Blazing Star Prairie & Sanctuary
Why Visit Blazing Star Prairie & Sanctuary?
Looking to experience Texas's first certified conservation cemetery? Start here.
Blazing Star Prairie is the newest public access point within the Katy Prairie Preserve, home to Blazing Star Sanctuary, Texas's first certified conservation cemetery. Visitors can also explore restored prairie, prairie pothole wetlands and a growing trail system, with completion anticipated in fall 2027.
-
Help us protect wildlife and provide a peaceful experience for all visitors by observing the following guidelines:
Stay on designated trails and boardwalks.
Please respect burial services and visitors seeking quiet reflection.
Pedestrian use only. No bicycles, dirt bikes, motorized vehicles, or horses.
Leave no trace. Pack out all trash.
Do not feed or disturb wildlife.
Dogs and pets that aren't service animals are prohibited.
Smoking, alcohol, firearms, hunting, fishing, swimming, and loud music are prohibited.
Minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Visitor Information
Hours
Public Access Hours
Open Daily
7:00am to Dusk
365 Days Per Year
Seasonal Gate Hours:
March–September: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
October–February: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location
Address
31930 Morrison Road
Brookshire, TX 77423
Visitor Notes
Parking available on site.
No public restrooms available.
Pedestrian gate open daily.
Please close the gate after your departure.
Guided tours are offered monthly on the Second Saturday and Third Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, or by appointment.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @naturesburial to see preserve enhancements and progress.
Explore the Preserve
Blazing Star Prairie offers visitors the opportunity to experience one of the Katy Prairie's newest public preserves while exploring restored prairie, wetlands, and Texas's first certified conservation cemetery.
Explore Key Features
-
Texas's first certified conservation cemetery provides a peaceful place for natural burial while permanently protecting and restoring the coastal prairie.
-
Fifty-four acres of newly restored prairie (seeded on October 9th, 2025) are being established with diverse native grasses and wildflowers that support pollinators, grassland birds, and other wildlife.
-
Fourteen acres of newly constructed prairie pothole wetlands provide habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, amphibians, and other wetland-dependent wildlife while improving flood resilience and water quality.
-
A mowed trail along the Western edge of the preserve provides opportunities to experience the prairie as it continues to mature. Additional trail improvements, including a permeable ADA-accessible trail and loop boardwalk surrounding the southern wetland, are planned as restoration continues. We’re aiming for completion of the trail system in November 2027.
Blazing Star Sanctuary
Located within the preserve, Blazing Star Sanctuary is Texas's first certified conservation cemetery and offers the highest standard of green burial.
Unlike conventional cemeteries, conservation cemeteries permanently protect and restore natural landscapes while providing environmentally sustainable burial. As the highest tier of green burial, conservation burial avoids embalming chemicals, concrete burial vaults, and traditional monuments, while requiring perpetual land conservation and ecological stewardship.
Every burial at Blazing Star Sanctuary directly supports the permanent protection and restoration of the Katy Prairie, creating a lasting conservation legacy for future generations.
The Story of Blazing Star Prairie
Blazing Star Prairie represents a new vision for conservation on the Katy Prairie, where habitat restoration, public access, and conservation burial work together to protect land forever.
Once degraded pastureland, this 68-acre preserve has been transformed into 54 acres of restored prairie and 14 acres of prairie pothole wetlands that improve wildlife habitat, water quality, and flood resilience. Restoration began in 2024 with the construction of two wetlands, the removal of cattle, and the establishment of cover crops to rebuild healthy soils. In 2025, the preserve entered its next phase as native grasses and wildflowers were seeded across the property, including the planting of its namesake wildflower, Blazing Star (Liatris spp.), while native shrubs and trees were added to increase habitat diversity.
Today, the preserve is transitioning from large-scale restoration to long-term stewardship. Ongoing efforts include invasive species management, prescribed goat grazing, prairie and wetland plantings, and continued ecological management to help the landscape mature into a resilient coastal prairie ecosystem. Looking ahead, new visitor amenities are planned, including a trail system, benches, educational signage, a shade structure, pollinator gardens, and parking improvements, further connecting visitors with this remarkable landscape.
Within the preserve, Blazing Star Sanctuary is a 7.5-acre natural burial ground and Texas's first certified conservation cemetery, platted in September of 2024.
See the Prairie Change Through the Seasons
Blazing Star Prairie is one of the Katy Prairie's newest restored landscapes. Native grasses and wildflowers continue to establish, wetlands mature, wildlife returns, and new visitor amenities take shape with each passing season.
Follow the preserve's transformation through our interactive Chronolog and watch the prairie change over time.
Help Us Understand the Prairie
Every wildlife observation helps us better understand and protect the Katy Prairie.
Visitors are encouraged to submit sightings through eBird and iNaturalist. These observations support research, habitat management, and long-term conservation across the preserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Blazing Star Sanctuary is Texas's first certified conservation cemetery, offering the highest standard of green burial while permanently protecting and restoring native habitat.
-
Yes. Blazing Star Sanctuary is open during preserve hours. We ask all visitors to respect burial services and those seeking quiet reflection. To visit a specific grave, follow the interactive map here.
-
Yes, there is a port-a-can on site.
-
Yes. Parking is available on site.
-
Most of the preserve is open to visitors. Additional public access improvements, including a permeable ADA-accessible trail and loop boardwalk around the southern wetland, are currently under development.
-
Yes! Volunteer opportunities are regularly available to assist with prairie restoration, native plantings, invasive species management, and other stewardship projects.
-
Depending on the season, visitors may encounter waterfowl, wading birds, grassland birds, pollinators, amphibians, reptiles, and a wide variety of native prairie plants and wildflowers.
-
Absolutely. We encourage visitors to submit observations through iNaturalist to help support conservation and research across the Katy Prairie.