Hays County held a public forum at the Wimberley Community Center last week to provide updates on Sentinel Peak Preserve and other parks and open space projects currently underway across the county.
A panel shared the latest progress on Sentinel Peak Preserve, a 530-plus-acre property located just west of Wimberley. The Preserve was purchased by the county in 2022.
“Sentinel Peak will serve as a Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat preserve and will also offer residents a unique riverfront park experience along a pristine one-mile stretch of the Blanco River,” said Hays County Parks and Natural Resources Director Karl Flocke. “We are designing this space to balance low-impact recreation with long-term environmental protection.”
“It’s quintessential Hill Country,” Flocke said. “It sits on what a lot of locals know as the Devil’s Backbone, which is a very steep area of terrain right on the Hays and Comal county lines. When you enter the park, you’re actually pretty high, and then you drop rapidly to the river right before you get to it. We also have a number of hiking trails that go through some of the hills and canyons around the river, which are really neat features.”
According to previous reporting by the Wimberley View, the property was a 2,382-acre Boy Scout camp called El Rancho Cima, which opened on October 27, 1953. After 60 years of ownership, the ranch was sold and divided into several 250-500-acre tracts. The county partnered with The Nature Conservancy in Texas to acquire the land in 2019 fortified with 2020 Hays County Parks Bond funding.
When completed, Sentinel Peak Preserve will feature opportunities for swimming and hiking, a nature center, a small event space, and county offices. The project is part of the broader 2020 Parks and Open Spaces Bond program, which funds park improvements and land conservation initiatives across Hays County.
Flocke emphasized that all projects reflect the County’s long-term vision of pairing recreational access with responsible resource stewardship. “Our goal is to ensure residents can enjoy the county’s natural landscapes without detracting from the beauty and ecological value of the environment,” he said.
Potential project sites were initially recommended by partnering cities and nonprofit organizations, then evaluated and ranked by the citizen-led Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Commission. Each project has also benefited from extensive stakeholder input, including guidance from the Watershed Association, The Nature Conservancy, Hill Country Conservancy, the Great Springs Project, neighbors, and others who participated in community discussions such as the 2024 Capes Pond open house.
“These projects increase access to nature-based recreation throughout the county,” Flocke said. “Visitors will see benefits like new and expanded trails, greater connectivity and additional opportunities for swimming and fishing — an important addition since swimming at Jacob’s Well has not been possible since 2022 due to low water levels.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer added, “Sentinel Peak Preserve represents a major step forward in expanding access to nature while honoring our responsibility to protect Hays County’s most sensitive natural resources. Community input has shaped every stage of these projects, and we’re excited to share the progress with residents. The work being done today will ensure that families can enjoy these spaces for generations to come.”
Residents can learn more about Sentinel Peak Preserve, other ongoing projects, and bond-funded initiatives by visiting the Hays County Parks Bond website at www.haysparksbond.com.
