Other Sites In Texas

Texas holds the interesting distinction of being the battiest state in the country. It is the home of not only the largest known bat colony in the world, near San Antonio, but also the most famous urban bat colony, in Austin, and perhaps more public bat-viewing locations than anywhere else. We hope that each of the sites listed in this brief guide offers you a memorable experience of the beauty and intrigue of bats.

Central Texas (Hill Country)

Located 18 miles southwest of Mason off Ranch Road 2389, this unique preserve, jointly managed by Bat Conservation International and the Texas Nature Conservancy (TNC), is one of the top ten free-tailed bat sites known. After pups are born in early June, the limestone cave is home to an estimated 6 million Mexican free-tailed bats.

The preserve is open Thursday-Sunday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Group tours can be arranged as if the Steward is available.In order to support staffing and natural history interpretation at the cave when visitors are present, we now are asking for a $5 admission for visitors age 5 and older.

The cave is not wheelchair accessible. For more information contact the TNC, Austin office, Box 164255, Austin, TX 78716; (512) 263-8878, or during summer months, call the Mason Cave Stewardat (325) 347-5970. TNC-Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve.

Located about a mile south of the State Capitol in Austin, this bridge offers one of the most picturesque spots in the world to view bat flights, especially during late summer. With a peak population of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the Congress Avenue Bridge is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America.

For best viewing, bring a blanket and watch the bats from the Austin American-Statesman newspaper's Bat Observation Center, located on the south bank of Town Lake, east of the bridge; or watch from the lake on a boat tour by Capital Cruises or Lone Star River Boats. Additionally, the Shoreline Bar & Grill restaurant, Hyatt-Regency Austin hotel, and T.G.I. Friday's restaurant in the Radisson hotel on Town Lake all have outside decks for bat viewing. Bat flights can be witnessed from March to November. For emergence times, call the Bat Conservation International (BCI) Bat Hotline at (512) 416-5700, category 3636, for emergence times, or call BCI for more information at (512) 327-9721.

Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area

Located between Fredericksburg and Comfort near the Old San Antonio Road, the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area is operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), which offers bat-watching tours every evening from May through October. Bats can be viewed in one of two ways. First, an upper viewing area is open to the public seven days a week free of charge. Bats can be seen emerging from the both the north and south openings from this location and red-tailed hawks are often viewed preying on bats as they emerge. Bats can also be viewed from a lower viewing area located adjacent to the south tunnel exit every Thursday through Sunday, throughout the tour season. A TPWD employee or volunteer will conduct an interpretive program, and at its peak capacity over 3 million bats can be seen emerging from this location.

Tours on Thursdays through Sunday evenings. Entrance fees: adults $5.00, children 6-16 $2.00, seniors $3.00, 5 and under free. Special Group Tours (i.e., schools, scout groups, etc.) at the lower viewing area are provided Monday through Wednesday. For more information contact the OLD TUNNEL INFORMATION AT 1 866 978 2287 . You may also visit our website here.