If you love history and bats this is the place to go. Mexican bats spend their summers here and then ho down south for the winter. I know sounds strange when you are in the south ( the south the northern snowbirds come spend their winters at). The tunnel is an old railroad tunnel and it now is under the road. Great bars talks are given spring- fall. read more

See all

Such an interesting, fun activity for anyone who appreciates the outdoors. Was the first bat emergence I'd been to, and it was fascinating. I'm definitely going to try to go back. The park ranger was knowledgeable and interesting. Seating is outside, on log seats. Dress accordingly. Be sure to get there early, because tickets and seating is limited. You also want to have time to explore before the emergence begins. FYI as much as this is a good family event - you also have to be quiet (no talking) and sit still during the emergence, because noise or lights can scare the bats and cause problems...families with small kids need to keep this in mind, and if you don't think your child is able to keep quiet and relatively still for 30-45 min, this might not be the activity for you. read more

This is a great little park with hiking trails! Some great views of the hill country too!

Don't miss the bats!!! The Old Tunnel WMA (Wildlife Management Area) is under the conservation and management of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It is an old inoperative railroad tunnel and home to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats! Visits to the Old Tunnel operate from May through October every year with educational programs presented by the TPWD personnel. It is only 16.1 acres and is the smallest WMA in Texas. We visited the bat tunnel last summer and were able to watch as they emerged at dusk. The bats came out very close to where I was sitting. I could see them flutter by, hear them squeak and feel the air move as they flew over my head. Perhaps that is why the park ranger said to sit very still because they had not eaten yet. Call the number above for the most up-to-date information and go early. There is a fee for the lower tunnel viewing but a free area exists up above it. Visitors are limited. Bring binoculars. read more

Old Tunnel WMA - Old Tunnel--Home to 3 million bats! - Parks Near Me - Fredericksburg, Texas

At sunset, roughly 3 million bats emerge from the Old Tunnel, feet from where you stand. What an experience! I would recommend arriving about 45 minutes before sunset. There are two viewing options, an upper level that is free, and a lower viewing area with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. The lower viewing area costs $5 per person, and is definitely worth the small fee. Note that only cash is accepted, and no change is given, so plan accordingly. From the lower area, you will have a great view of the bats as they circle into the sky. The bats take about 30 minutes at a steady rate to leave the tunnel, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the show. One of the best parts of the visit was the volunteer that gave a short presentation on bats and the history of the park while we waited for the bats to emerge. With some humor, he answered any questions the audience had about bats and the Old Tunnel. He was very knowledgeable, and provided useful information, greatly enhancing the entire experience. I suggest calling a park phone number (866-978-2287) which will tell you when the bats flew out the previous day. The time may vary up to 30 minutes on any given night. On Saturday, September 7, the bats appeared at 7:46 PM and concluded by 8:15 PM. Please note that the lower area is only open Thursday - Sunday. As the bats are migratory, they are only in the area May - October. Call the park to confirm if the bats are still present as the season draws to a close. read more

See all

Awesome! The family and I loved every bit of it! Of course, the window to see the bats is closing a bit right now since we were told that the Mexican Freetails are starting to migrate south... to where? You guessed it! Mexico! =P When you get to the WMA, you'll have one of two choices to make: Stay in the 'free/no charge to see bats but can't see anything except trees zone' OR pay about 5 bucks admission per adult (and 2 bucks per kid) to go further below and sit right next to the tunnel and see these flying things up close and personal? For the last couple of trips, we chose to go down. Right before an expert comes out to give you some edjumikashun on the bats you can explore further down past the sitting area and see the cave dead on. If you choose to do so, BEWARE the smell! Even though it hasn't been that warm, it still stinks to high hell. The ladies who've educated us about the place tell you TONS about the history of the tunnel, the bats that live there, other types of bats, stuff they eat, clarifying untrue stories of 'bat attacks' etc... complete with pics. I mean, you literally learn a LOT. We're definitely coming back when the bats start to settle again in July/August. P.S. If you plan on bringing cameras/cell phones to take pics, make sure it does NOT have flash! You'll be asked to turn it off since it disturbs the bats as they emerge from the cave. read more

IMPORTANT READ THIS COMMENT I have not been to the bat cave because the location listed is incorrect, however I have found their real location and hours. 10619 Old San Antonio Road Fredericksburg TX 78624 Trail is open year round from sunrise to 5 pm Bat viewing nightly May through October Monday-Wednesday the lower viewing area is closed Thursday-Sunday the lower viewing area is open for ages 4+ with the 5 dollar fee (exact change) Only 250 people are allowed in the upper viewing area at a time For more up to date info call the toll free information line at (866) 978-2287 and their e-mail is Old. Tunnel@tpwd.texas.gov. I hope this helps! read more

We saw the bats for free, totally by accident, while lost and trying to find Luckenbach. (don't take Luckenbach Road.. it doesn't go to Luckenbach but parallel to no man's land) At any rate... we were like what is that? OMGOODNESS BATS! It was beautiful and I think even better than the famous Austin bats. I would love to see it again and not by accident from the side of the road. It's one of those experiences like looking at stars where suddenly you feel humans are smaller than we think in the great big world. read more

Every year up to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats migrate up to the Old Tunnel near Fredericksburg, TX. And every night during the summer the bats fly out of the tunnel together to feast on local insect delicacies. The bats, who are not strong enough to fly straight out of the tunnel and clear the trees, make three counter-clockwise swoops to gain enough altitude to disperse into the surrounding area. This unique pattern creates a veritable bat tornado! There are two ways to observe the bats: the free balcony from above and behind the tunnel entrance or, for a few bucks, you can gain entry to a small section of amphitheater seating where knowledgeable volunteers tell you everything you ever wanted to know about bats (and more!) as well as the history of the tunnel which used to house train tracks running from Fredericksburg to San Antonio. Call ahead for a recording letting you know what the emergence time for that day is. 1-866-978-2287. Unfortunately, recent abundance of rain has provided a smorgasbord of treats for the bats so they are leaving the tunnel a little later than usual. (More insects means less time hunting to fill up.) Although my visit was a little darker than usual, as the baby bats continue to grow and begin going out to hunt for their own food, the bats will begin emerging earlier during dusk hours. read more

A truly breathtaking experience! Be sure to get here every if you want a seat that is close up. The restaurant next door is a very long wait. Try the food truck down the street for a smaller wait time. Consider having your party hold one of the picnic tables for you while you pick up food to enjoy during the bat release. read more

What a great experience! We made a spur of the moment decision to drive from Fredericksburg to Old Tunnel State Park. We arrived before the bat flight and paid $5 per person to walk down to the lower viewing area. A park employee provided good information about the bats, the tunnel, safety, and answered questions from the audience. Our seats in the lower viewing area gave everyone an up close and personal encounter with millions of bats. Some flew just a few feet over people's heads. I've seen many bat flights throughout Texas and New Mexico. This one was most rewarding for me. Bring exact change since park employees cannot make change or handle cash. Your park pass does not include access to the lower viewing area since it is considered an activity fee. If you don't want to pay or walk down to the viewing area, you can watch the bat flight from the upper deck or parking lot for free. We definitely plan to return and walk some of the trails beyond the old tunnel. read more

After eating dinner at Alamo Spring Cafe (see separate review--best burgers in Texas!), we checked in for the bat viewing. Definitely recommend paying the $5/person for the lower viewing area. (Exact change only!) The bat talk with the range is well worth that and the viewing is so much better from there. Best months to view are August and September but we had a very enjoyable experience. Lovely breeze (they say the breeze is always there). Wished we had remembered our binoculars for an even better experience. Did some geocaching in the park and the local area while waiting on sunset. Very fun evening with the family and highly recommend if you are in the Fredericksburg area. (Only downside is the traffic detour is not clear--basically you want to avoid Old San Antonio Road from 290-the detour is a few miles from there. It is poorly marked so have your phone or GPS handy.) read more

Simply a must see if you are in the area during the summer. Nature at it's finest when you watch the bat emergence.

This road is a must if you drive a sports car or a motorcycle! Zoom zoom! Exceptional twists and turns!

This was our first "bat emergence" and I know it won't be our last. Maybe the thought of seeing millions of bats flying out of their cave at once doesn't excite you but I promise you it is a sight to behold, one you will never forget. There are two viewing areas. A free upper viewing area and a lower viewing area that charges admission. Pay the $5 pp ($2 for children) to enter the lower viewing area. Not only will you get a MUCH closer view, you will also hear a very interesting talk about the bats from a state park ranger, expert on the subject. A couple of tips: make sure to call the Old Tunnel "bat hotline" to find out what time the bats are currently emerging. 1-866-990-2287 (BATS). Then, make sure to arrive early so you can hear the talk and get a good seat. If you arrive early enough, you can head over to nearby Alamo Springs Cafe for dinner or drinks. (Btw, according to Texas Monthly magazine, and now me, they're cooking up some of the best burgers in Texas so it's definitely worth it.) Note: if you have binoculars, bring them, especially if you aren't going to pay the admission. The drive out to the Old Tunnel is beautiful but also a somewhat windy road so drive carefully. Be sure to include Old Tunnel WMA in your next Fredericksburg getaway. You'll be happy you did. read more

Get there more than an hour early or you won't get to go down to the viewing area. We went to the address listed here and quickly realized it was wrong. We got there 45 min beforehand and they were already filled below. We tried to view from the top section, but just smelled them and saw a few random ones flying around. It was a hauntingly beautiful night with some intermittent rain and lightening...very appropriate. Will get there earlier next time :/ read more

Really majestic place to hike. Don't forget to stop by the tunnel to hear the bats just be sure to hold your nose. It's stinky like bat dropping! The place is gorgeous and densely shaded. Grab a burger at Alamo Springs while this direction. Bats leave the tunnel from June-October at dusk. read more

I called the Texas Parks and Wildlife Help Line--1-866-978-2287... The message gives helpful, important information. As of yesterday, August 14,2013 the bats emerged at 7:09 PM BUT they emphasize the bats could emerge 30 minutes to an hour prior to estimated time. Bring binoculars for best viewing. The lower deck has a charge of $5 per person and this includes any age (yes, even small children) but includes an interesting presentation from a knowledgeable representative. This is the best phone number for current information. Another number was accidentally posted and you will reach an apartment complex in Boston, Mass. with a very irritable apartment manager. Hope you get by Old Tunnel and have a great evening watching these creatures of the night. read more

I wasn't expecting much when I went, even after it started. But then the rivers of bats in the air swelled significantly. I was just blown away by how many there were. Definitely a must for the outdoorsman in you. read more

What a great find. Free to sit and watch at the top but $5 per person to sit lower. Lower section only open Thursday thru sunday but upper every night. Amazing and friendly park guides give tons of information. Very cool to watch thousands of bats emerge from the tunnel and swarm in the sky. Some even flew right above us. Great stop for rail road enthusiasts too. Lots of historical info on the train and old photos. Really nice little spot! Beautiful scenery. Great for all ages. Even a covered spot with picnic table for a picnic! A must go. Oh and deer and other wildlife around too! read more

We came late and the bottom viewing area was sold out. You can see the bats from the top level but if your eyes are not very good you wont see much, they fly out through the trees. Get there early and sit on the bottom if you really want to see the bats. read more

Yall look at bats all you want, but what a wasted trip if you don't walk over to Alamo Springs Cafe for a burger. #3 on Tx Monthly list. I've never had a better burger ever! read more

It all sounds amazing, but we missed it since we have kids. (so late!) We hit Alamo springs cafe for dinner and headed over to the viewing platform, where we saw that the bats don't come out until 8:45 ( this is mid-July). The website said an hour before sunset (so we were thinking 730 would be perfect) and i think they meant AT sunset. Should have checked yelp first for tip on bat hotline! They actually recommend on one of the signs that kids 5 and under stay at the upper platform since you have to be very quite down below, which I totally agree. Just the 10 minutes we were there, our three boys were making enough noise just talking on the upper platform to turn some heads. so we headed back to hotel, much to the dismay of my oldest son( age 5) who probably could have handled the wait. Keep in mind, apparently tickets sell out to the lower platform around 7:30 or 8:00 during the summer. They still had ticket available at 745 when we left though. Good luck and leave the kids at the hotel with a sitter or grandma if you can. I agree, the road is amazing! read more

This was the most amazing thing I've ever seen in the animal world. We missed the emergence from the tunnel that evening because of the million deer we had to drive slow to miss hitting the ten miles we drove from the highway to get to the beautiful moutainside where we were to see the bats. We were bummed, but were told we could come back in the morning and watch the bats go back in the tunnel. We got there around 6:15 the next morning and waited. It was the most peaceful view of the mountains, there was pure silence...no birds chirping or insects chiming in...just silence...then, all of a sudden, you hear what sounds like a windmill spinning...one at a time...then a few more, and a few more. After about 15 or 20 minutes, there are thousands of them swirling in the air, circling until their turn to dive bomb down in the tunnel's entrance. We sat there for 45 minutes watching all of them...millions if I had to guess, go back in for the day to roost. AMAZING! read more

Knock another one off my bucket list! Wanted to see some bats for our anniversary but didn't want to tackle the traffic in Austin, so this was a good alternative and well worth the trip from north central Texas. The location is very easy to find. Heading east out of Fredericksburg, watch for the two signs that state "Old San Antonio Road" and "Old Tunnel State Park". Take that road for 10 miles and you can't miss it when you see another sign that tells you the park is there on your left. If you want the best view, get there plenty early to be able to get to the lower viewing area. Once you get past the smell on a warm night, the atmosphere is pretty festive with the anticipation of the coming event. About 30 minutes before the bats were suppose to emerge, we had a knowledgeable lady give us some of the details about the type of bats that we were about to see. When they started to emerge, it was almost magical with the mass of fluttering wings and their climb to the top of the trees before heading out for their water and evening meal. The cost is $5.00 and it lasted a little over 10 minutes. The drive back to town we spotted several deer and wild turkey. The lower viewing area is opened only Thursday-Sunday. Upper viewing is open every night. read more