A Guide to Dripping Springs, the Buzziest Rural Town in America
By Samantha Shankman, Vogue.com
The Hamilton Pool Preserve in Dripping Springs, Texas
Thirty minutes southwest of Austin, nestled in the heart of the Hill Country and Hays County (one of the nation’s ten fastest-growing counties), Dripping Springs is rewriting the narrative on rural prosperity in the digital age.
Austin gained more remote workers than any other U.S. city after the pandemic, and one-third of its population works remotely. Hill County is to Austin what the Hudson Valley is to New York; the area has emerged as a sanctuary for creatives and entrepreneurs seeking community and life closer to nature, yet still within reach of the lively heartbeat of the Texan capital.
Dripping Springs is the gateway to Hill Country, and you can still see the original “dripping springs” along the main street of Mercer. Some buildings, built between 1870 and 1940 when the town was notable for little more than being a reliable source of clean water on the road between Austin and Fredericksburg, remain. The area grew from a few far-flung farms and ranches along the Little Barton and Onion creeks into a small village.
Where to Eat and Drink
Photo Courtesy of Alchemy Organic Juice Cafe
Alchemy Organic Cafe
In the heart of downtown sits Alchemy Organic's cafe, a sort of Erewhon of Hill Country. Step inside and see everyone from farmers and creatives to grandparents and babies sipping on green juice served in glass bottles or dipping into an acaí bowl. The Austin-based company started as a door-to-door family-run delivery service in 2020 and quickly grew to include two cafes.
The latest outpost, opened in March 2023, is a community hub where residents stop for cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and avocado toast over a work session, or before a drive into Austin. The company's health-giving elixirs, sustainable ethos, and family-first mentality are aligned with Dripping Springs' growing population, and the space has become a communal 'third place' that was sorely missing before its opening. The cafe recently expanded its menu to include bone broth and sourdough loaves, brewed and baked by residents.
Photo Courtesy of Abby Jane Bakeshop
Abby Jane Bakeshop
A short drive from downtown, off a dirt road, Abby Jane Bakeshop is the Hill Country's best-kept secret, although a line is starting to spill out of the small shop and into its cedar tree grove when it’s open (Thursday through Sunday). What sets the bakery apart are the heritage Texas grains sourced and milled on demand right next door at Barton Springs Mill.
Freshly baked loaves, like the seeded sourdough and ancient grain loaf, fly off the shelves almost as fast as pastries like apple monkey bread, butter croissants, and scones topped with the fruit or nut currently in season. A lunch menu starts every day at 11, when chef Arthur Orozco turns out creative wood-fired pizzas with toppings sourced from local ranchers and farmers.
For a fun weekend activity, check out Barton Springs Mill’s culinary workshops led by the bakers, and tour the mill yourself.
Photo Courtesy of Tillies
Tillie’s
Located on the grounds of Camp Lucy, Tillie's (named after Attila “Tillie” Hancock, a world traveler who settled in Austin and is credited as the city's first female developer) is the most sophisticated dining option in town, with a new American menu pairing international cooking styles with ingredients harvested and grown in Central Texas. Its drinks are crafted in nearby distilleries, breweries, and wineries, and, with a four-acre working vineyard, Tillie’s even serves its own wine blend.
Juxtaposed against the wild nature outside, Tillie's cozy interiors set the stage for an intimate evening. A grand entrance flanked by teal wooden doors, vaulted ceilings, a chandelier, and custom-designed tiles gives guests, fresh off the hiking trails or visiting the property’s llamas, the feeling of being invited into a secret country home.
Photo Courtesy of Solaro Estate Winery
Solaro Estate Vineyards & Winery
Texas Hill County is the second most popular wine region in the United States after Napa Valley, and one of its oldest and best wineries is Solaro Estate, run by the women of the Fritz family since 1909.
Unlike most Hill Country wineries set directly on the highway, Solaro Estate Winery, which grows Montepulciano, Tempranillo, and Malbec varietals, is tucked off a country road. Yet what truly sets Solaro Estate apart is its commitment to sustainability, from its thoughtful growing practices and zero carbon footprint to the reclaimed materials constructing its tasting room.
Guests today visit the vineyards, greet the black Angus cattle and horses, learn about the wines in a sommelier-led tasting, and become a part of the family's vision to preserve the rural and agricultural identity of the region. The winery also hosts barbecues, live music, and events.
TwistedX Brewing
There are dozens of breweries to pick from surrounding Dripping Springs, including Jester King, Ghost Note Brewery, Vista Brewing, and 12 Fox Beer Co. But TwistedX Brewing, known for its hazy IPA The McConauhaze—named after Austin resident Matthew McConaughey—is the place to visit if you have time for only one. The 12,000-square-foot facility hosts a midcentury-style brewhouse and taproom serving small-batch craft beers brewed on-site seven days a week. Catch a sunset over the horizon while sitting around the fire pit.
What to Do
The Hill Country is quickly becoming a hub for regenerative agriculture, with entrepreneurial first-generation farmers reimagining stewardship with a more symbiotic approach and opening their gates for tours, workshops, and overnight stays.
Photo Courtesy of Roam Ranch
There's no better way to experience this trend firsthand than a tour at Roam Ranch, which sits on more than 600 acres between Dripping Springs and Fredericksburg. The regenerative bison ranch hosts hunts, workshops, and star-lit dinners, with a private two-hour tour led by the farm manager available for those who inquire directly.
Another good option to immerse yourself in nature is Milton Reimers Ranch Park, frequented by rock climbers and mountain bikers. It feels far off the beaten track, but is a short drive from downtown.
If you prefer something closer to town, visit the Farmer's Market every Wednesday afternoon at Founder's Park, a family-friendly scene set to a soundtrack of live country music. The town’s oldest building, the Pound House Farmstead Museum, constructed in 1854, overlooks the town’s growing market.
Or, spend some time exploring the historic part of downtown along Mercer Street and pop into locally owned shops like clothing store The Palm Social Collective or Juniper Tree Market, which offers plants, games, art supplies, jewelry, and cookbooks.
Photo Courtesy of Vogue.com
The historic downtown also regularly hosts events like the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, which features dozens of songwriters across small-stage "listening rooms," or its Christmas Tree lighting during the first weekend in December.
Dripping Springs is on the path of the Total Solar Eclipse taking place on April 8, 2024, and the town's population is expected to more than quadruple in size for this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Once you get your fill of Dripping Springs, drive to nearby Wimberley, Blanco, or Johnson City, each with its own personality accentuated by the mingling of families who’ve spent generations in the region and new residents arriving from New York, California, and abroad. These rural destinations are getting an infusion of creative entrepreneurship and rewriting the narratives around where we live, why, and how we build community once we’re there.
