McKinney visitors center reopens

The rising waters of Onion Creek, during the Halloween floods of 2013 and 2015, caused extensive damage to the visitors center at McKinney Falls State Park. Years later, the Smith Visitors Center is finally reopening its doors to the public. Justin Rhodes, deputy  director of Texas State Parks, said the reopening is the result of “years of diligent work by our state parks and infrastructure staff.” The center has been remodeled to be flood-resistant, work that required the building’s electrical and HVAC systems to be elevated above flood lines and sheetrock to be replaced with concrete. New exhibits constructed with water-resistant materials “give a more complete story of the park and include interactive displays showcasing the El Camino Real trail, cultural resources from Thomas McKinney’s (the parks’ namesake) time and a bat cave highlighting the importance of dark skies,” according to park superintendent Tommy Cude. See a list of events hosted at McKinney Falls State Park.