The Benefits of Being Local
Most Wimberley residents have probably experienced a crowded summer day at Blue Hole, difficulty finding parking downtown, or a favorite swimming spot packed with visitors.
It’s easy to view tourism as an inconvenience. We all do it. After all, locals are the people who call Wimberley home year-round. We’re the ones who attend community events, volunteer, support local organizations, and care deeply about preserving the character of our town.
But tourism is also one of the reasons Wimberley is able to offer the amenities that make this community special.
Unlike many Texas communities, Wimberley residents do not pay a property tax to support city operations. Instead, a significant portion of the City’s revenue comes from sales taxes generated by visitors (and locals) who shop, dine, stay overnight, and recreate here. Those dollars help support parks, infrastructure, public services, and community improvements that benefit residents every day.
That doesn’t mean the challenges of tourism aren’t real. Increased visitation can create traffic, crowding, wear and tear on facilities, and occasional conflicts between visitors and residents. Managing those impacts is an important part of our job.
At Blue Hole Regional Park, Wimberley residents (anyone with a 78676 zip code on their ID) enjoy discounted admission throughout the swimming season. While a standard adult admission is $15, residents pay just $6 with proof of residency. Residents also have access to Wimberley Nights, a special resident-only program that allows swimming at Blue Hole on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings May 1st through Labor Day for just $2 per person. These quieter evenings provide an opportunity for local families to enjoy the swimming area after the daytime crowds have left. For families participating in summer camp programs, resident campers receive discounted registration rates. Resident camp registration is $250 compared to $300 for non-residents. Residents also receive a discount on eligible facility rentals, making park facilities more affordable for local gatherings, celebrations, and community events. Wimberley residents can also begin purchasing season passes on March 1 each year, while non-residents must wait until April 1. This gives residents the first opportunity to secure passes before they become available to the general public. These resident benefits are one way the City recognizes the people who live, work, volunteer, and invest in the Wimberley community year-round.
The goal is to create a system where both can enjoy the natural beauty that makes Wimberley special while ensuring that tourism continues to support the local economy. In many ways, visitors help make possible the parks and amenities that residents enjoy every day. And residents are the stewards who help protect those places for future generations.
Both play an important role in Wimberley’s future.
