Over three million free-tailed bats make their home inside the tunnel, (which is just one reason visitors are not allowed to enter its gloomy depths) and every evening at sunset, they fly out for a night of feeding and fun, creating a breathtaking sight you will never forget. If you have ever watched the bats exodus the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin and thought, “Wow, I’d like to see more like that again!” the old tunnel is the next place you should turn your attention. Just 55 miles from Dripping Springs, the Old Tunnel State Park TX is a new addition to the Texas State Parks system, having made its official debut as a state park in 2012, but the tunnel itself has been around for over 100 years. The Old Tunnel State Park is Located at 10619 Old San Antonio Road in Fredericksburg The Old Tunnel State Park, however, offers a peek into the history of trains in Texas, even as the trains no longer run along tracks overgrown with weeds and the tunnel built into the granite of the Fredericksburg landscape. Today, the trains still run, serving as quicker ways to get products across country, and on occasion the passenger trains offer a nod back to the early days of our country, but most have disappeared from the landscape. Towns were built around the tracks and stations, and people were shocked to learn that with the advent of the railroad, what was once a journey that could days or even months to complete was whittled down to hours. Once your tickets are reserved, park officials recommend following Old Tunnel State Park online or on Twitter for updates on what time the bats will likely emerge.It may be difficult to imagine today, but there once was a time when the railroads weren’t just a source of transportation they were a symbol of a better life. Thursdays through Sundays, the lower viewing area also is open and offers a closer viewing experience for $5 a person (it’s open to ages 4 and over only due to the bats’ sensitivity to noise). Spaces can be reserved nightly in the upper viewing area for $2 per person (August and September are the best months in which to go). While the park is open daily from sunrise until 5 p.m., bat viewing is available only by ticketed reservation. Still, at times, they are mere feet from visitors, and with such rapid synchronized movements, the experience is at once uniquely polarizing and breathtaking.
and as late as 8:20 p.m.) it is recommended to arrive early and bring binoculars.Īs the bats emerge, they swirl and spiral upwards, moving counterclockwise to gain altitude and reaching as high as 10.000 feet. Because emergence times vary, (the bats can begin flying as early as 7:15 p.m. Rangers will answer all bat-related questions and explore the history and benefits these bats have on the Texas agricultural eco-system. What to Expectīefore the bats emerge, explore a half-mile nature trail and then settle in outside for a nightly ranger-led discussion. However, because of lighting, the best time to watch them emerge is during August and September.
Annually, the bats migrate from Mexico and can be viewed in Texas during bat season, from May 1 to Oct.
These mammals are smaller than an iPhone and are incredibly fast and hearty flyers, traveling up to 60 miles for food. Each night, they emerge from the old railroad tunnel where they’ve made their home in search of corn earworms, webworms and other insects to eat. Located about an hour outside the city limits in nearby Fredericksburg, Old Tunnel State Park seasonally hosts around 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats and 3,000 cave myotis bats. A visit to Old Tunnel State Park as summer begins to fade to fall is a rite of passage for San Antonians.
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