Shaded by oaks buoyant with birdsong and soothed by the subtle taps of stalks in the breeze, Wimberley celebrated the regeneration of a community oasis that had fallen into disrepair.
Dubbed “Project Oasis,” the neglected courtyard garden at Deer Creek, a nursing and long-term care facility, had seen better days. The established oaks needed pruning, weeds choked the gardens, a raised stone fish pond, the garden’s central feature, had stopped working and a dead tree stump was marooned in its center. An old pergola leaned, empty pots were stacked everywhere and worse yet, drainage spouts from the gutters deposited water into the area, washing out beds and contributing to its generally woeful state.
It’s hard to know exactly when Deer Creek opened its doors in Wimberley. Records show that the facility’s first Medicaid patients arrived in 1991. By 2025, ninety-eight percent of their clientele relied on Medicare assistance.
Sometime in 2023, Deer Creek’s then Director, Misty May, treated her residents to a field trip across town to visit a newly-built facility. The facility’s grounds were beautifully landscaped and there were well-tended sitting areas in which to socialize.
Despite knowing that there was no money to renew the Deer Creek gardens, May came away from the field trip with a deep desire to give her residents a similar kind of sanctuary. Even more heart-wrenching for May was her knowledge that for her bedbound patients the dismal courtyard would be the last thing they would ever see.
Nevertheless, May shared her desire with others. In 2024, she approached Don Minnick and asked if the courtyard could become a WimberleyArts.org Public Art project. Once it was approved, Minnick and fellow committee member, Jan Fitzhugh, “just ran with it,” May said.
The Public Art committee engaged Dan Sauerwein of Cypress Creek Outdoor Services to draw a plan.
Soon after, an appeal went out to the community to embrace the project and Wimberley responded with donations of money, materials and services from non-profits, and pledges from individuals and families. Businesses donated unrestricted funds and underwrote specific elements of the project. Families of current and former Deer Creek residents gave, artists loaned their talents and citizens donated their labor and expertise.
In all, more than a dozen businesses came forward as did 50 generous individuals.
Wimberley is well known for their service to each other. The tiny community of fewer than 3,000 had picked up the pieces after the devastating 2015 Memorial Day flood that destroyed 300 homes along the Blanco River, only to do it again when Cypress Creek, the waterway that bisected the town, flooded five months later. The motto, Wimberley Strong, that flew on flags around town, was not an exaggerated boast, but the mantra that gave the town the courage to reach out to their stricken neighbors and rebuild.
As Project Oasis evolved, volunteers and skilled providers donated thousands of hours to restore the courtyard to glory. Branches were trimmed, debris was cleared and water tanks, painted by artists, were installed to capture the runoff from gutters. A new pergola sprang up, an accessible potting area was built, and birdhouses, created by artists, were hung or seated majestically on posts. A striking JJ Prior monument took up residence in a quiet area of the courtyard. Most importantly, the raised stone pond with its wide coping for seating was restored and filled with koi, lily pads and a handsome zero edge fountain.
One couple in particular, Andrew and Lin Weber, were constants. Minnick told well-wishers at the June 2025 courtyard rededication that every time he visited the project, Andrew and Lin were there.
With a background in construction, Andrew assembled the pergola and installed the water tanks, saving the project precious funds. Lin, the former president of Keep Wimberley Beautiful, took the lead on rehabilitating the garden, ever vigilant to protect the fragile stands of bluebonnets that managed to survive over the years. As the Webers and other volunteers worked, they attuned themselves to the Deer Creek community who never lost an opportunity to thank them for their efforts.
During the rededication last week, Deer Creek staff, residents and their families, joined with donors, volunteers, and well-wishers to take in the courtyard’s stunning transformation.
In the garden’s unhurried environment, visitors tarried on the pond’s edge, seeking glimpses of koi in the tranquil water. Others wended their way through the garden’s spacious environs, seeking out the birdhouses and brightly painted water tanks.
As the remarks by Minnick ended, Deer Creek’s current Executive Director, Shelly Brasher said, “The way this town came together for us was just wonderful.”
