Old Tunnel (**Currently transitioning to State Parks. Updated information available soon.**)
Phone: (866) 978-2287
Address:
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
102 E. San Antonio, Suite B
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Contact:
Nyta Brown
Dates Open:
Open year-round from sunrise to sunset for general use.
Bat viewing
nightly May-October. The trail to the lower viewing area is closed each evening. Monday through Wednesday evenings the trail and lower viewing area are not open to the public. On Thursday through Sunday evenings, the trail will only be open to those visitors who pay admission to view the bats at the lower viewing area.
For the most up-to-date emergence information, call the toll-free information line at 1-866-978-2287.
Description
Old Tunnel entrance
The Old Tunnel WMA is the smallest Wildlife Management Area in Texas, containing only 16.1 acres of land. Despite its small size, there are a variety of recreational and wildlife-viewing opportunities at Old Tunnel WMA. The abandoned railroad tunnel is home to up to three million Brazilian free-tailed bats (T. b. mexicana) and 3,000 Cave myotis (Myotis velifer) from May to October, more mammals than any other WMA. From May to October, visitors come to watch the bats emerge from the tunnel each night, and nightly educational programs provide guests with a better understanding of the life history and ecology of bats. See the book
Frankie the Free-Tailed Bat
(PDF 1641 KB).
There is also a Checklist of Birds for this area. (PDF 131 KB)
Old Tunnel WMA was acquired by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1991. The primary goals of the WMA are to implement sound resource management practices and research investigations to insure the long-term stability of the bat colony, while providing for maximum public outreach opportunities. Research has been conducted at Old Tunnel WMA since the property was purchased by TPWD, and results of these research projects have allowed biologists to make sound management decisions. Bat-viewing opportunities exist seven nights a week and educational presentations are given Thursday through Sunday, May to October.(When visiting Old Tunnel, we recommend bringing a pair of binoculars to get the best view of the bat emergence.)
The nature trail at Old Tunnel WMA is open year-round. Visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking, bird watching, and general wildlife-viewing. Several educational exhibits with information on bats and railroad history are located along the half mile trail and from May to October bats can usually be seen flying within the tunnel from the trail.
Guided nature walks are also offered at the Old Tunnel WMA. The walks are usually informal and cover a variety of topics, such as bird watching, plant identification, and astronomy. For more information about upcoming nature walks, please call the number at the top of the page.
The Old Tunnel WMA is located in Kendall County, Texas, approximately 13 miles north of Comfort and 11 miles south of Fredericksburg. For a more detailed description of the location of the Old Tunnel WMA, please refer to the map and directions.
