Krause Springs Texas. (original) (raw)

The 70 x 20-foot swimming pool is just below the well, which is the source of the springs. It pumps at a rate of 70 gallons per minute. It is beautifully made with stonework, a diving board, and a concrete patio. Depths range from deep enough for diving to shallow enough to wade in. The water is blue-green, very clean and natural, and it reflects the sky and trees beautifully. The spring trickles out from the well on the shallow end, goes through the pool into canals, flows over a cliff and cascades 25 feet into a waterfall into the lower pool, a natural swimming hole. The waterfall has changed since a portion of the overhang broke off in 1985. The fallen rock is still in the middle of the water. The lower pool is deepest, about eight feet, beneath the falls. There are numerous boulders in the water, so no diving is allowed. Flat limestone rocks have water rushing over them which pools into a great swimming hole with a rope swing, caves, and beautiful, mossy cliffs. To get down to the swimming hole, there is a new set of wide limestone flagstones, a great improvement over the old, rickety, steep stairs.

Krause Springs is so quiet and still, you can hear the birds, crickets and cicadas chirping. When I visited on a Friday, there were only five other people there. It is easy to get spoiled by having it all to yourself, and it is so intimate that it feels full when just a handful of people are around. The giant wind chimes, built in Austin, are some of the largest in the country. They sound like cathedral bells and resonate all over the grounds. Lush, green, tropical plants like taro and elephant ears are growing all over the park. Magnificent trees such as cottonwoods, pecans, cypress, and oaks preside over the park. Some of the cypress trees are estimated to be over 1,000 years old, and the live oaks are 100-200 years old. Dozens of butterflies fly through in the spring and fall migrations. I think Krause Springs has done an admirable job of incorporating man-made elements into the natural world. The result is a beautiful park that is obviously well-loved and cared for.

Krause Springs also has camping for those who want to spend a few days. There are three tiers of campsites with the bottom level backing up against Lake Travis. Boaters can travel up to the boat ramp at the end of Spur 191 and ride to the campground. There are many picnic areas, rest rooms, and grills. Proper swimwear is required. Loud music is prohibited. Elton's policy regarding trash? The sign says it all: My hired hand just quit!

KRAUSE SPRINGS
Post Office Box 114
Spicewood, Texas 78669
(830) 693-4181

Excerpted from Splash Across Texas, 1999
Copyright Chandra Moira Beal and La Luna Publishing