The Friends of ABKSNA exists to support the staff and the mission of the Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area. While the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages the land itself, we provide the hands, the heart, and the extra funding needed to protect its most delicate secrets — the rare plants, the unnamed salamander, the chalky kichi limestone that has kept the modern world at bay.
Friends of ABKSNA
Guardians of the Gift.
A community of Texans protecting what cannot be replaced — 3,800 acres held in trust for the next hundred years.
501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Bridging the gap between state land and community treasure.
What We Do
Hands, heart, and the funding the state can't reach.
Three ways the Friends of ABK SNA support the land and the people who manage it.
Science
Fund the Science
Real conservation starts with real data. Your support funds the butterfly counts, plant and tree surveys, and wildlife research that tell us where this landscape is thriving and where it needs help. Fund the science, and you protect the land we love.
Trails
Build the Trails
Twenty-four miles of sustainable hiking trails are being planned and graded — built so visitors can experience the land without leaving a mark on it.
Community
Tell the Story
Educational signage, community programming, and the small details that turn a state property into a place Texans feel they belong to.
Honoring the History of the Land
Before the first trails were finalized, our Cultural Resources team conducted extensive walking surveys to identify and protect the history hidden within the Natural Area. By evaluating artifacts and historical markers left by previous generations, we gained a deeper understanding of the land’s heritage. To ensure these sensitive sites remain undisturbed for another century, we have carefully adjusted our trail plans to route visitors away from these protected areas, prioritizing preservation over convenience.
Relocating the Future
Construction at ABKSNA is a delicate operation. Through our "Seedling Relocation" program, volunteers and staff combed the footprints of future roads and trails to salvage young native trees. By identifying and carefully moving these saplings before work began, we’ve ensured that the next generation of our forest—including our iconic oaks and maples—is preserved. These "rescued" plants are nurtured off-site and later replanted, keeping the ecological heart of the property intact.
A Foundation of Science and Sweat
Building a State Natural Area requires a "land-first" approach. Our teams navigated miles of dense underbrush and rugged Hill Country terrain to conduct comprehensive biological and geological surveys. Using professional archeological techniques like subsurface testing, we’ve mapped the sensitivity of the landscape with minimal impact. This intensive field work allows us to open the doors to the public with total confidence that the most fragile parts of this sanctuary remain protected.
Eight Decades of Patience
From Gift to Sanctuary
The slow, deliberate path from a private ranch to a public natural area.
1946
The Gift Begins
Albert and Bessie Kronkosky begin protecting the property — not by leaving it alone, but by actively stewarding it.
1946
The Gift Begins
Albert and Bessie Kronkosky begin protecting the property — not by leaving it alone, but by actively stewarding it.
1946–2010s
Decades of Quiet Stewardship
For more than half a century, the Kronkoskys protect the Madrones and the Warbler habitat, manage the Ashe Juniper, and keep the land from being overgrazed or fractured.
1946–2010s
Decades of Quiet Stewardship
For more than half a century, the Kronkoskys protect the Madrones and the Warbler habitat, manage the Ashe Juniper, and keep the land from being overgrazed or fractured.
2011
Designation
Nature comes first here. This State Natural Area prioritizes conservation over high-impact recreation.
2011
Designation
Nature comes first here. This State Natural Area prioritizes conservation over high-impact recreation.
2024
Construction Begins
Work starts on the Highway 46 entrance, the future amphitheater, and the first mini cabins.
2024
Construction Begins
Work starts on the Highway 46 entrance, the future amphitheater, and the first mini cabins.
Support
Help protect what's left.
Every acre of the Texas Hill Country that disappears under development is gone for good. Your support helps Friends of ABKSNA continue the stewardship that Albert and Bessie started in 1946, protecting 3,800 acres of springs, wildlife habitat, and critical recharge zone for future generations.
