Postcard from... Wimberley, Texas, USA
I’m not lying when I say Wimberley, Texas is a little bit of heaven! My beloved
town is tucked smartly between Austin and San Antonio in the vast Texas
Hill Country. It has a growing population of just under 3000 and is a popular
retreat for artists, musicians, writers and anyone yearning to escape city
life. Why is Wimberley so great? It offers something for everyone … theater,
nature, shopping and even a rodeo.
The Emily Ann Theater and Gardens is my favorite place in Wimberley. It is 12 acres
of beautiful gardens, nature trails, interactive activities including a life size chess
board, a musical garden, and nature and theater camps. At the summit of the
grounds is the Veterans Memorial Plaza designed by my grandfather to honor,
educate and inspire all who visit. Throughout the year many amazing theatrical
performances are put on at the indoor and outdoor theaters. Most notably is
Shakespeare Under the Stars where students from ages 12 to graduating seniors,
study and perform one of Shakespeare’s plays. In April they proudly hold the
Butterfly Festival where over 4000 butterflies are released throughout the day
with games, crafts, bounce houses and food; all there to be enjoyed. During the
winter there is a Trail of Lights where many people enjoy walking through the
gardens lit by thousands of twinkling lights, then warm by a yule log and roast
marshmallows while sipping hot cocoa and listening to live music.
www.emilyann.org
Wimberley offers many outdoor recreational activities like camping,
horseback riding, hiking and swimming. The Blue Hole is a 126-acre park
hosting walking trails, sports fields, picnic sites and swimming in the
magical Cypress Creek. In April The Blue Hole hosts live concerts and
the Wimberley Arts Fest. Jacob’s Well Natural Area is an 81-acre beauty
offering artesian springs and one of the longest underwater caves in
Texas which surges thousands of gallons of water per day.
www.friendsofbluehole.org
Community events bring the locals together and attract
visitors from all over the world. Wimberley Market Days are
the oldest outdoor market in the surrounding hill country and
the second largest in Texas. The 475 booths provide food,
live music and everything you can’t live without. Every year
on the 4th of July the town comes together for a parade
through main street and for Wimberley’s Annual VFW Pro
Open Rodeo, the best small-town rodeo in Texas. Some of
the thrilling events include bull riding, calf roping, bareback &
saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing.
www.wimberleyvfwrodeo.com
I love Wimberley, and hopefully after reading this you do
too. It is a diverse, cozy, friendly small Texas town with huge,
beautiful nights sky. The words from the song, “The stars
at night are big and bright…deep in the heart of Texas!” are
never truer than when I gaze fondly out from the top of one
of the many hills in the Wimberley valley, and see a dazzling
spectacle of color and light above me.
Liliana Salazar (age 12)
www.wimberley.org
www.visitwimberley.com
theIMJIN SPRING 2018
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