverse students, staff and families. Officials also acknowledged that in past years the district had provided a suggested curriculum and had distributed swag to schools, but that this year it would look different due to “an ever changing environment.”
It is unclear what penalties the district could face. SB 12 states that any employee who engages in or assigns to another person diversity, equity and inclusion duties must be terminated.
This is not the first time AISD has come under scrutiny in recent months. In March, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton notified the district about a complaint regarding a violation of Senate Bill 8, also known as the “bathroom bill.”
In February, Paxton launched an investigation into AISD after students participated in a national walkout. The results of that investigation remain unknown.
KUT News has reached out to AISD for comment but has not heard back.
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