Real Estate Photographer in Boerne, TX

BOERNE, Texas - Nearly three weeks after devastating floods swept through the Texas Hill Country on the Fourth of July, the long road to recovery is just beginning. Homes were torn apart, lives upended, and entire communities left in limbo. But on Sunday night in Boerne, something powerful happened: country music showed up.

At the Estancia at Thunder Valley, country icon George Strait took the stage not just as a performer, but as a neighbor lending a hand. The benefit concert, an intimate affair capped at 1,000 guests with tickets starting at $1,000, was a mix of raw emotion, legendary music, and a whole lot of heart. Every dollar raised is going directly to the families impacted by the flood.

One concertgoer, Jennifer Page Gomez, captured the night perfectly in a Facebook post: “It felt so good to be able to actively do something to support the Hill Country flood victims (and have a great evening out as well). The event organizers had so many good surprises because so many people wanted to help.”

And she wasn’t kidding about the surprises. Midway through the night, Garth Brooks showed up unannounced and delivered a few of his most beloved hits, turning the already electric atmosphere into something unforgettable.

Also lending his voice — this time through words — was San Antonio author and minister Max Lucado, who offered an encouraging message to the crowd, reminding everyone of the power of faith, unity, and neighborly love in the face of disaster.

The night’s lineup was stacked: William Beckmann, Ray Benson, Wade Bowen, Dean Dillon, Riley Green, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Kyle Park, and Hudson Westbrook each took the stage, pouring their hearts out for a cause that hit close to home.

Even Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz were in the audience, lending their political clout — but make no mistake, the night belonged to the music and the people.

In a time when the Hill Country is still drying out and patching itself back together, this wasn’t just a show — it was a moment. A reminder that even in the worst of times, Texas knows how to rally, how to sing, and how to show up for each other.

Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait would have had plenty of star power on his own had he been the sole performer during his recent Strait to the Heart benefit concert, held on July 27 to aid people impacted by the recent floods in the Texas Hill Country. But the singer upped the ante with more performers, including one surprise guest in particular.

Strait’s fellow Country Music Hall of Fame member Garth Brooks surprised the 1,200 guests during the sold-out event, held at Estancia at Thunder Valley in Boerne, Texas. He joined Strait in performing “The Fireman,” in a tribute to first responders.

After pastor Max Lucado offered up a prayer during the event, Strait and his Vaqueros del Mar partner Tom Cusick welcomed guests. Other performers during the event included Randy Houser, Dean Dillon, Riley Green, Jamey Johnson, Wade Bowen, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, Hudson Westbrook, William Beckmann and Kyle Park.

Strait’s 16-song set began with “The Weight of the Badge,” and also included “The Chair,” “All My Exes,” “Codigo” and “Amarillo By Morning.”

The benefit concert and dinner has raised $6.25 million and counting for Hill Country Flood Relief. The devastating floods that impacted Texas over the July 4th weekend led to a death toll of more than 100 people.

“The destruction and loss in our community from the recent flood is hard to wrap your head around,” Strait previously said in a statement when announcing the benefit concert. “Our hearts and prayers are with you all. The goal with this event is to raise meaningful, immediate support that can be put directly into the hands of flood victims without delay, while also honoring the first responders that work tirelessly to save lives.”

Additional contributions can be made to the Vaqueros Del Mar Texas Flood Victims Fund.

If you are looking for a fun spot to vacation in Texas, and you're heading to the Hill Country, then you need to make a stop in Boerne, Texas. It's about 30 minutes away from San Antonio and 40 minutes from Fredericksburg.

We’ve shared stories about the Cave Without a Name in Boerne, but there is also another underground wonder, Cascade Caverns.

This is a fun stop to explore the wonders beneath the surface of the Texas Hill Country, called Cascade Caverns.

Cascade Caverns is the oldest public touring cave in Texas. The cave was discovered in the 1700s by the Lipan Indian tribe. It was rediscovered in the 1800s, and even at some point in its history, a wandering cow took a fall into a hole. While trying to save the cow, a whole new world was found. It was opened to the public in 1932.

The caverns are home to fun creatures. The lip of the cave is home to a family of vultures, while bats come to hang and hibernate in the cave. The cave has a native salamander.

Fun fact: The dinosaur statue on the property was erected for the movie , starring Patrick Swayze, and gifted to the park after filming.

If you've never seen an underground waterfall, then you'll want to visit Cascade Caverns.

Cascade Caverns offers daily tours of its facility.

Tucked away in the Hill Country in Boerne, Texas, Cascade Caverns is the oldest public touring cavern in the state.

Cascade Caverns offers daily tours as well as a campground if you and your family would like to plan a camping trip.

As the tour of the cavern started, we went down the 100 steps into the Cascade Cavern abyss. We were led by a knowledgeable and very entertaining tour guide named Ling Ray, who told us to call him Stingray.

He introduced us to the caverns and the creatures inside, including Bruce the bats (they were all named Bruce) and the salamanders native to the caverns. Then he showed us all the formations, historical fossils, including a tusk and bone of a Woolly Mammoth that had been buried deep in the walls of the caverns.

He was patient as we asked a hundred questions. This hour-long tour was worth every single minute, and we learned a lot about what is lurking underground.

We also got to see the infamous dinosaur that was featured in a scene in the movie Fatherhood, starring Patrick Swayze. The production company later gifted the dinosaur to the park.

They also offer a more extended tour that takes you further down into the cave, but after seeing the entrance to the other part of the cave, we decided that would not be happening ever.

If you like touring caverns, then you'll want to check out Cascade Caverns. Not only do they have the daily tours, but they also have more in-depth tours for those who want to go deeper into the caverns. They also offer flashlight tours in the evening.

They also offer a really nice campsite. Pull in with your RV, hook up, and stay. Their gift shops have fun and unique gifts, and a sluicing activity for the kids, and you can also bust open your own geode. Don't miss the hiking trails and prehistoric playground.

Another bonus as you're driving to and from the caverns, you can see a field full of longhorns.

Cascade Caverns offers family-friendly fun with education and a bit of exercise. It's a win/win for any family or person looking to explore the underworld of Texas.

This cave is a wonder of nature. It is a natural limestone solutional cave. The cave is always a cool 66 degrees, a perfect escape from the Texas summer heat.

Located at 325 Kreutzberg Rd, Boerne, TX, make plans to visit this beautiful National Nature Landmark. Reservations are highly encouraged.

Adding to the supply crunch is that many ranchers are leaving the business and selling off land, Dario said, reducing the supply of cattle while demand remains high.

BOERNE, Texas — Shoppers may have noticed rising prices in the meat aisle, and the latest data confirms the trend is not letting up.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of ground beef has climbed to more than $6 per pound, a 12% increase from this time last year.

The cost of steaks has also jumped up 8% year over year.

Joe Dario, owner of the Bergheim Meat Market in Boerne, said the price hikes are part of what he calls a “perfect storm” in the industry.

“Nationwide cattle prices are through the roof at the barns, which means at your local auction barns and feedlots,” Dario said. “This is the highest in history they’ve ever seen cattle prices. It’s unheard of.”

Dario, who has worked in the meat industry for more than 40 years, said rising prices aren't just about cattle. The cost of raising, feeding and processing livestock has also increased, putting pressure on ranchers and driving up consumer prices across the board.

“We're hearing from suppliers — this is nationwide. It's not just regional,” he said. “This is going to be a very long-term effect. We don’t see any help in sight.”

He added that prices for other proteins like pork, chicken and fish are also trending upward, following the trajectory of beef.

Another factor contributing to the supply crunch is that many ranchers are leaving the business and selling off land, Dario said, reducing the supply of cattle while demand remains high.

“You’ve got a lot of people who want to eat a lot of food, and you have less land to grow them on,” he said.

Dario doesn’t expect prices to come down anytime soon. While he believes they may eventually stabilize, he predicts elevated prices could persist for another one to three years.

At Bergheim Meat Market, Dario said his team is working to adapt, sourcing the best possible products at fair value for their customers. He advises shoppers, especially families on a budget, to be mindful and strategic about their purchases.

“Prioritize your needs,” he said. “We’ve seen prices go up and down before. Right now, we’re just going to ride the wave and make it work.”

Buc-ee's may be in the middle of a meteoric expansion across the country, but here in Texas, the beloved gas station is seeing renewed pushback on a controversial location expected to arrive in the Texas Hill Country.

Residents in the fast-growing San Antonio-area suburb of Boerne say they want city leaders to limit the scope of the travel center's development, citing concerns over property values, light and noise pollution, transparency and the potentially "irreversible" change in the small town's culture and identity.

In June, news broke that the Texas-based chain had plans to develop an additional parcel of land along Interstate 10 for a parking lot — a project that requires rezoning approval from the City of Boerne Planning and Zoning Commission. The land was purchased from the Texas Department of Transportation and is intended for use as an accessory parking lot for their travel center on the adjacent lot, according to city spokesman Chris Shadrock. The rezoning request was scheduled to appear at a July 7 Planning and Zoning Commission hearing, but the issue was withdrawn at the time.

The future home of Boerne's Buc-ee's store will be located near the intersection of Interstate 10 and US 87 Business, Boerne, TX 78006.

When the commission met Monday, August 4, for a regularly scheduled session, Buc-ee's was nowhere on the agenda, but residents were invited to provide public feedback on any number of issues.

Several locals took the opportunity to express concerns related to the additional land purchase and rezoning proposal and the overall project, which has been in the works since 2016.

Local business owner and Boerne resident Sam McGee called for commission members to consider limiting the megastore's acreage and the scope of its expansion, calling for a healthy balance and compromise on the issue.

"If we have any ability to limit the expansion of the square footage or additional gas pumps or acreage, I think it's important if we have that ability to consider that," McGee said, referencing traffic near the Buc-ee's in Luling.

"I pass this store, and the traffic's horrendous. I think we live in a country that promotes capitalism and promotes entrepreneurialism, and I think that's wonderful," he continued. "But for this community, we're Boerne. We really care about our history. We really care about our heritage. And we really care about the effects that could be irreversible from having such a large store here."

McGee said he was concerned that the associated traffic increase and other potential increases in noise and light could reduce property values, saying, "If you think about it from a pragmatic standpoint, if we have a reduction in property values, that actually hurts the city. And it hurts the citizens."

Christi Ackerman, another resident who lives near the site of the future travel center, discussed concerns regarding community safety, referencing a Best Western Boerne Inn and Suites hotel near the Villas at Hampton Place. Ackerman said that the windows of the hotel look down into a number of homes in the area, causing safety issues for young families.

"I was alarmed for those people, knowing that those families would never feel safe again," she said. "And their property value indeed went down in an instant. So my concern with the Buc-ee's project is that this same disregard might happen for my current neighborhood."

Ackerman requested that the travel center build a blocked-off wall separating the location from nearby neighborhoods. "Some social media has gone around, kind of exposing some things that are coming through, and so we're all a little disturbed about it," said Ackerman, not specifying exactly what information was circulating online.

A third resident, Dana Mathis, also brought up concerns over noise, light pollution and property values, saying that he previously lived near one of the travel center's locations in Lake Jackson, Texas. But his main concern was transparency and traffic.

Mathis said that when he moved to the community in 2014, he didn't know the city was in negotiations to bring the travel giant to the town, calling it a "lack of transparency and clarity for the public," and asking the commission to not approve Buc-ee's request to rezone the land for the additional parking lot, suggesting that traffic conditions might become "intolerable."

"I think this whole project is going to end up greatly degrading the appearance and the culture and quality of life in Boerne," Mathis said.

Bucc-ee's rezoning request for the travel center's additional parking lot will be open for a planning and zoing public hearing this September.

Buc-ee's declined MySA's request for comment.