Topic 32 of 71: Drippin'
Wed, Jan 20, 1999 (07:48) |
Paul Terry Walhus (terry)
Dripping Springs, Texas. West of Austin in the Hill Country. But don't
go there and call it that cause there denizens will skin you alive for not
calling it Drippin'
4 responses total.
Topic 32 of 71 [austin]: Drippin'
Response 1 of 4: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Oct 29, 2003 (10:51) * 59 lines
West Cave
Location: near Bee Caves, Travis County
Length: 46 m (150 ft.)
Depth: 2.5 m (8 ft.)
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays only. Tours at 10, 12, 2, and 4 for first 30
people; no pets or reservations. Educational groups by appointment.
Length of Tour: 1:00 or more (1.6 km, 1 mi.)
Admission: None (donations accepted)
Phone: (210) 825-3442; John Ahrns, manager
Author: William R. Elliott
Directions: From Austin, take Ben White Boulevard (Highway 290) west to
Oak Hill. Go right at "The Y" at a big Albertson's store onto Highway 71.
Drive 7.1 miles to the village of Bee Caves, continue 1.2 miles, turn left
onto Hamilton Pool Road (RM 3238) and follow it for about 13 miles to the
Pedernales River. West Cave is past the river at the first gate to the
right at the top of the hill. If you go to West Cave, be sure to stop at
Hamilton's Pool on the way-it's a beautiful Texas-size "cenote" swimming
hole in a county park just east of the river. Hamilton's Pool is formed in
a huge sinkhole with a waterfall on one side-definitely worth a stop! An
alternative route is to take U.S. Highway 281 north from San Antonio to
Johnson City. Continue 12 miles north to Round Mountain, turn right on RM
962 and drive about 15 miles to West Cave.
Description: West Cave is not a show cave but part of a nature trail in a
lush, green canyon shaded by tall cypress and oak trees-an enchanting
experience.
Originally known as Hammett's Cave, for Hammett's Crossing on the nearby
Pedernales River, "Westcave Preserve" is operated by a nonprofit
conservation organization and owned by the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The nature trail and talk are educational, taking in an unusual part of
the Hill Country. The trail leads from a plateau top overlooking the river
into a small but verdant canyon formed by the headward cutting of a creek.
A 12-m-high waterfall drops into a deep, green pool that overflows into
the creek.
The cave itself is rather small, being only 46 m long with a 2.5-m ceiling
and two entrances. Part of the north end has been walled off by travertine
deposited by the waterfall. The north end is floored with soil and curves
toward the south to a short drop from a window overlooking the shelter
behind the mossy waterfall. A series of water-filled rimstone pools
gradually rise to the ceiling at the south end of the cave. You only need
a small flashlight.
West Cave was part of some unappropriated public school land from 1839
until 1937, when it was sold to Chester Lay of Austin. The cave was then
operated as a commercial venture but failed after a few months. The
property suffered from various abuses until John Ahrns acquired the place
in the 1970s and began restoring and showing it as an educational nature
preserve. Westcave Preserve Corporation was formed in 1976 to protect and
restore the place. Many plant species, both rare and representative of the
Hill Country, may be seen on the tour.
Bibliography:
Craun, V. S. 1948. Commercial caves of Texas. Bull. Natl. Speleol. Soc.,
10:33-45.
Topic 32 of 71 [austin]: Drippin'
Response 2 of 4: Admin Guy 2004 (admin) * Thu, Feb 12, 2004 (13:04) * 1 lines
I must go see this West Cave soon. Maybe Bill, n5 Bill, knows about it since he's out in Westlake Hills. Hear he has a 6/5 for sale with about 6,000 square feet.
Topic 32 of 71 [austin]: Drippin'
Response 3 of 4: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Mar 17, 2005 (08:38) * 3 lines
http://www.technorati.com/tag/SXSW
is a compendium of blogs covering the just ended SXSW.
Topic 32 of 71 [austin]: Drippin'
Response 4 of 4: Dorothy Epp (dot) * Fri, Sep 23, 2005 (16:26) * 1 lines
Bill sold the 6/5.
austin conference 
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