When you step onto the 1.4-mile trail at Watersong Wild Space, a nature preserve in the heart of the sparse Permian Basin, the first shock is the water. Lots of it, at least after spontaneous heavy rains that fuel the Ogallala Aquifer. Then, the welcome crew: bugs flying overhead, green herons and ducks hunting for food, and Texas horned lizards pattering underneath the boardwalk, greeting visitors to the quiet retreat just off Interstate 20.
That highway used to lend its name to the preserve, renamed from I-20 Wildlife Preserve in 2025 to better represent the playa lake it protects for the community.
“‘Watersong’ speaks to the playa. It speaks to everything that makes the ecosystem and the habitat what it is,” says Wes Faris, executive director of the preserve.
Along with its new name, the wetlands preserve has a renewed focus on catering to the community’s needs. Its classes include Little Ecologist School and Playtime at the Playa, where even 2-year-olds can begin to study the outdoors; STEM-based programs for K-12 students; and adult education in community science, wildlife, and landscaping. High school students can participate in the summer conservation job corps program at the preserve, which includes both paid field experience and a classroom curriculum.
There are also regular yoga classes and guided walks on the schedule, with more wellness opportunities to come.
Most visitors choose to simply take in the wildlife on the trail or through the bird blinds and large hawk tower installed in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Preserve employees share photos of the wildlife they spot on Facebook—including a bobcat they’ve affectionately named “Jolene,” as well as her cubs.
“It is a place of peace, a place of tranquility,” Faris says. “Even though the freeway’s there, I don’t even hear it. I just get overwhelmed with the area around me.”
Admission is free.
