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A Brief History of Blue Hole Regional Park

Children climbing a fallen tree over a river in a wooded area.

The City of Wimberley opened Blue Hole Regional Park as we know it today in June of 2011. But, did you know that the property has over 100 years of history of being a public swimming hole for folks to cool off and enjoy the chilly waters of Cypress Creek? We have read and heard first-hand tales from generations of people that have been coming to Blue Hole for decades. Apparently, there was an RV park on the property, and folks could drive their car right up to the banks of Cypress Creek, park and set up camp for only a few dollars. Kids would routinely climb high in to the Cypress trees and jump out of them, and there was an outhouse on the bluff. Another, fun fact is that many commercials, TV shows and movies have been filmed at Blue Hole including the classic action film, A Small Town in Texas (1976), and Richard Linklater’s baseball-focused spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, Everybody Wants Some!! (2016). Come along, as we take a quick trip down memory lane, and go through some of the history of our beloved park.

 

  • 1897: John R. Dobie purchases the land as a farming homestead. The Dobie family went on to live on and farm the 500 acres for more than 70 years.
  • Early 1920s:  The family allowed fee-based swimming at Blue Hole.  
  • Mid-70s the property was purchased by private partnerships that created the Blue Hole Recreation Club, which allowed swimming and camping.
  • 2001: The Blue Hole property is under imminent threat of development – A lodge above the swimming hole with 350 single-family residences on the Blue Hole acreage are proposed by an Austin developer. This project, if seen through, would change Wimberley and Cypress Creek forever.
  • 2003: Intent on saving this natural, historic resource, new Mayor Steve Klepfer and  City Council member Marilee Wood and her husband Tevis Grinstead approached local resident Peter Way to discuss permanent protection for this true Texas treasure. The single most important event in this great preservation story happened during that meeting: Peter Way, speaking on behalf of his entire family, simply said “We’ll do it!” opening the door to protect Blue Hole for future generations. The Village of Wimberley and Peter Way then reached an agreement in December. He purchased the property, promising to hold it at no profit for two years while the Village of Wimberley embarks on a major fund raising program. The future park is safe.
  • 2005: Funds were raised by Friends of Blue Hole Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and the City is able to purchase the land for the park. 
  • 2007: Master plan process headed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is commenced with a stakeholder group consisting of members of the community.
  • 2011: Park construction begins! Meticulous planning, fundraising and hard work by many incredible people were the catalyst in making this all happen, and we cannot thank them enough for the work they did.
  • June 2011 – Restoration of historic swimming area. Grand Opening of Phase I includes swimming area, paved parking, bath houses, park office, and picnic area, the Wood/Grinstead Amphitheatre, and the Way Family Overlook, all of which went into immediate use by park that day.
  • May / June 2012 – Opening Ceremonies and Grand Opening Phase II reveal the playscape, upland road, sand volleyball court and soccer fields. The Pavilion and restrooms near completion.

Much of this information came from the incredible non-profit fundraising arm for Wimberley Parks and Recreation, appropriately named Friends of Wimberley Parks. They have been monumental in fundraising for our ever-expanding park offerings and amenities, and we are forever grateful for their work. You can find a more detailed breakdown of the events that went in to saving Blue Hole from development at the following link – Friends of Wimberley Parks – History of Blue Hole There are also some great photos of the construction process at this link.

Additionally – Take a digital guided tour to learn about the history, the habitats, and the preservation of our incredible park. At each stop in the guide, you’ll find lots of tools to enrich your exploration, from birdsong identification grassland ecology notes, to the frogs and toads of the area. Click the following link – Blue Hole Story Map

Do you have a story or memory of Blue Hole that you’d like to share? We would love to hear it! Email [email protected] to share.

 

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