Texas State Park adjacent to the LBJ Ranch featuring a living history farm, American bison, nature trails, and the visitor gateway for the LBJ National Historical Park.
General Information
How to Get There
From Fredericksburg (14 mi): Take US Highway 290 East toward Stonewall for approximately 14 miles; turn right onto Park Road 52 at the park entrance sign and follow it to the visitor center parking area.
Overview
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site sits along the Pedernales River near Stonewall and serves as the primary visitor gateway for both the state park and the adjacent LBJ Ranch unit of the National Historical Park. The TPWD Visitor Center houses exhibits on the Texas Hill Country, pioneer life, and LBJ's presidency — including memorabilia and interactive displays — along with a short orientation film about both parks. Free self-guided driving permits for the NPS-managed LBJ Ranch are issued here, making the state park the essential first stop for anyone exploring the ranch. Two mid-1800s German immigrant log cabins preserved near the visitor center reflect the region's deep German settlement heritage.
The centerpiece of the state park's own programming is the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, a World War I-era farmstead where TPWD rangers in period dress raise livestock, tend crops, cook meals on a wood stove, and demonstrate authentic early 20th-century Hill Country farm life. A 1.2-mile nature trail winds through the park grounds past wildlife enclosures holding American bison, Texas Longhorn cattle, white-tailed deer, and wild turkey, along with a Hill Country botanical exhibit and a bird blind. The park also features picnic areas, a fishing area on the Pedernales River, an amphitheater, group facilities, and a seasonal swimming pool open during summer months. Spring brings spectacular wildflower displays — the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush along US-290 here were among LBJ's favorite sights — making March through April a particularly rewarding time to visit.
Things to Do
Visit the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm
Step back into the early 1900s at a working Texas-German farm where costumed interpreters perform daily chores such as cooking on wood-burning stoves, tending livestock, gardening, blacksmithing, and preserving food.
See Texas Longhorns and American Bison
Observe iconic Texas longhorn cattle and American bison grazing in pastures along the Pedernales River.
Explore the Visitor Center
View exhibits and memorabilia from Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency, watch educational films, and learn about the people, cultures, and landscapes that shaped his life.
Tour Historic Cabins
Visit the Behrens Cabin and the Danz Cabin to experience how early German settlers lived in the Texas Hill Country during the 19th century.
Walk Scenic Nature Trails
Enjoy easy walking trails that pass through forests, grasslands, creek corridors, wildflower fields, and wildlife viewing areas.
Visit the Adjacent LBJ Ranch
Pick up a free driving permit and continue your journey through Lyndon B. Johnson's historic ranch located next to the park.
Enjoy Seasonal Demonstrations
Depending on the time of year, visitors may see sausage making, sheep shearing, canning, harvesting, and other traditional farm activities.
Top Trails
Nature Trail
Distance: Approximately 1.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Longhorn viewing areas, bison pastures, native plants, creek crossings, and scenic Hill Country landscapes.
Sources: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department information on park activities, Visitor Center exhibits, trails, historic cabins, bison, longhorns, and the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. [1](https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lyndon-b-johnson)[2](https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lyndon-b-johnson/sauer-beckmann-farm) Additional information regarding living-history demonstrations, farm operations, historic structures, and visitor experiences. [3](https://www.nps.gov/places/000/sauer-beckman-living-history-farm.htm)[4](https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/directory/sauer-beckmann-living-history-farm-at-lyndon-b-johnson-state-park-and-historic-site/)[5](https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/things-to-do/museums-history/lyndon-b-johnson-state-park-and-historic-site/)[6](https://twoworldstreasures.com/sauer-beckmann-farm-fredericksburg/)
`【richwebanswer-fed7a8】This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
