Wimberley has a richhistory of rodeo. Rooted in the Indigenous cultures of the Americas, both Native Americans and the vaqueros of Mexico rounded up wild herds of mustangs and trained them for cattle herding and ranch work. Their skills heavily influenced the development of cowboy culture in Texas and states in southwestern U.S.
Rodeo competitions developed as a way for cowboys to demonstrate riding, roping and animal handling to others and as a way to socialize, have fun and develop camaraderie.
According to Wimberley historian Lewis Smith, from research by Linda Allen from her 1986 book, “Wimberley – a Way of Life,” the “first organized rodeos were run by the Wimberley Rodeo Association. These were held on the grounds of Camp Wimberley, now the site of Rio Bonito resort on Ranch Road 12 at the Blanco River bridge.” The Rio Bonito property has since become The Waters Point.
In 1935, the rodeo was moved to Twin Mountain Ranch owned by Carl Scudder Sr. and his wife, Adelia. Carl named the ranch “Twin Mountain” for the Twin Sisters peaks which were located on the property, as was a large portion of Cypress Creek. Besides the arena, the rodeo grounds included a racetrack for quarter horse races. Every July 4, competitors and spectators arrived from all over Texas for the three-day event.
STILL BEAUTIFUL IN 2025, THE CYPRESS CREEK SWIMMING HOLE ON THE SCUDDER PROPERTY PROVIDES AN INVITING PLACE TO COOL OFF.
According to Smith, “In 1946, the newly-formed VFW took over operation of the rodeo.”
Under the purview of the VFW, the rodeo moved in 1948, in 1951 and again in 1985, to its present location on Jacob’s Well Road.
In July, the Wimberley View was invited by Janet Scudder, Carl Scudder Jr.’s wife, to look at the old rodeo grounds on Scudder Lane. After going through albums of old photos Janet led a tour of the property where she pointed out the foundation of a bathhouse, a barbecue shack, dance floor, the stadium area for the racetrack and a swimming hole on Cypress Creek created by a small dam, all remnants of the Twin Mountain rodeo of the 1930s and ‘40s.
A COWBOY ROPES A STEER AT THE TWIN MOUNTAIN RANCH RODEO IN THE 1930S. FROM THE COLLECTION OF DOROTHY WIMBERLEY KERBOW
THIS GRASSY AREA WAS THE LOCATION OF THE STADIUM THAT OVERLOOKED A RACE TRACK. PHOTOS BY TERESA KENDRICK
THE BARBECUE KITCHEN FROM THE TWIN MOUNTAIN RANCH RODEO DAYS STILL STANDS.
