History, Arts and Culture, Shopping, Restaurants, Sports and Events, Hotels and Lodging
Dripping Springs is well-known as the “Gateway to the Hill Country” and is also, recognized as the official, “Wedding Capital of Texas®.
It is a premier wedding destination, plus a great place to discover new outdoor experiences, indulge in a delicious meal, or visit one of the 34+ wineries, distilleries, or breweries that call this slice of Hill Country heaven home.
Just a short drive from Austin, and just a half-day drive from San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, Dripping Springs is full of big adventure, and small-town charm.
Whether you prefer hiking or swimming in a clear, spring-fed swimming hole, perusing shops in a quaint and historic downtown, or dining at a farm-to-fork restaurant, you’ll find something to love about Dripping Springs.
History
Eight years after Texas became a part of the United States, three American families from Mississippi decided to make their home in this beautiful part of the Texas Hill Country.
Following the road that carried supplies to Fort Martin Scott, the U.S. Army fort in Fredericksburg, they stopped their wagons to form a frontier settlement in the winter of 1853 amongst the area’s rolling hills, rock-bottom streams, majestic views, and abundant wildlife.
Even though earlier settlers had been farming in the nearby valleys of Little Barton and Onion Creeks in the early 1850s, it was the “Old Three” — the Pound, Moss, and Wallace families — who helped bring Dripping Springs to prominence.
John Moss became the new settlement’s first postmaster in 1857, necessitating a town name. His wife Nannie is credited with officially naming it for the lush, fern-covered, limestone ledges on a creek branch of Dripping Springs that dripped water.
Then a known gathering place for the Tonkawa Indians, this spot today is situated in the heart of Dripping Springs, near the west end of Mercer Street, the town’s historic main street. Located 24 miles from downtown Austin, the capital of Texas, Dripping Springs is a place where the history and heritage of early Texas lives on.
Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries
With its scenic sun-soaked vineyards that draw thirsty travelers from around the world, the Hill Country is rightfully known for its world-class wines.
Yet if you spend any time in the region, it won’t take you long to discover that there are first-class craft breweries and distilleries here as well.
Many of which are either in or a short drive away from, Dripping Springs, making this destination the perfect starting point for your next tasting adventure.
Unlike many other places in the Hill Country, Dripping Springs is surrounded by eight distilleries, some of which you may have already heard of.
Step inside the vibrant tasting room at Deep Eddy Vodka to sample your choice of its 10-times-distilled spirits like its award-winning original, as well as ones infused with ruby red grapefruits, peaches, and oranges.
Not far away, Dripping Springs Distilling crafts its own complement to your favorite cocktail. For small-batch gin and vodka with a view, fill a glass and grab a chair at Frog Pond Distillery’s covered patio that overlooks the rolling hills of the Hill Country. vodkas, gins, and whiskeys that are the perfect
Assuming you’ve come to the Hill Country for its wine, you won’t need to go any farther than Dripping Springs.
Visit the estate-like tasting room at Duchman Family Winery and you’ll be treated to a guided tasting of the winery’s reds and whites made using all Texas grapes. Remarkable vistas abound at Hawk’s Shadow Winery & Vineyard, while Bell Springs Winery is where you go to pair your favorite kind of wine with something hearty from a local food truck.
As if all this wasn’t enough for your taste buds, Dripping Springs is also home to some of Texas’ finest craft brewers. Settle into the rustic tasting room at Twisted X Brewing to try its decadent array of rotating ales and lagers, including an Indian Pale Ale brewed with mango. Meanwhile, you’ll find brews light and dark at Suds Monkey Brewing Co., ranging from a light-bodied hefeweizen to a chocolatey porter.
There are many more places in Dripping Springs where you can sip and savor some of the Hill Country’s best, so make sure to come here thirsty.
Wedding Capital of Texas®
In 2015, The Texas House officially designated Dripping Springs as the Wedding Capital of Texas® and it has been living up to the name ever since!
Boasting over 35 wedding venues within a 15-mile radius, from extremely elegant to down-right rustic, Dripping Springs is an ideal location for weddings of all shapes and sizes.
Tucked into the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country, you will find a relocated 19th-century Vietnamese chapel, rustic barns, historic mansions, churches, chapels, and more.
In addition to discovering their perfect venue, a couple can find everything they need in the Wedding Capital of Texas to create their dream nuptials reality.
Local wedding accouterments include ministers, wedding planners, florists, bakeries, photographers, catering, and of course, all kinds of romantic honeymoon possibilities.
With our hills hosting over 1000 weddings a year, even the Legislature agreed, Dripping Springs, is the official, “Wedding Capital of Texas.”
Outdoor Activities
Dripping Springs is known for towering limestone bluffs, deep canyons with fern-lined springs guarded by tall bald cypress, and trails that meander through oak, juniper, and madrone groves. Home to some great parks in the area like Pedernales Falls State Park, Reimers Ranch, and Westcave Preserve.
Dripping Springs is a destination for nature lovers who are looking to escape the city grind, enjoy some natural serenity.
Plus, Dripping Springs was the first city in Texas to be designated an International Dark Sky Community through the International Dark Sky Association.
Festival and Events
Along with all the stuff you can see and do every day, you’ll find there are quite a few events in Dripping Springs that you won’t want to miss while you’re here.
Enjoy intimate performances on seven stages at the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival taking place October 15-17th, 2021.
The Songwriters Festival is a three-day musical extravaganza that brings more than 45 songwriters from around the world to town. All seven of the stages are within safe, easy walking distance of each other in the quaint Historic Districts of downtown Dripping Springs.
Performances run continuously on Friday and Saturday from afternoon to evening, and on Sunday the festivities include a spirited Gospel Brunch Showcase at Hudson’s on Mercer Street, followed by the ever-popular Festival Sunday Wrap-Party in front of The Barber Shop. Enjoy three days’ worth of amazing musical performances by renowned and up-and-coming musicians.
Join us on the Dripping with Taste Trail every spring and sip and savor your way through the Hill Country with a Trail Passport. Visit up to 4 of the participating wineries, breweries, and distilleries in a single day. Tastings are determined by each establishment and will vary from business to business.
Each April, thousands flock to Dripping Springs, TX for the town’s largest annual community event to celebrate the history, the heritage, and the families that founded Dripping Springs in the 1850s. Founders Day.
The 3-day long festival takes place in the heart of Dripping Springs throughout historic downtown every April and includes The Mighty Thomas Carnival, cook-off competitions and arts and crafts and business vendors, live music, and a community parade.
Lodging
Every good getaway starts with a remarkable stay, and Dripping Springs has a few unique options that’ll immerse you in all the Hill Country’s abundant beauty.
Get cozy in one of the trendy tiny homes at Infinity Ranch with kitchens, loft beds, and plenty of windows perfect for peering out at the surrounding juniper and oak trees.
There’s plenty more scenery to take in at Lucky Arrow Retreat, an idyllic option for when you’re traveling with a large group of friends or family. Lucky Arrow Retreat is a Texas Hill Country hotel & event space that offers modern cabins, yurts, and adventure tours.
If you’re traveling with your sweetheart, book a stay at Hill Country Casitas. Here you’ll find 10 one- and two-bedroom small houses that overlook miles of Hill Country terrain. All feature kitchenettes and covered patios, while some even have external fireplaces and in-unit washers and dryers.
These are just a few of the many one-of-a-kind places where you can get the full Hill Country experience in Dripping Springs. If a stay in a traditional hotel is more your style, you can rest easy at the Holiday Inn Express, Sleep Inn and Suites, and coming soon, the Courtyard Marriott – all located within minutes of all the happenings in Dripping Springs.
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