Real Estate Photographer in Wimberley, TX

The San Antonio-Austin mega-metro is bracing to hit a combined 8.3 million population by 2050, many Texans are starting to feel a bit crowded. A number of residents are opting away from the urban sprawl, drawn instead to the slower pace and historic charm of Texas' small towns.

A Reddit post from r/OUATaddict asked "What is the best small town in Texas and why?" and received almost 200 replies in the past month. Here's three specific spots that Texans couldn't help but praise.

Home to the Blue Hole regional park, the historic Jacob’s Well, and tons of history, Wimberley is reported to be home to just 2,881 people, according to 2023 U.S. census data. However, locals have grown concerned with recent developments impacting the beloved area.

"I grew up in Wimberley. It’s a lovely town but I will say it’s changed a lot (which is natural for any growing city)," r/BohemianJack replied. "Also their water issues scare the crap out of me."

"I also grew up in Wimberley. Sad to see it be urbanized so quick while I was growing up. I miss the memories of it from when I was little before there were as many tourists," r/spartinni added.

About 60 miles southwest of Fort Worth lies Glen Rose. The town is a must-visit for dinosaur lovers, or anyone with a love for Jurassic Park. With a population of 2,887, Glen Rose proudly wears the title of “Dinosaur Capital of Texas" thanks to its famous tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Not in the mood to time travel back to the Jurassic Period? Look no further than the village of Salado. Wedged in between Austin and Fort Worth, this rural community spans 2.8 square miles in the rolling countryside of Central Texas. Home to nearly 2,400 residents, Salado is described by r/Skorpyos as a "quaint, artsy, gorgeous and fun" place. With a brewery, several antique and art shops, a spring-fed stream and the historic Stagecoach Inn, which is the second oldest, continuously running inn or hotel in the state, the town is cited as a charming destination for travelers from near and far.

Whether you're planning a trip to a small town with a few thousand residents or venturing to a place like Los Ybanez, home to just 28 people, there’s no shortage of charm or things to do in these hidden corners of Texas.

Sign In|

Already have a subscription but never signed in before?Get started

Get unlimited access with a subscription

Choose your plan. Cancel anytime.

Digital

Monthly

$1 for the first 3 months

Daily digital access on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device

Digital + Print

Sunday

$1 for the first month

Print delivery + daily digital access

Sunday - Friday

$1 for the first month

Print delivery + daily digital access

Did you know: Every plan comes with a digital subscription to share.

What's included

Digital plans

Digital + Print

Daily digital access

Android and IOS apps

Subscriber-exclusive content

Digital subscription to share

The eNewspaper — a digital replica of the print newspaper.

Print newspaper delivery

USA TODAY Digital Crossword

Group subscriptions

We have customizable plans for corporations, schools, libraries, government agencies and hotels.

Corporate programsEducation programs

No commitment required. Cancel anytime.

Offer available to new customers only. Read the full subscription terms.

Need help?

Call 1-800-445-9898 and give offer code W-KF to subscribe.

The owner of Wimberley Café said three service workers have been helped financially in the month since the program launched.

WIMBERLEY, Texas — A Central Texas couple is making sure service workers in Wimberley have a safety net when times get tough.

Jay and Jen Bachman, who run the Wimberley Café, have established the Service Industry Relief Fund to provide direct financial support to service industry employees facing unexpected hardship.

The initiative launched last month and is open to restaurant, hospitality and other frontline workers who live and/or work in the Wimberley area.

“We wanna make sure that Wimberley is not only a great place to live, but a great place to work,” Jay Bachman said. “We wanna encourage employees who work in Wimberley – especially in the service industry – to reach out and to not unnecessarily suffer when unexpected things happen.”

Jay Bachman said the service industry is the third biggest employer in town, other than the school district and the local grocery store.

Employing 85 to 100 workers at both of his businesses, he said there are plenty of service-facing people working to bring a smile to customer’s faces who could be going through something behind the scenes.

Jay Bachman said the fund is like a security blanket for employees to fall back on in unforeseen circumstances, whether they're struggling with a flat tire or an unexpected medical emergency.

“We've personally had a couple of guys who ride bicycles to work who've been in unavoidable accidents on their way to or from work. Which, you know, you've got injuries and hospital bills on top of that,” he said. “Not all of us have that built-in support group. I wanna build a longer table and feed more people and be able to serve this community the very best way that I can."

The fund is fueled by donations from other local business owners, customers and residents, with 100% of contributions going directly to those in need.

Applicants are required to show proof of need and connection to the local service industry. The Bachmans said the process is designed to be straightforward and confidential.

The couple said they've already helped three people with the money donated in the last four weeks.

“We’ve always believed in looking out for one another,” Jay Bachman said. “This fund is just another way to make sure no one is left behind."

Donations can be made at the Wimberley Café or online. Service workers seeking help can apply through the café or its website or call 512-847-3333.

Linda Hasselberg shared her experience after a rabid fox entered her home and attacked her dogs.

WIMBERLEY, Texas — "Freaky Friday" is how Wimberley resident Linda Hasselberg describes Friday, May 9. She said she had opened the door to let out her dogs, Chico and Mindy, when a fox entered her home.

"They all ran under the bed, and all I heard then was barking and screeching and craziness. And I was hollering at the dogs to come out," Hasselberg said. "Chico was – I thought he was being eaten. I was scared to death."

Hasselberg called the Hays County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), but she said the fox left before help arrived.

"He was screeching, you know, the way foxes – the sound that they make when they're upset. And he [was] kind of doing this lunging thing forward, and then he took off. Just trotted off," Hasselberg said.

Hasselberg believes the fox got in through a small opening in her back fence. She later found out that a fox also bit her neighbor the same day and that the fox tested positive for rabies.

Hasselberg took her dogs to the vet to get their boosters.

"I don't even think I realized how important it is to have the rabies vaccine," she said.

Clint Pulpan, a lieutenant with the HCSO's Community Services division, said pet owners need to make sure their animals' vaccines are up-to-date.

A slew of incidents involving suspected rabid foxes also happened on May 11 in San Marcos near the Purgatory Creek Natural Area. Four people reported contact with a fox near various trails, according to San Marcos officials. Two of those people were bitten by a fox and all four received medical treatment.

Pulpan calls these recent incidents "concerning."

"From what I was told, historically, I don't know how long ago, but there was like an outbreak of rabid foxes and then the state got that under control," Pulpan said. "And what we're concerned about now: is this coming back?"

"I'm just very thankful to the Lord that he didn't get any closer to me than he did and to the dogs," Hasselberg said.

If you think you or your pet have touched a rabid animal, call your local animal control agency for help.

Wimberley athletic director/head football coach Doug Warren announced his retirement on Tuesday after a 36-year coaching career, the last dozen of which spent leading one of the state’s most consistent programs at Wimberley High School.

Wimberley athletic director/head football coach Doug Warren announced his retirement on Tuesday after a 36-year coaching career, the last dozen of which spent leading one of the state’s most consistent programs at Wimberley High School.

“Each year it gets a little harder to come back as you get older and after Christmas I sat down to decide if I wanted to go another year, usually two days after the season ends I’ve got a depth chart out and ready to go and this year it just didn’t happen," Warren said. "I thought well maybe in a month or two I’ll be ready and that time never came."

Warren informed his staff and players today of his intentions to retire.

He posted an impressive 119-47 overall record while leading the Texans program from 2013-2024. He led Wimberley to a pair of state title game appearances in 2019 and 2022; he also led the Texans to four other state semifinal appearances at the Class 4A level.

Warren only coached at three different schools, spending his first 11 seasons at Littlefield, six seasons at Glen Rose and 19 seasons at Wimberley.

“Being at just three schools in 36 years is not the norm in this business," he said. "My wife and I talked early in my career and we didn’t want to hop around. We’ve been lucky as all the places I’ve coached at are good places,

“Being in Wimberley has been amazing. It’s been an incredible journey since we first moved here. I truly believe there isn’t a better job in Texas than this one; a coach couldn’t ask for better people and kids to work with. Coaching is a rewarding profession, it’s about relationships, the wins and the success are the icing on the cake, but seeing former players come back as successful adults is so fulfilling."

Warren said he has no plans as of now for his next step.

“Maybe I’ll jump on Texan Live and broadcast some games if Ashley Pickle will let me!”