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Spend a weekend in Wimberley
(The following appears in the Sunday edition of the Statesman on June 29.)
For those who miss the Austin of their cherished memories, when condos didn’t sprawl, traffic was less hectic and time seemed to pass more slowly, head out to the Village of Wimberley, at the edge of the Texas Hill Country.
The village, a home to “cedar choppers” and artists alike, has wrestled with growth over the past two decades — in addition to the old Burger Barn, there is now the three star Cedar Grove Steakhouse at the edge of town and the bountiful Ray’s Butcher Shop — but managed to maintain its rustic identity.
One of the stalwarts of old Wimberley is the Rio Bonito Resort, a 34-acre-campsite that sits at the intersection of the clear running waters of the Blanco River and the gently rolling Cypress Creek. The bucolic resort, which has been family-owned for more than 75 years, offers families and groups the opportunity to “reconnect with family” in a setting that feels “like you’re going camping,” says owner Cindy Meeks, whose grandfather, Joe Peterson, purchased the property in 1932.
The 14 cabins feature air conditioning and kitchenettes, but don’t expect modern conveniences (or distractions) such as televisions in the quaint and clean cabins that sit along the river. Although there is a recreation center and swimming pool, most of the resort’s visitors opt for more natural forms of diversion. In a nonstop world of hustle and bustle, Rio Bonito prides itself on offering visitors a chance to transport to a simpler time where entertainment meant catching fireflies, telling stories by campfire and floating peacefully down the river.
Rio Bonito’s location in the heart of the village offers ample opportunity to enjoy the village’s unique pleasures, such as Market Days (held the first Saturday of each month), the Corral Theatre and the historic Blue Hole. Acquired by the Village of Wimberley in 2005, thus ensuring its preservation, the Blue Hole has long been considered by visitors one of the ideal swimming holes in Central Texas, with gigantic cypress trees and rope swings providing great jumping-off points for those looking to be refreshed by the crystal waters of Cypress Creek on hot summer days.
Time might not have completely forgotten Wimberley, but it sure seems to have given the town a reprieve. Because though the village might change and grow incrementally, at its heart it is still the peaceful, natural retreat that has been calling visitors from around the state for decades.
In the words of Meeks, “We like to hold on to the past … we keep it real simple.”
Rio Bonito Resort offers cabins for up to 8 people for $160 a night and smaller cabins for four people at $90 a night. The resort closes from the end of December until March. To get to Wimberley and the Rio Bonito Resort, take U.S. 290 west to RM 12. Turn left onto RM 12 and head 11 miles south to Wimberley.
Rio Bonito Resort
13401 Ranch Road 12
512.847.2232
Wimberley-related links:
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