You Won’t Believe How Old This Massive Texas Tree Really Is

Texas is full of so much history that it’s almost impossible to learn it all in grade school! Case and point, while scrolling through my Facebook feed I was today years old when I learned that Texas is home to the oldest tree, a 1,000-year-old tree to be exact!

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I came across a post on Texas Chronicles: History, mystery, and adventure which showed the beautiful tree in question: The Goose Island Oak, a.k.a. The Big Tree. She’s ancient, she’s iconic, and she’s been thriving since before Texas was even a twinkle in anyone’s eye.

Located near Rockport in Goose Island State Park, this legendary live oak is believed to be over 1,000 years old. That means she’s seen it all—from Spanish explorers, to natural disasters, droughts, and probably a few confused squirrels.

Her trunk has a 35-foot circumference, she stands about 44 feet tall, and her crown spreads a whopping 90 feet across. Basically, she’s the Beyoncé of trees—graceful, powerful, and always camera-ready. (And yes, she deserves to be a SHE because, why not?!)

What makes this tree extra special is not just her age or size—it’s the fact that she’s a symbol of strength and endurance. People travel from all over just to stand in her shade, snap a selfie, and soak in the ancient vibes.

A few Texans shared their fond memories of this iconic tree:

"I have a picture of my parents sitting in that tree back in the early ‘40’s and of my granddaughters in the mid ‘90’s. Special memories."

So next time you’re road-tripping through Texas, make a pit stop and say hey to the Big Tree. She’s been waiting a millennium for your visit, and trust us—she’s worth it.