HSB POA Opportunities, Part I
by Rick Overholt
What would you say if we told you that there is an opportunity to participate in a group land deal – for a price you won’t believe?
We are talking about around 100 acres of former ranch land. At least two natural springs and a clear, mile-long spring-fed creek that flows even during droughts, five ponds, a deep shady valley, and bluffs. Wildlife galore includes deer, raccoons, bobcats, foxes, blue herons, beavers, and fish. Wildflowers and paths. Throw in a beautiful lakeside clubhouse and hundreds of old-growth oak trees.
Congratulations! You are already a vested owner if you are an HSB POA member.
While the POA owns many parcels around HSB, this article will focus on our natural flagship, the 30-acre Slick Rock Creek Greenbelt and trail.
The decades-old Slick Rock Trail meanders along the west side of Slick Rock Creek, from the campground to the dam behind the stables. Local walkers and their four-legged canine friends have walked it for many years.
Over the past few years, many have been overheard to say, “Wouldn’t it be great to be able to walk back on the other (west) side of the creek?” The west side offered much more shade, some flat areas, and some rather high bluffs. A few curious folks had wandered across on stepping stones. Once on the other side, they were greeted with thick briars and dead branches. Most folks turned around in a few steps.
Until August of 2023, the west bank of the creek in the Greenbelt was mostly untouched for five decades.
Then a handful of property owners and Hill Country Trekkers bushwhacked a rough trail, sometimes following existing game trails. Just above the Campground at the Hi Mesa low water crossing sat a 6-acre rectangle stretching from the creek up to Hi Mesa. The Slick Rock Spur and Hi Mesa Loop Trails are now inside this rectangle. Then it got really good.
A hidden spring that continued to trickle even during the 2023 drought. A moss waterfall that turns into an actual waterfall after a rain. The path is mainly in the deep shade of a canopy composed of old oaks and ash Juniper. Enough shade that even in August, you can take a cool morning walk after sunrise. Volunteers and the Texas Youth Conservation Corps have improved the path so that many areas can be walked by anyone. If you want to increase your heart rate a little, walk to the top of the Hi Mesa Loop, and if you stand still long enough, you might see a raptor or two soaring below you in the valley. There are visible traces of a Native American Indian kitchen (or midden) along one of the paths.
There’s still much more to do and discover. A few neighbors have been participating as we turn this into a forest garden oasis. We are removing dead cedars and oak debris and keeping the path clear. We are also leaving it much in its natural state, with guidance from our resident retired forest service and archeologist experts. After working (playing?), we head over to Bayside Market for lunch and camaraderie. If you enjoy getting your hands dirty and want to join us sometime, please contact me at rick@hsbpoa.org to let me know that you're interested or have any questions.
If you are simply a nature lover looking for some meditative respite, there are a few well-placed benches formed out of cedar trunks to take in the views and fresh air. The smell of the trees, grass, and earth is like a spa aromatherapy session. The solitude will embrace you.
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