day trips
By Gerald E. McLeod, Fri., June 6, 1997
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Situated on a bluff overlooking Cypress Creek, Krause Springs is actually two swimming holes in one. As the rolling ranch land begins its rapid descent to the creek and Lake Travis, the Krause home sits at a high point with the parking lot. At the next level below the house is the spring-fed swimming pool and below that is the creek, lined with towering cypress trees and a waterfall coming over a cliff covered with ferns.
Elton and Jane Krause bought the property in the 1950s from an aunt. "When we first got the property it was full of hog pens," Elton said. For the first six or seven years the Krauses lived on the 115 acres while he worked for the Austin American-Statesman in the circulation office in Marble Falls.
After they built the swimming pool, "one thing led to another" and they started opening the property to swimmers and campers. After a Texas Monthly magazine article in the 1980s listed the springs as one of the best swimming holes in the state, visitors started arriving from all over the country to enjoy the relaxing sanctuary.
Every year, Elton, his sons, and hired help find more improvements to add to the privately owned park. They did all of the landscaping that makes the area look like a tropical oasis and built all of the rock picnic benches. They used to have wooden picnic tables, but after every weekend the tables would be clustered together and they would have to spread them all out again. Elton retired to operate the park full-time in 1994. "I still find plenty to do around the place," he said, "and I'm working harder than I ever did before."
Whether it's greeting customers or puttering around his tropical garden and fountains on the patio behind the house, Elton always seems to be busy doing something. Visitors don't seem to notice his fountains as much as they used to since he installed wind chimes next to the house. Built in Austin, he claims that the tubular chimes are the largest in this part of the country.
Surrounded by ranches that are being divided into housing developments, the property was in the Krause family for two generations before Elton and Jane bought it. The site is listed on the national register of historic places as an undisturbed Indian midden. "I had to look up what midden was too," Elton said -- a midden is a burial ground and was probably used by the Indians for centuries before white settlers arrived.
There are 32 springs throughout the campground, which made it perfect for the original Native American residents and now benefits latter-day campers and swimmers. Two springs feed the 70' by 20' swimming pool at a rate of 70 gallons a minute at a temperature of about 70 degrees. Elton said the springs have never slowed down, even during last year's severe drought.
Over the years, the Krauses have added 24 sites with hookups for recreational vehicles. The tent camping area is a meadow above the creek with lots of shade trees. Boaters often put in at the boat ramp at the LCRA park at the end of Spur 191 and ride around to the campground. Hikers are welcome to explore the trails on the property, but are reminded to respect fence lines.
Krause Springs is west of Austin off of TX71 and Spur 191 into Spicewood. The campground is open year-round and during the summer months for swimming, 9am-dusk. "People start coming out to swim when the weather turns 85 degrees and warmer," Elton said.
Admission is $2 for children up to 11 years old and $2.50 for everyone else Monday through Thursday; the price goes up by 50cents Friday through Sunday and holidays. Camping is $3 for children and $6 for adults with an additional $3 charge for RVs. Pets are not allowed. For more information or to make camping reservations, call the Krauses at 210/693-4181.
Coming up this weekend...
Jubilee Days in Rockdale features nightly rodeos and dances along with a Saturday full of activities in Fair Park at Walnut and Mill streets, June 5-7. 512/446-2030.
Bryan Bluegrass Festival happens at Lake Bryan Park, June 6-7. 409/361-3658.
Summer Celebration in Luckenbach honors the season with music and storytelling, June 7. 210/997-6417.
BBQ Cookoff at Kendalia Halle in Kendalia includes two evenings of music in the historic dance hall, June 6-7. 888/262-2609 or http://www.bke.com/kendalia-halle.
Invitational Art Show and Sale presents the regional artists along with food and music in Aldersverein Halle in Fredericksburg, June 7-8. 210/997-8260.
Coming up...
Salt Festival in Grand Saline offers a three-day celebration of the local industry, June 12-14. 903/962-5631.
Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches features lots of fresh berries along with continuous entertainment, June 13-14. 409/564-7351.
Tuolumne River Rafting Tours season has been extended with additional water releases through September on one of California's best Class IV whitewater rivers. O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists) operates one to three day trips on the Tuolumne River and other western U.S. rivers. 800/346-6277 or http://www.oars.com.
