Jacob’s Well Natural Area outside of Wimberley is no longer a not-so-well-kept secret swimming hole. It’s now a Hays County park, and sneaking around protective neighbors and landowners is no longer necessary.
The opening in the creek bed is about eight feet wide and follows a crack 140 feet into the aquifer. Early settlers reported seeing a geyser shooting out of the hole and hearing the rush of water from miles away. Today, the flow barely ripples the surface of the water, which is tinted emerald by algae. Downstream from Jacob’s Well, Cypress Creek feeds Blue Hole, another spectacular swimming hole on the outskirts of Wimberley.
Texas’ second longest water-filled cave attracts scuba divers. At least eight divers have died in the dark tunnels despite an iron grate that once covered the opening.
A partnership of the Texas Nature Conservancy, Hays County, and the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, the 85-acre park is open for educational and recreational activities. The county purchased a former RV park on the hill overlooking the swimming hole to use as an education center.
Jacob’s Well Natural Area is located west of Wimberley off Jacob’s Well Road at 221 Wood Acre Dr., and is open daily.There is no smoking, alcohol, dogs, or fishing at the day-use-only site. Scuba diving is allowed by special permit. Guided tours happen on Saturdays at 10am, or can be arranged by writing to briane.willis@co.hays.tx.us.
1,137th in a series. Collect them all. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of “Day Trips,” is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.
This article appears in May 17 • 2013.
