Real Estate Photographer in Dripping Springs, TX

Looking at the devastation caused by the floods on Friday, John Schwartzlose said he felt like he just had to do something.

KERR COUNTY, Texas — From around the state, country and even Mexico, hundreds of volunteers are coming to Kerr and Kendall County to lend a hand.

Recovery efforts have already begun, with many returning home to sift through debris and find anything salvageable.

One company from Dripping Springs took it upon themselves to pitch in and lend a hand.

Looking at the devastation caused by the floods on Friday, John Schwartzlose said he felt like he just had to do something. So, he brought his whole company to come help clean up.

Schwartzlose says he’s also a father. His oldest, a 12-year-old old was in Leakey for a summer camp not too long ago. For him, this also hits close to home.

“There are a lot of bits and pieces of people's homes and just random things,” said Schwartzlose. “Kids toys, skylights from my house that, you know, no longer exist. So you kind of, you get in a rhythm and don't think about it too much, but every once while you stop and think, you know, somebody like that used to have a house and now they don’t.”

On Monday, he said they just showed up to this neighborhood along the river without a plan and saw that there was a need.

While sifting through debris isn’t something they normally do on a daily basis, the owner of Freshwater Ecosystem Company says this isn’t completely out of their wheelhouse.

They don’t know how long they’re going to be here, but Schwartzlose says them lending a hand is the Texas way.

The Dripping Springs ISD board of trustees passed a $101 million operating budget with a $3.07 million deficit at a board meeting June 23.

However, trustees and other district officials expect amendments to the budget in August to adjust for changes from the 89th Texas Legislature, they said at the meeting.

Budget breakdown

The over $101 million operating budget comes from local, state and federal revenues.

District officials anticipate over $104 million in expenditures, with 83% going to payroll costs, Deputy Superintendent Elaine Cogburn said.

Trustees approved dedicating over $1 million in fund balance allocations to utilities in order to bring the deficit expenditures to $2.02 million temporarily. District policy states that deficits cannot exceed two percent of budgeted revenues, but items using fund balance funds are excluded, according to district documents.

Cogburn said the allocation of fund balance money to utilities and the deficit will likely be temporary due to future amendments.

Trustees did not include general pay increases, a finalized compensation plan or new revenues in the approved budget and instead used current law and property growth estimates to create the budget, Cogburn said.

She said district administration is waiting for August to receive more clarification on changes from the 89th legislative session.

New legislation through House Bill 2 would give DSISD teachers annual salary pay increases depending on years of experience:

The bill also includes raising the basic allotment, or the per-student funding amount school districts receive, by $55, increasing the current basic allotment to $6,215. Additional funding includes funding for school safety, special education, other non-administrative staff and more.

Cogburn said district officials are also waiting for updated property value estimates and other information from the state to amend the budget.

What else?

The district made cuts to the budget ahead of budget adoption through position reductions, attrition and staffing, according to DSISD officials:

Looking ahead

The district will likely amend the budget in August to account for new state information. The board of trustees will adopt a new tax rate in September.

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Everything is bigger in Texas, including many of its best natural wonders. From towering rock formations to cave systems deep underground, several of these record-breaking landmarks aren't just physically impressive, but offer breathtaking scenery that any traveller can appreciate. Take a look at these five destinations, each of which showcases the Lone Star State's wide array of diverse ecosystems and geological features that you can explore today.

Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon, located in the Texas Panhandle near Amarillo, is the second-largest canyon in the United States. Roughly 120 miles long and up to 20 miles wide, it also reaches depths of 800 feet. The Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River carved it over millions of years, exposing colorful layers of sedimentary rock dating back to the Permian period.

If you find yourself at Palo Duro Canyon State Park today, you can hike, bike, or drive through a network of trails and scenic routes, whichever method suits you best. The park’s most recognizable landmark is the Lighthouse, a 300-foot-tall rock formation accessible via a 5.7-mile round-trip trail. Wildlife sightings are common, too, including mule deer, wild turkeys, and even roadrunners!

The canyon’s dramatic, rocky landscapes and vast scale contrast quite heavily with the flat plains surrounding it, offering a fascinating geological cross-section of Texas's natural history.

Hamilton Pool Preserve

Located about 30 miles west of Austin, the Hamilton Pool Preserve is a collapsed grotto and natural swimming hole formed thousands of years ago when the dome of an underground river gave way. The result is an amazing geological formation that is perfect for a summer getaway: a turquoise pool shaded by limestone overhangs and surrounded by lush vegetation. Water continuously flows from Hamilton Creek over a 50-foot waterfall into the basin below, even during dry seasons.

The site is part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and protects native flora and fauna, including golden-cheeked warblers and several rare plant species. Because of this, if you want to come by, you must make a reservation to access the preserve. Also, note that swimming is occasionally restricted, depending on water quality and weather. The short but steep hike to the pool cuts through a shaded canyon, making it a good place for a hike, whether or not you take a dip.

Hamilton Pool remains one of central Texas's most visually distinct and ecologically significant natural sites. The story behind its unique formation and limited capacity preserves the quiet, undisturbed environment that makes it such a memorable destination.

Enchanted Rock

Enchanted Rock is a pink granite dome rising 425 feet above the surrounding terrain and covering over 600 acres in the Llano Uplift region of central Texas. Located near the city of Fredericksburg, the rock is one of the largest exposed batholiths in the United States and has been a standout landmark for humans for over 10,000 years, with native tribes attributing spiritual significance to the site, giving rise to the name “Enchanted.”

At the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, be sure to hike to the summit for 360-degree views of the rolling Texas Hill Country, or explore the network of trails around the base to see more of the area's wildlife. The rock’s surface features unique formations like vernal pools, which support rare plants and isolated ecosystems. Furthermore, climbers and stargazers are drawn to the area for its rugged features, often perfect for bouldering, and low light pollution, giving way to incredibly clear skies.

Caddo Lake

Straddling the Texas-Louisiana border, Caddo Lake is one of the only naturally formed lakes in Texas, created thousands of years ago by log jams along the Red River. Today, it spans over 25,400 acres of interconnected bayous, sloughs, and ponds, much of which is covered with bald cypress trees draped in eye-catching Spanish moss. The lake’s maze-like waterways and eerie stillness make it one of the most distinctive freshwater ecosystems in the region, one that draws paddlers in the thousands every year.

The surrounding Caddo Lake State Park provides launch points for canoes and kayaks, as well as boardwalk trails and fishing piers. Most exploration happens by boat, where you can wind through dense cypress groves that feel untouched by time.

Unlike the typical West Texas deserts or central Hill Country terrain, Caddo Lake presents a wetland landscape that’s both ecologically rich and visually unique. It is home to more than 70 species of fish and supports an extensive variety of other wildlife, namely birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It definitely remains one of the most atmospheric and biodiverse natural destinations in the state of Texas.

Natural Bridge Caverns

Situated near San Antonio, the Natural Bridge Caverns are the largest commercial cave system (meaning it is open to the public) in Texas, discovered fairly recently in 1960. Since opening to the public in 1964, the caverns have revealed an underground world of differing stone formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstones, and delicate soda straws (which are like hollow stalactites).

The caverns maintain a constant temperature of about 70 °F year?round with high humidity, preserving their mineral formations. The ecosystem within also hosts troglobitic creatures like cave-adapted millipedes and blind beetles, offering insight into extreme, isolated ecosystems like this one.

When visiting, you'll be able to choose from guided cavern tours ranging from light walking routes to more adventurous spelunking-style options. For those who don't mind tight spaces, the newly added Hidden Passages Tour explores remote chambers via steep stairs and narrow passages. Above ground, the surface complex includes other fun draws, like zip lines, rope courses, and a maze garden set in native Texan vegetation.

Explore All Of Texas's Natural Appeal

From Big Bend National Park on the southern border to the pine-blanketed hills up north, Texas is a seriously underrated destination in terms of its natural draws. With these five spots in mind, however, you are now equipped with a handful of this massive state's must-visit wonders, whether you are looking for a good hiking trail, a pretty place to camp for the night, or the perfect opportunity for a landscape photo.

??For less than the price of a dinner out, someone could win a $7 million luxury glamping resort spread across the Central Texas. That’s right, for $10, you could own 46 acres of the Yurtopian Hill Country Resort, a dreamy retreat with hand-painted yurts, private hot tubs and rooftop decks all nestled in the woods of the Texas Hill Country.

Ann-Tyler and Brian Konradi, the couple behind this unique getaway in Dripping Springs, are making history by raffling off the entire property through the British platform Raffall. According to Ann-Tyler, Raffall has been operating internationally for about 10 years and this campaign is the first time a property has been offered in the U.S. through their platform.

The couple began their operations at the original location in Wimberley in 2019 and expanded to Dripping Springs in 2022, but the Konradis said they are ready for a new chapter. The idea sparked after Brian read a story in the New York Times about an Irish woman who raffled off her farmhouse through the same U.K.-based platform. The home ultimately went to an American family, and both parties walked away with something valuable. Ann-Tyler said the story resonated because it felt like a win-win, and showed how meaningful this kind of transfer could be.

"We love glamping, we love running a resort, but it’s also hard," Ann-Tyler explained. "We became empty nesters this past year, and we’re just two people. We do have a wonderful staff, but we also have investors on the Dripping side, and we decided maybe it’s time to give our investors an exit, and give ourselves a break, and go back to just running Wimberley."

The winner won’t just get land and buildings, they’ll inherit a business with 10 luxurious Mongolian yurts, each outfitted with king-size beds, private bathrooms, outdoor kitchens, rooftop decks and hot tubs. The property also includes a spacious 2,000-square-foot home, three barns with expansion potential, a wellness spa and a peaceful creek winding through the forested acreage.

"The location here in Dripping Springs is 46 acres, but we’ve only used about half of it," Brian said. "We feel like we’ve kind of taken it to the first level of a solid foundation for an operating business that’s profitable. But the next person could take it to a different level… or just step back and use what we’ve created in order to have a really fun place to host friends and family."

To ease the transition, the Konradis said they will stay on as operators until late November, personally mentoring the new owner on everything from guest hospitality to booking systems. For the couple, this isn’t just handing over keys and walking away. The duo wants the next person to succeed and love it as much as we do. It's more than a business, the property carries a soulful legacy. It was once owned by artist and former University of Texas football player Ragan Gennusa.

"There’s a zen-like, soulful feeling here," Ann-Tyler said. "And that's really the beauty of it, to reconnect"

As they prepare to say goodbye, the Konradis compared it to sending a child out into the world.

"We’re proud of what we built," Ann-Tyler said, "But yet we also would love for somebody else to take it on."

With a special promo code, TEXASFUND, 10% of ticket sales will support Texas Hill Country flood relief efforts, helping neighbors recover and rebuild, Ann-Tyler said.

Tickets and full details are available at winmyresort.com. The lucky winner will be announced live on September 30, during the Glamping Show Americas in Colorado.