One of the Hill Country’s most idyllic swimming holes is hoping to make an even bigger splash. Wimberley’s Blue Hole Regional Park is building a state-of-the-art education center designed to be a hub of Hays County civic life.
According to a new Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filing, the 2,375-square-foot facility will include a flexible classroom that can be divided into two spaces, restrooms, and covered porches. The grounds also incorporate a courtyard earmarked for outdoor learning.
The Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department says the center will act as an extension of its Nature Camp program. The day camp serves over 400 area youth each year with programming based on themes such as environmental stewardship, animal and insect life, arts, and geology.
The center will include two classrooms that can be combined into one.Rendering courtesy of Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department.
The project is designed to blend into and respect the scenic Hill Country setting. The website explains that the project will incorporate “nature-based exhibits and restored prairie and wetland ecosystems.” The latter will be supported by a One Water system that reuses stormwater and wastewater instead of letting it go down the drain.
“The Blue Hole Nature Center will provide a safe space in nature to showcase everything that the Texas Hill Country has to offer to Wimberley and Hays County residents,” wrote the Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department. “The Center will incorporate innovative water management strategies to maximize conservation and sustainability.”
The center is not expected to break ground until July 2027. Although it was awarded $3 million from the Hays County Parks and Open Space Bond, it still has to raise an additional $1 million.
According to the TDLR timeline, construction is expected to wrap up in August 2028, but state filings are subject to change. A request for more information from Wimberley Parks and Rec was not immediately returned.
In the meantime, San Antonians can make the hour drive to enjoy a dip. After years of being plagued by issues like aquifer depletion and heavy Hill Country storms, the swimming area is open through Labor Day.
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