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- calendar_today October 20, 2026
Boca Chica State Park Sale Not on Immediate Agenda
Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated this week that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) commission will not be considering the potential sale of Boca Chica State Park to SpaceX in the near future. This announcement comes after a Texas Monthly report had suggested the possibility of the sale being discussed at an upcoming commission meeting.
Abbott Responds to Reports of Sale
During a news conference on Monday, Governor Abbott said he was not aware of the details related to the potential sale, which had been highlighted by Texas Monthly. “What I know is that that’s not coming up for a vote anytime soon,” Abbott affirmed.
Abbott emphasized his administration's focus on expanding and preserving state parkland rather than reducing it. “I’ve been at multiple locations across the state where we are adding new parks to the entire parks and wildlife system,” Abbott said. “No state in America has been adding more parkland than what I’ve done and what Texas has done; I want to continue to preserve our parkland in the state of Texas.”
Details of the Reported Sale and Park's Background
The Texas Monthly report indicated that the Parks and Wildlife Commission, whose members are appointed by Abbott, may discuss a potential sale of 1,300 acres of public land in Cameron County during a closed session on November 5. SpaceX is reportedly the interested buyer. However, TPWD spokesperson Stephanie Garcia told Texas Monthly, “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is not considering the sale of the Boca Chica property at its November meeting.”
Boca Chica State Park spans more than 1,055 acres of dunes, marshes, and coastal grassland along the Gulf Coast, approximately three miles north of the Rio Grande’s mouth. The largely undeveloped park was selected by SpaceX in 2014 as the site of a rocket launch facility due to its remote location. Since then, SpaceX has acquired privately owned land nearby for further development and to address potential land use conflicts.
Past Land Deals and Political Reactions
In 2024, the Parks and Wildlife Commission approved a land swap deal with SpaceX that would have transferred 43 acres from Boca Chica State Park to the company in exchange for 477 acres adjacent to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. However, SpaceX later withdrew from the deal.
Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic candidate for governor and Brownsville native, criticized the potential state park sale, saying, “Now, after 12 years of selling out Texas to his corporate donors and making working people foot the bill, Greg Abbott is handing over our land to the world’s only trillionaire. Let me be clear: Texas is not for sale.”
Environmental Concerns and Legal Challenges
The presence of SpaceX at Boca Chica has drawn criticism from environmental activists, who argue that rocket launches negatively impact local ecosystems and wildlife. Activist groups have attempted legal action to prevent further land transfers to SpaceX, but those efforts have largely been unsuccessful. Just last month, a federal judge denied attempts to stop the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from giving SpaceX 715 acres in a wildlife refuge in exchange for 683 acres of private land near another refuge.
Neither SpaceX nor TPWD responded immediately to requests for comment on the current status of any possible sale. Cameron County officials were also unavailable for comment.
Ongoing Parkland Preservation Efforts
As discussions about the future of Boca Chica State Park continue, Governor Abbott has reiterated his commitment to parkland preservation across Texas. The uncertain future of state park land sales remains in the spotlight, especially with ongoing public debate and involvement from major organizations like SpaceX.
Source: feeds.texastribune.org.
