Fairfield Lake State Park closed in 2023 — public access is gone for now

Fairfield Lake State Park operated for nearly 50 years on a 2,400-acre lake near Fairfield. In 2023, the energy company that owned the land sold the property to a private developer. The new owner chose not to operate it as a park. TPWD closed the park on February 28, 2023. About 80,000 people visited the park each year for camping, fishing, paddling, and hiking. All of that access ended with the closure.

After the closure, TPWD attempted to acquire the property and even authorized condemnation proceedings in June 2023. However, in December 2023 TPWD announced it will no longer pursue acquisition of the land and does not intend to use eminent domain. The park is gone for good at this location. If you are planning a trip expecting to find the park open, do not — check the TPWD park page first. For fishing on Fairfield Lake itself, access is now controlled by the private owner.