Wimberley started as a trading post settlement near Cypress Creek in 1848, the year Hays County was organized. After William Carvin Winters built a gristmill at the site in 1856, it took on the name “Winters’ Mill”. When the mill was sold in 1864 to the Cude family, its name was changed to “Cude’s Mill”. It was sold again in 1874 to Pleasant Wimberley and took on his name. Over the years, the mill was expanded to process lumber, shingles, flour, molasses, and cotton. The mill is gone, but Winter’s c. 1856 home survives and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1880, Alfred vom Stein, a postmaster from San Marcos, applied to have a post office established in the community, calling it “Wimberleyville”. The application was granted, but the name shortened to Wimberley. Although the mill was shut down in 1925, the community was established and continued to grow, eventually becoming known as a resort town and popular with tourists. It’s best know as “A Little Piece of Heaven”.
Shopping
Wimberley is famous for Market Days..and the most popular in the area, Market Days are held the first Saturday of the month, March through December. 475 +- vendors come from all over and offer a variety of products from antiques to food. Of course, don’t miss downtown for unique little shops and the Wimberley Cafe on the Square. And don’t miss the shops and Leaning Pear Restaurant just past the river on the left.
Things To Do
Jacob’s Well and The Blue Hole are probably the most famous swimming in the Hill Country. Jacob’s Well is one of the longest underwater caves in Texas, tours are held every Sunday at 10:00am. Enjoy live concerts at The Blue Hole every Friday in April (don’t forget to bring your own chair and blanket…yes, it does get chilly in Texas! Chairs and blankets needed if you go to the Coral Theatre too. Think it of a drive-in without cars.
School District
Wimberley Public Schools are part of the Wimberley Independent School District.
- High School: Wimberley High School and Katherine Anne Porter School, a public charter high school.
- Middle School: Danforth Junior High School
- Elementary School: Jacob’s Well Elementary School
Notable People
- Nathan Brown, formerly Poet Laureate of Oklahoma, moved to Wimberley, where he now lives.
- Ray Wylie Hubbard, Texas music legend, moved to Wimberley in his early 40s.
- Sarah Jarosz, bluegrass singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, was raised in Wimberley.
- Leon Jaworski, special prosecutor in the Watergate Scandal, died in Wimberley in 1982 while chopping wood at his Circle J Ranch
- Rupert Neve, British creator of audio recording equipment bearing his name, moved to Wimberley in his 70s.
- Kevin Welch, singer-songwriter, moved to Wimberley in his early 50s.
- Lathan Mckay, producer, historian, actor-writer and co-founder of the Evel Knievel museum moved to Wimberley in his late 30s.
What do most of these people have in common? They moved to Wimberley ’cause they know how cool it is!
Thank you Wikipedia for the excellent information! For more info: https://www.cityofwimberley.com/
Photo: Travis K. Witt
