MINERAL WELLS, Texas — June 6, 2025
The complete 20-mile Lake Mineral Wells State Park Trailway reopened to the public Friday following completion of a major bridge repair project that used a repurposed railroad car to restore the damaged span.
The bridge repair between FM 1195 and the National Vietnam War Museum reconnects the full length of the popular recreational trail after a two-year closure due to structural failure.
The reopening coincided with National Trails Day, exactly 27 years after the trailway first opened on the same date in 1998.
“Rails-to-trails projects help restore economic prosperity to neighborhoods and underserved populations and preserve our railway heritage while promoting personal and environmental health for our visitors,” said Nikki Elms, park complex superintendent.
The timing aligns with Mineral Wells’ 2024 designation as the Wellness Capital of Texas, Elms noted.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department funded the project through sporting goods sales tax revenue dedicated to state parks in 2019. The original bridge failed due to compromised support beams and shifting abutments.
The innovative replacement structure improves water flow and sustainability while honoring the trailway’s history as a railroad corridor that once connected Weatherford and Mineral Wells.
“Bringing this portion of the trailway back to life has been a true community effort,” said Rose Jordan, Mineral Wells tourism director. “We’re grateful for the heart and help of folks like Rhett Warren and Glenn Rogers.”
The restoration involved multiple partners, including the Friends of Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway, former State Representative Glenn Rogers, local attorney Rhett Warren, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Infrastructure Division.
During the project, crews performed trail-wide maintenance including hazard tree removal, brush clearing, culvert repair and new surfacing. The state also restored restrooms at trailheads and added a new facility at Cold Springs in 2024.
Rhett Warren, president of the Friends group, said the trail is “in its best shape in years” and encouraged visitors to “hike it, bike it, run it, or ride it on horseback.”
The trailway offers accessible recreation for hikers, cyclists and equestrians across gentle grades and open vistas through the Western Cross Timbers region.
Former State Representative Glenn Rogers, who assessed the bridge damage in November 2022 and advocated for funding, called the trailway “one of many scenic treasures in the Mineral Wells area.”
The Lake Mineral Wells State Park Trailway follows a former railroad bed and serves as a rails-to-trails conversion project that preserves transportation history while providing modern recreational opportunities.