Wimberley, Texas Travel Guide

Looking for more shopping and outdoor fun? Just north of San Antonio, the community of Wimberley offer something for everyone.

Travelers are in for a treat along this stretch as they drive what's often cited as one of the most scenic drives in the Lone Star State: the Devil's Backbone. At the end of the Devil's Backbone, RR 32 intersects with RR 12, and the road drops from the steep ridge to a fertile valley where the Blanco River and the town of Wimberley are nestled. It's a five-mile drive on RR 12 to Wimberley.

Many spring visitors come to enjoy the town's two water sources: the Blanco River and clear, chilly Cypress Creek. Both are filled with inner-tubers and swimmers during hot summer months. The waterways provide a temporary home for campers and vacationers who stay in resorts and cabins along the shady water's edge.

Wimberley's history goes back to the 1850s when a resourceful Texas Revolution veteran named William Winters opened a mill here. As was tradition at the time, he named the new community Winters' Mill. When Winters died, John Cade bought the mill, and the town became Cade's Mill. Finally in 1870, a wealthy Llano man named Pleasant Wimberley rode into town. Tired of Indian raids on his horses in Llano, he moved in, bought the mill, and changed the town's name one last time.

The small town of Wimberley boasts dozens of specialty stores, art galleries and studios, and accommodations ranging from river resorts to historic bed-and-breakfasts. The busiest time to visit is the first Saturday of the month, from April through December. This is Market Day, when hundreds of vendors set up to sell antiques, collectibles, and arts and crafts. Even if you can't visit on Market Day, you'll find plenty of potential purchases at the shops on the square and surrounding area.

Attractions:

Pioneer Town. Family travelers especially appreciate Wimberley's popular Pioneer Town, located one mile west of RR 12 on County Road 178. Visitors can see a medicine show, tour a general store museum, or spend some time at the town jail in this Wild West village. Hop aboard the Pioneer and Pacific Railroad. This narrow gauge railway winds along one mile of the Wimberley Valley. For a closer look at the countryside, you can also arrange for a trail ride and, from the saddle, experience the area like a true pioneer. Stop by the free General Store Museum for a look at the items used by early settlers, from shot loaders to bath tubs. You might feel like a time traveler as you leave the highway for roads lined with hitching posts and return to the early days of this region. 7-A Ranch Resort, one mile west of RR 12 on County Road 178, at the intersection of County Road 179.

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In-Depth Travel Articles:

Wimberley's Pioneer Town

Wimberley Family Fun: shopping and more

For More Information: visit Wimberley Chamber of Commerce

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