Real Estate Photographer in San Marcos, TX

Most of the reported deaths in the July 4 floods occurred in Kerr County, Texas, along the Guadalupe River. Provisional river gauge data from the U.S. Geological Survey, recorded at various points along the river, showed water levels spiking to record levels over the course of a few hours.

The river gauge closest to Camp Mystic is about five miles downstream of the camp, where the south and north forks of the Guadalupe River merge. It recorded a rise of more than 25 feet in two hours, before going silent for the rest of the day.

The website for the National Water Prediction Service lists what might happen if a river gauge hits certain levels. For the Guadalupe River at Hunt river gauge — the one downstream from Camp Mystic in the chart above — one might expect to see:

The area is known for being susceptible to flash flooding. Ana Campbell of Texas Public Radio reported:

As any Texan knows, the weather here is unpredictable. That’s because of the state’s unique position between cold, dry air from the north and moist, warm air from the Gulf of Mexico. Central Texas in particular is prone to intense rainstorms. Water fills the Colorado and Guadalupe rivers and their tributaries, making the area a popular destination for boaters and swimmers.But when certain weather patterns collide like they did on Friday, the area is inundated with water that rushes through the hills and canyons. The abundant limestone keeps the water from soaking into the ground, so it rushes into the valleys, Sarah Spivey, a meteorologist with KSAT, told NPR.

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State could be the latest university to be shifting conferences amid the past few years of realignment.

What You Need To Know

According to reporting from ESPN, Texas State is a “heavy favorite” to be invited to join the Pac-12.

The Bobcats have been a member of the Sun Belt conference since 2013, and according to ESPN, they have until July 1 to decide to leave the conference for the 2026-2027 season or the buyout rises from $5 million to $10 million.

The Pac-12 declined to comment to ESPN.

The West Coast conference has experienced a lot of turmoil after 10 of its 12 members left for other power conferences prior to the 2024 season — leaving just Oregon State and Washington State.

Last year, the Pac-12 announced that Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Gonzaga, San Diego State and Utah State would be joining the conference, although Gonzaga does not have a football program.

A league needs eight members with football teams to qualify as a Football Bowl Subdivision conference, and the Pac-12 has a 2026 deadline to make that happen. Texas State does have a football program.

“So with Texas State and the Pac-12, sources said the best way to explain the courtship is that the league is currently exploring making an offer in the upcoming weeks,” the ESPN article said. “Texas State has loomed for months as the favorite to join the league and was prominently discussed in the Pac-12’s virtual meeting earlier this week. It has been the league’s top target for months and is expected to have voting support, as the league’s presidents are enamored with a foothold in the state and Damphousse’s leadership.”

In the fall of 2024, Texas State had more than 40,000 students enrolled.

Death and destruction swept through Texas Hill Country on Friday as torrential rains unleashed catastrophic flooding, leading to multiple fatalities and triggering urgent boat rescues. Months' worth of rainfall fell within just a few hours, overwhelming riverfront communities and forcing emergency teams to evacuate children's summer camps threatened by rising water.

In central Kerr County, up to 10 inches of rain inundated the area overnight, causing the Guadalupe River to swell rapidly and overflow its banks, sparking widespread flash flooding.

As of Friday night, "about 24" people were confirmed dead and over 20 girls attending a summer camp, Camp Mystic, were still missing.

Authorities said 237 people had been rescued so far, including 167 by helicopter. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, along with local and state officials, provided updates during a press conference on Friday night.

"We are praying they're found safe," Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said in a Friday press conference.

Interactive maps by Windy.com show the affected areas and the severity of the Texas flooding.

Texas Floods: Weather Radar

Guadalupe River Could Rise to 36 Feet Near Spring Branch

The Guadalupe River, which winds through the scenic Hill Country, is currently at risk of breaching its banks in multiple locations. Areas affected include Kerrville, Comfort, Hunt, and near Spring Branch, with floodwaters expected to reach moderate levels — a threshold that poses a threat to low-lying infrastructure and residential areas. According to the NWS, river levels near Spring Branch could rise to 36 feet, leading to impacts such as the inundation of secondary roads and low bridges within the floodplain.

The Guadalupe's river gauge at the unincorporated community of Hunt, where the river forks, recorded a 22-foot rise in just about two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Austin/San Antonio office. Fogarty said the gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet.

Read more Texas

Texas Floods: Thunderstorms Live Tracker Map

NWS Warns Texans About Moving Water, Potential Damage

Recreational users of the river have been urged to clear out immediately, as the swift, turbulent flow creates extremely hazardous conditions. "Recreationalists should evacuate the riverbanks because of dangerous turbulent flow," the advisory states. Sections of Guadalupe River State Park are also expected to suffer damage, including picnic tables, trash receptacles, and equipment located in low-lying areas. The NWS further warned that homes at the lowest elevations in Kendall County near Canyon Lake are at risk of flooding.

Residents are being urged to exercise extreme caution. The NWS reiterated the life-threatening danger of attempting to cross flooded roads or walk through rising waters. "Turn around, don't drown," the agency cautioned, noting that most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles. Just six inches of fast-moving water is enough to knock an adult off their feet, and two feet can sweep away most cars.

Texas Floods: Satellite Forecast

Texas Rescue Workers Search Floodwaters

Emergency crews carried out dozens of rescues as floodwaters surged across Texas Hill Country, with search operations ongoing amid reports of missing persons. Families with children and relatives attending local summer camps anxiously sought updates, desperate for news as the flooding placed loved ones in danger.

Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, confirmed that the flooding had resulted in multiple fatalities and numerous water rescues. However, he declined to provide exact figures, stating he had been advised against doing so while authorities continue efforts to identify the victims.

"Most of them, we don't know who they are," Kelly said during a news conference. "One of them was completely naked, he didn't have any ID on him at all. We're trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don't have it yet."

Texas Floods: Rain Accumulation

What Happens Next

The flood warning remains in effect until just before 1 a.m. Sunday morning, with further updates expected by 5 a.m. Friday. Residents can stay informed by visiting www.weather.gov or tuning into local news alerts. In the meantime, those living along the Guadalupe River are advised to prepare for possible evacuation and to move to higher ground at the first sign of rising water.

Emergency responders and local officials are monitoring the situation closely, as saturated soil and continued rainfall could exacerbate flooding. With many Texans traveling or vacationing over the Fourth of July weekend, officials are especially concerned about people underestimating the risks near waterways.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.

Update: 7/4/25, 11:59 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.

Entrepreneurial foodies and ex-Austinites alike are taking advantage of San Marcos’s population growth, and staking their culinary claim in the city, which also attracts plenty of tourists looking to float and swim in the pristine San Marcos River.

Anyone who has lived in or visited the city in the past several decades will be happy to hear classic San Marcos restaurants, including Herbert’s Taco Hut, Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant and Gil’s Broiler, continue to stick to their original, delicious playbooks, serving up tasty Tex-Mex dishes, burgers and cinnamon rolls the size of your face.

Palmer’s Restaurant Bar and Courtyard has also been around San Marcos for several decades but has seen several iterations. Palmer’s is currently owned by former Austin and San Antonio restaurateurs, Monte and Kristin Sheffield. The Sheffields moved from Austin to San Marcos in 2004 and purchased Palmer’s in 2010. Monte Sheffield, who is also the head chef at the restaurant, said the food served at Palmer’s is locally sourced and Hill Country inspired, but there’s also an infusion from the many regions of Texas and cultures that border the state.

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"We have our Hill Country flair from doing quail to chicken fried steaks," Sheffield said. "But then we rope in a little bit of New Mexico, or the Latin flavors from Mexico, cause we’re right here on the border. The coastal cuisine, with the shrimps, and the redfish and then there’s some Cajun influence. It’s kind of a dynamic of regions to put all together in the map."

Stand out items on the Palmer’s menu include their grilled pork chops, which are two center-cut chops brined for around 30 hours and finished with a honey habanero glaze. Their garlic confit ribeye and Stringtown chicken are also customer favorites.

Find it: 218 Moore St., San Marcos, TX 78666

Another family of San Marcos restaurateurs bringing something different to the city’s food scene are brothers Chase and Seth Katz. The Katzs are largely known for their Czech style kolache bakery, Dos Gatos, which they started in 2009. The brothers own a handful of other popular restaurants and bars in town including Zelick’s Icehouse, Pie Society and North Street. North Street in particular fuses Indian and Tex-Mex flavors to create some unique and delicious dishes, such as chicken curry and queso nachos, Chana Masala tacos and a smashed samosa burger.

"There was no Indian flavor what-so-ever in town, and while we don’t claim to be an authentic Indian joint, if you’ve never had Indian food, we feel like you can come to North Street and get exposed to Indian food and really enjoy it," Chase Katz said. "We make all of the curries there. We make all the chutneys and the rices. We really work hard to make everything fresh."

Find it: 216 North St., San Marcos, Tx 78666

At North Street and Zelick’s Icehouse, you can find a list of beers from Hill Country breweries like Save the World and Real Ale, but they also include beers from San Marcos based Roughhouse Brewing.

Originally home-brewers working corporate jobs in Austin, Davy and Alex Pasternak left the city life behind in 2019 and purchased a 50-acre ranch with Davy’s parents that borders San Marcos and Wimberley. There, they built and opened Roughhouse.

"We knew we wanted to build something that was a little more open, out on the land," Alex Pasternak said. "We wanted to explore nature in Texas and get away from the city… In the form of a brewery, we wanted a sort of creative outlet and space for us to explore, and now what it has come to be for the community to explore."

The beer brewed at Roughhouse is indeed a testament to the Pasternak ranch and the Texas Hill Country. The yeast is harvested from the land they live on. Some of their award-winning beers are often spontaneously fermented by the open air, or in a cave located on the ranch. Roughhouse also serves a variety of lagers, pale ales and IPAs. They also have an extensive food menu including some tasty sandwiches like the Roughhouse Ruben and the Big Italy.

The brewery structure is reminiscent of an old farmhouse with plenty of outdoor seating shaded by Live Oak trees. The parents of two young children, the Pasternaks emphasize the brewery’s family friendly environment. There’s a lot of wide-open space and a playground for the ‘lil roughhousers to run around.

Find it: 680 Oakwood Loop, San Marcos, TX 78666

There are plenty of other notable restaurants elevating San Marcos’s food and drink scene such as The Root Cellar, Blue Dahlia, Ivar’s River Pub, Cody’s Restaurant and Bar, Industry and Tantra. So, whether you’re just passing through the city or staying for a while, consider these truly local businesses, to not only treat your palate, but to also enjoy some of the best hospitality in the Texas Hill Country.

June 19, 2025

Jill Ament for MySA

SAN MARCOS, Texas - San Marcos will soon be implementing paid parking at its City Park for non-residents starting in July.

What we know:

Starting on July 1, the city will implement paid parking at City Park, 170 Charles Austin Drive, for visitors who do not reside within city limits.

The city says the change is part of a continued effort to ensure park resources are supported and maintained.

How do I register my vehicle if I'm a resident?

What you can do:

Residents will still be able to park in City Park for free after registering their vehicle online. Up to five vehicles per household may be registered. Proof of residency, such as a valid driver’s license, utility bill, or enhanced library card provided by the San Marcos Public Library, will be required to complete registration.

Currently, residents will need to create an account for each vehicle/license plate. The city says it is working to streamline the registration process and allow for multiple vehicles to be registered under one account.

To find out whether you pay City of San Marcos property taxes, visit the Hays CAD website or search for your address on our SMTX Address Look Up map.

For more information on registering your vehicle, click here.

How do I park if I'm not a resident?

What you can do:

City Park offers two convenient ways to pay for parking with on-site payment kiosks which accepts both cash and credit cards, and a PayByPhone app which allows visitors to easily start and extend their parking sessions remotely.

Vehicles not registered prior to entering the parking lot will be required to pay for parking regardless of residency. License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology will be used to scan and identify vehicle license plates upon entry. All visitors will receive a 30-minute grace period. After 30 minutes, the various parking fees will apply.

Parking hours & fees

By the numbers:

Park hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week. Overnight parking is prohibited.

Parking for the first 30 minutes is free. Fees after that are:

The Source: Information in this report comes from the city of San Marcos