A Royal Affair

One Texas city rolls out the red carpet for a visit from European royalty

San Antonio welcomes King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia on June 16.

The King and Queen of Spain will make their first-ever visit to San Antonio on June 16-18, as part of the city's year-long Tricentennial celebration. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia plan to honor the city's deep Spanish roots, as well as conduct the inaguration of two landmark art exhibitions.

During their two days in Alamo City, the royal couple will have a full itinerary. A tour of San Antonio historical sites that reflect a longstanding connection to Spain — including the Spanish Governor’s Palace and Mission San Jose, a UNESCO World Heritage Site — will be among the highlights. They are also scheduled to attend the Young Hispanic Leaders Summet, a conference bringing together thought leaders in business, politics, and media for the purpose of strengtehnining ties between Spain and the U.S.

“San Antonio is proud to commemorate the special bonds that tie us to Spain. We welcome Their Majesties to visit San Antonio during our Tricentennial year to collaborate and build a stronger foundation now and in the future," said Mayor Ron Nirenberg in a release. “The everlasting impact of Spain’s culture is woven into the fabric of San Antonio’s legacy for generations to come.”

The reinging Spanish monarchs will open the exhibition Designing America: Spain's Imprint in the U.S., presented by the Fundación Consejo España-Estados Unidos, and hosted by the Bexar County Courthouse. The interactive art installation reflects the Spanish imprint on San Antonio's culture, history, and politics, and explores 500 years of shared history between the United States and Spain.

The second exhibition, Spain: 500 Years of Spanish Painting from the Museums of Madrid, showcases more than 40 masterpieces from major collections in Madrid. Never before seen in the U.S., the collection includes work from Pablo Picasso, Diego Velasquez and El Greco, among others. Hosted by the San Antonio Museum of Art, the show will be open to the public from June 23 to September 16.

Closing out the visit, their majesties will be honored with an official dinner at the historic Pearl brewery. Celebrating San Antonio’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the dinner will feature dishes prepared by famed local chefs Johnny Hernandez, Elizabeth Johnson, and Steven McHugh.

Following their time in Texas, the king and queen will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on June 19.

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Park News

Texas agency acquires 1,100 acres for new state park in Hill Country

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department/tpwd.texas.gov

The new park will be across the river from Colorado Bend State Park (pictured).

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has acquired a new patch of land that they plan to use to create a new state park. According to a release, the agency has acquired 1,100 acres on the border of Burnet County and Lampasas County, 90 miles northwest of Austin — joining a prior acquisition of 2,020 acres made in January, and helping to push the state park into the realm of reality.

The 1,100 acres are located across from the existing Colorado Bend State Park, on the other side of the Colorado River. Within the land are a mile and a half of Yancey Creek (which is about four miles long and empties into the Colorado River), limestone bluffs, and several natural springs.

Before this second purchase had been made, the park was only a proposition. Now, TPWD and specifically chairman Jeff Hildebrand of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission are referring to the 3,000-acre state park as a reality.

Funds for the purchase came from a one-time funding appropriation as well as sporting goods sales taxes.

Development of the state park will come from a different source: a $1 billion, voter-approved Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. The fund was created in 2023 and has also led to purchases doubling the size of Enchanted Rock Natural State Area near Fredericksburg.

“I’d like to thank our incredible team for their hard work in not only acquiring these properties, but also the recent additions at Enchanted Rock and the purchase of Lake Colorado City State Park,” said TPWD executive director David Yoskowitz in the release. “The voters of Texas also deserve a huge thank you for saying ‘yes’ to the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which will make the development of this park possible.”

TPWD has been gathering input from the public about what types of recreational opportunities they'd like to see. According to the release, the next step is using the input to develop a plan. Considerations also include habitat protection and conservation of the natural springs in the area. The land is also 10 miles upstream from Lake Buchanan, further informing the possibilities.

"This acquisition will give visitors access to the Colorado River, a beautiful creek and the diverse landscapes that are featured across the property," said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks. "We look forward to generations of Texans enjoying the scenic views of the unique post oak woodland and outdoor adventures awaiting on this property."

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