Hello everyone:

 

The fellowship committee got together a few weeks ago and decided it would be great to host a church picnic potluck. We would like to invite you all to a picnic/cook-out at Krause Springs on Saturday, July 31^st, 2004 from 12 p.m. on.  Krause Springs is out west on 71 West about 35 minutes away from Austin. It’s a great place for families and everyone alike. It’s got two swimming options. One is a regular pool with shallow and deep end that’s spring fed and then another natural spring pool (pictured below) with lots of rocks to lie on and a big waterfall to swim under. There’s lots of grass and picnics tables and shade. The fellowship committee will provide hamburgers, hotdogs, etc. and we thought everyone else could bring sides, dessert, and such.

 

We hope you can take some time out of your busy weekend schedule to come to the picnic. I’m sure it will be loads of fun for all. Please RSVP to me, Eva, (eowens@xxxxxxxxxx) at some point so we can get a head count for food.

 

The price of admission for Krause Springs is $2.50 for children 4 to 11 and $3 for those 12 and older. There just happened to be an article about the place in the Statesman last week. I pasted it below.

 

Take care,

 

EO

 

 

 

Krause Springs
Picture-perfect swimming

By Pamela LeBlanc
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, June 25, 2004

Laura Skelding/AMERICAN-STATESMAN (enlarge photo) Andrea Yeric, 9, lets the water fall around her at Krause Springs.   Swimming holes (See articles for driving directions) Krause Springs, Spicewood Blue Hole Park, Georgetown Hamilton Pool Preserve, southwestern Travis County Bull Creek District Park, Northwest Austin Barton Creek Greenbelt, West Austin Montopolis Bridge, East Austin on the Colorado River McKinney Falls State Park, southeastern Travis County Five Mile Dam (Dudley Johnson Park), Blanco River just north of San Marcos  MORE ON THIS STORY   Related stories Introduction: Rain has filled our favorite swimming holes Let's teach 2,004 kids to swim safely this summer YOUR SWIM MEMORIES Got your own favorite Central Texas swimming hole? Tell us where it is and what makes it special, and send us photos from your swims there. Words and photos should be sent to readerphotos@statesman.com by Friday, July 2 for posting.

Pull into the grass parking area, pay your entrance fee to 81-year-old Elton Krause, who sits under an umbrella at a table by the gate, and make your way down the shady path to the spring-fed swimming pool.

It's cold and it's clear, but the real jewel lies just beyond — down the 25 or so stone steps that lead to the natural pool. Clamber over the wide limestone bank, spread out your towel and hop in the water.

A waterfall spills over a cliff so lush with ferns it looks like something out of Jurassic Park. Paddle under the downspout and retreat into the shady, water-filled grotto behind it. Or plop down in the trench the water has carved in the rock off on one side and let the stream rush around you. Or climb onto the Volkswagen-sized boulder next to a towering cypress tree, grab the rope hanging there and swing out over the pool and into what's quite possibly the area's best swimming hole.

Krause was born just 3 miles from here, and bought the property in the 1960s. In the 1970s, he turned it into Krause Springs, a public park with stone picnic tables and restrooms. The site, once a campground for Native Americans, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Julie Yeric brought her children and their cousins here recently because they prefer their swimming without the chlorine and chaos of the neighborhood pool. "It looks like a movie set to me," Yeric said. "It's not Kauai, but it's got a unique look. We love natural beauty and this is God-made or nature-made, and it's just beautiful."

Andrew, 28, and Gina Miller, 27, picked Krause Springs for their wedding last August. They returned recently, sprawling out on slabs of sun-warmed limestone. "This is my favorite spot to swim, and I've been coming here for 12 years," Gina Miller said.

If you go ...

Krause Springs is 34 miles west of Austin in Spicewood. Take Texas 71 west to Spur 191. Turn right, go about a mile, then turn right again onto County Road 404. Krause Springs is about a half-mile down on your left.

Admission is $2.50 for children 4 to 11 and $3 for those 12 and older. No pets. For camping reservations, call (830) 693-4181.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Eva Owens [mailto:eowens@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 11:14 AM
To: 'rdkoehn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: fellowship committee

 

Hello Bob:

 

Sorry its taken me a while to get back to you. It took me a while to find your email address.  Krause Springs is a go. They said as long as we get there before noon and stake out some space (tables) that we should be fine. Do you want to send out the announcement or should I? below is some information and directions for the park.

 

Eva Owens

 

 

Krause Springs, 34 miles west of Austin in Spicewood, is possibly the most beautiful swimming hole in the state. Situated on a bluff overlooking Cypress Creek, Krause Springs is actually two swimming holes in one. As the rolling ranch land begins its rapid descent to the creek and Lake Travis, the Krause home sits at a high point with the parking lot. At the next level below the house is the spring-fed swimming pool and below that is the creek, lined with towering cypress trees and a waterfall coming over a cliff covered with ferns.

Elton and Jane Krause bought the property in the 1950s from an aunt. Every year, Elton, his sons, and hired help find more improvements to add to the privately owned park. They did all of the landscaping that makes the area look like a tropical oasis and built all of the rock picnic benches. They used to have wooden picnic tables, but after every weekend the tables would be clustered together and they would have to spread them all out again. Elton retired to operate the park full-time in 1994.

The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was probably used by Native Americans for centuries before white settlers arrived.

There are 32 springs throughout the campground, which made it perfect for the original Native American residents and now benefits latter-day campers and swimmers. Two springs feed the 70' by 20' swimming pool at a rate of 70 gallons a minute at a temperature of about 70 degrees. The springs have never slowed down, even during severe drought.

Over the years, the Krauses have added 24 sites with hookups for recreational vehicles. The tent camping area is a meadow above the creek with lots of shade trees. Boaters often put in at the boat ramp at the LCRA park at the end of Spur 191 and ride around to the campground. Hikers are welcome to explore the trails on the property, but are reminded to respect fence lines.

Krause Springs is west of Austin off of TX 71 and Spur 191 into Spicewood. Take Texas Highway 71 west from Austin, cross the Pedernales River, drive 7 miles, turn right on Spur 191 at the Exxon Station, right on County Road 404 and look for a sign on the left directing you to this private park.

The campground is open year-round and during the summer months for swimming, 9am-dusk.

Admission is $2 for children up to 11 years old and $2.50 for everyone else Monday through Thursday; the price goes up by 50cents Friday through Sunday and holidays. Camping is $3 for children and $6 for adults with an additional $3 charge for RVs. Pets are not allowed. For more information or to make camping reservations, call the Krauses at 830/693-4181.