New park land purchase will bridge Hamilton Pool, Reimers Ranch Park by SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:38 PM Updated yesterday at 11:31 AM
Updated yesterday at 11:31 AM AUSTIN -- A $20 million transaction approved by Travis County Commissioners to buy private land between Milton Reimers Park and Hamilton Pool will bridge the gap between the two natural hot spots located about 40 minutes west of Austin. “You almost don't feel like you're in Texas because there's so many leaves turning this time of year and the weather right now is perfect,” said John Pugh, a Lake McQueeney resident who brought his family to Reimers Ranch Park on Wednesday. An 800-acre tract belonging to the Reimer family will eventually bridge Reimers Ranch Park to Hamilton Pool, creating a 3,500 acre park with contiguous natural space. Travis County voters approved the item in a 2005 bond election. Eventually park goers will have 1.5 more miles of the Pedernales River to enjoy along with more mountain biking and hiking trails. But Laura Huffman with the Nature Conservancy says this acquisition is much more than just about preserving natural space. “The most important benefit is to protect fresh water. There's just no question. Austin's got a long history of doubling in size every 20 years, and anything we can do to protect our water is important not only for biodiversity but also to make sure the people have access to clean water,” says Huffman. Water will filter naturally through the 3,500 acres in to the Edwards Aquifer which provides water to two million Central Texans. A spokesperson with Travis County Parks said it could be another year or two until parkgoers are able to go back and forth from Reimers Park to Hamilton Pool. ****************************************************************** Milton Reimers Ranch Park Directions Travis County Milton Reimers Ranch Park is approximately 30 miles southwest of Austin. Take Highway 71 west of Austin through the town of Bee Cave and turn left onto FM 3238 (Hamilton Pool Road). Travel 12 miles to the Park entrance, on your right. Map (PDF file) Hours of Operation 8:00 AM to civil twilight (dark). Entrance Fees $10.00 per vehicle. Description This pristine parkland, open space and reserve land in western Travis County with almost 3 miles of continuous frontage along the Pedernales River is the largest parkland acquisition in the history of Travis County The Reimers Ranch parcel is already well known and well loved by many potential park users. The sizeable Central Texas rock-climbing community views Reimers Ranch as a destination with world class rock climbing. The active local mountain biking community likewise enjoys Reimers Ranch’s over 18 miles of trails through the classic Central Texas landscape. Local anglers have come to Reimers’ for generations to fish for white bass in the Pedernales River. The Pogue Springs Preserve/Hogge Reserve component of the land acquisition is less known but equally spectacular with Pedernales River frontage, deep canyons and panoramic views of the Texas Hill Country. The land acquisition includes 1,267 acres purchased from Milton and Joy Reimers and a contiguous 1,160 acres purchased from Hogge Canyon Springs, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership. The acquisition consists of 505 acres of the Reimers tract along the Pedernales River, which will become the Travis County Milton Reimers Ranch Park, along with a 29 acre tract for public access, 733 acres of Reimers Parkland Reserve, 500 acres of Pogue Springs Preserve and 660 acres of Hogge Parkland Reserve, for a total acquisition of 2,427 acres of parks and open space. Acreage: 2,427 Available Activities rock climbing picnicking hiking mountain biking fishing wildlife/nature observation Available Activities rock climbing picnicking hiking mountain biking fishing wildlife/nature observation http://www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/parks/reimers_ranch.asp
