Hill Country has been historically filled with thousands of natural springs. Archaeologists have found evidence of humans occupying parts of the Hill Country for 10,000 years! The land is naturally ample with wild deer, turkey, pecans, mesquite, fish and more (including snakes!). The hills are filled with ‘Edwards Chert,’ stone aka flint. Native Americans have loved the land and tribes were know to gather in the area for meetings. (See notes regarding The Vortex.)
German immigrants later came to the state of Texas in the 1800s, and many settled in Hill Country. The historic town of Fredericksburg is emblematic of this history. Many people there still speak German. In fact, there were so many German settlers in Texas, we have been told that the official state language was almost voted to be German!
Our piece of property has served the local community for years for herd grazing along the year-round spring-fed Rocky Creek. The small hand-built rock building on the highway sold local peaches, and we were told it potentially sold booze during prohibition years. (A prophetic place to run a sober-oriented community!!!) A house and petrol station (1940s) were also on the land and created a welcome stopping point between Fredericksburg and Johnson City. All that remains of them is a thick concrete pad, concrete foundation and large brick fireplace. We were told the gas station proprietor used to put lanterns along the highway to help drivers safely find their way along this notorious curve on the road.
In later years, a Honky Tonk known as the Mermaid Club opened up on this site at the end of 1966. The opening act was the Texas Show Boys. There are ads that show they were still in business up until the 1970s. The site may have had a fire, but most certainly experienced a major flood at Rocky Creek. Parts of a broken-down bridge were a twisted pile of rusted metal on the site when we acquired it.
We have since salvaged the two historic rock buildings on site and restored their roofs to protect against the ample rains in the area.