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8/07/25
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Big Bear Travel Center -- the first phase of Big Bear Crossing, an 80-acre, mixed-use Opportunity Zone project in Strawn, TX -- has broken ground. Completion is projected for early 2026.
Strategically located midway between Fort Worth and Abilene at the southeast corner of I-20 and Hwy 16 in Eastland County, Big Bear Travel Center is being developed by the ownership, Big Bear Partners, LP. The site is planned to include a 12k sf full-service fueling station for cars and trucks, EV charging, an on-site restaurant, and a selection of retail amenities designed to serve the growing traveler and tourism base in this corridor. The $9 mil project will create approximately 35 new jobs for the area and is expected to drive increased traffic toward downtown Strawn and the surrounding region.
Big Bear Travel Center is the anchor project for Big Bear Crossing which is ultimately planned for a hotel, RV park, retail, and industrial expansion near Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. The park — just 11 minutes from the site — is anticipated to open in summer 2026 and is forecasted to draw over 125,000 annual visitors in its first year. It is the first new full-scale state park in Texas in nearly 25 years.
“Big Bear Crossing was designed with the future of this corridor in mind,” said Jeff Cark, Partner at Big Bear Partners, LP. “With the new state park on the horizon and untapped demand for lodging, RV, retail and industrial services along this stretch of I-20, we believe this will become a hub of activity for both travelers and long-term commercial growth.”
Mike B. Kennedy and Sullivan Johnston with Avison Young are currently marketing the remaining parcels within Big Bear Crossing for hotel, RV, restaurant, retail, and light industrial buyers or build-to-suit users, on behalf of Big Bear Partners, LP. The entire site lies within a Texas Opportunity Zone, providing significant tax advantages for qualified investors.
Following are more details on future phases for Big Bear Crossing:
• Two hotel sites
• Multiple restaurant pad sites
• Retail and mixed-use parcels
• An 18.5-acre RV park site
• A 25.7-acre industrial/distribution tract
• Complementary uses such as horse stalls, laundry, and recreation
All sites feature I-20 frontage visibility, existing on/off ramps, utility access, and flexible parcel sizes. The location serves a significant gap in highway services between Weatherford and Abilene, making it a prime development target for hospitality, fueling infrastructure, and logistics operations. The Strawn site will join the travel center operator’s locations in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, Fort Worth, and Euless.
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