Email: GeorgeCofran@Cofran.com  Web: www.HillCountryPortal.com

A Powerful Information Database & Gateway Service for the Texas Hill Country

BOERNE, Texas

(Pronounced: "BURN-ee")

"Gateway to the Hills"

REFERENCES

Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail:
www.tex-fest.com/regional/index.htm. Tourism spotlight on this town.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS:

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BOERNE: Stroll down Hauptstrasse (Main Street) to see the shops, restaurants and architecture from the late 1800s.

AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER: 830-249-6007; 102 City Park Road, Boerne, TX 78006. Just off of Hwy 46, next to Herff park and the Kendall County Fair Grounds. A non-profit organization established in 1986 to preserve the historic farming implements, tools and artifacts used in the Hill Country, for tomorrow's generations to learn from and enjoy. Open Sat from 10a-4p and by appointment. www.agmuseum.org. info@agmuseum.org

CASCADE CAVERNS: 830-755-2400; I-10 exit # 543, 226 Cascade Caverns Rd., Boerne, TX 78015. A 105 acre park. Enjoy the cool comfort of 68 degree year round temperatures as you wonder through underground pathways, huge cavern rooms and soaring cavern walls. Texas' only cavern with a 100' waterfall. Open Year Round. An award winning natural attraction.
Web: www.cascadecaverns.com

CAVE WITHOUT A NAME: 888-839-2283; 325 Kreutzberg Rd, Boerne, TX 78006. A natural living cavern filled with spectacular formations. Tour the 6 rooms in constant 66 degree comfort. Gallery, tours, adventure. Web: www.cavewithoutaname.com

CIBOLO NATURE CENTER: 830-249-4616; A 100 acre center located at 140 City Park Rd, Boerne, TX 78006; Hiking trails are laid out to bring the visitor through four dramatically distinct eco-systems. The creek, marshland, meadow and woods each have a unique charm, and each has its owns et of plant and animal life to observe. Named one of the top ten hikes in Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine. Educational center and bookstore in a restored historic building. www.cibolo.org

ENCHANTED SPRINGS RANCH: 800-640-5917; 242 Hwy 46 West, Boerne, TX 78006. Authentic Old West town. This 86 acre working ranch excites visitors with its rugged, natural beauty, collection of exotic animals, and authentic time warp - a Western town right out of the 1800's. Originally designed for Western movies, this old west town has 30 buildings and has already been used in several TV films and commercials. Tours, lodging, weddings, private parties, gift shop, chuck wagon dinner shows, wild west days, wagon rides. Exotic animal park. Cowboy Christmas. Daily visitors welcome. www.enchantedspringsranch.com

(THE CLUBS OF) CORDILLERA RANCH, CORDILLERA RANCH COURSE: 888-667-2624; 808 Hwy 46 East, Boerne, TX 78006. Private, 18 holes, 7450 yds, par 72. Seven mi from downtown. www.clubsofcordilleraranch.com

FAIR OAKS RANCH GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB: 210-582-6720; 7900 Fair Oaks Parkway, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 78015. Private, 18 holes, 7000 yds, par 72, 1 mi from Boerne.

TAPATIO SPRINGS GOLF & RESORT CENTER: 830-537-4611; 800-999-3299; 314 Blue Heron Blvd., Boerne, TX 78006. Three 9 hole courses (Lakes, Valley, Ridge), 27 holes total, Golf resort, conference center, luxury gated community. www.tapatio.com

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:

BERGHEIM: SERENGETI RESORT; BERGHEIM GENERAL STORE AND POST OFFICE

EVENT CALENDAR: For full details on each event see Chamber web site and
Festivals & Events

February: Chocolate Walk: Valentine's Day.

February: St. Valentine's Day Motorcycle Massacre

February: Boerne Optimist Hill Country Spring Antiques Show

March: Chuck Wagon Cook-Off & Heritage Gathering

March: Boerne Expo:

April: Parade of Artists:

April: Antique Tractor Show and Pull:

April: Boerne Market Days: 2nd weekend of April. 10a-5p @ Main Plaza. Contact: David Querbach, 210-844-8193. www.mainstreetboerne.com.

June: Boerne Berges Fest: downtown, www.bergesfest.com; Celebrate German heritage.

December (early): Weihnachts Fest Parade

Late Nov-Dec: Dickens On Main: www.boernedickensonmain.com

On-Going Events: BOERNE MARKET DAYS: See full details at: Hill Country Market Days, Trade Days, Farmers Markets

MAPS: Google, more; Downtown Birds Eye View

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS: Tourism, commuter community

HISTORY & profiles: Handbook of Texas Online: "In 1849 a group of German colonists from Bettina camped on the north side of Cibolo Creek, about a mile west of the site of present Boerne. They called their new community Tusculum, after Cicero's home in ancient Rome. In 1852 Gustav Theissen and John James laid out the townsite and changed the name to Boerne in honor of Ludwig Boerne, a German author and publicist. A post office was established in 1856 with August Staffell as postmaster. The community had only ten houses in 1859, but it was chosen as county seat by a margin of sixty-seven votes after the county was established in 1862. A courthouse was built in 1870 and was still in use in the 1990s; it was thus the second-oldest courthouse in the state. Boerne developed the reputation of having a very healthful environment and quickly became known as a health resort. By 1884 it had five hotels, assorted businesses, and 250 residents. Cotton, wool, and grain were the principal shipments, but timber, cedar posts, and building stone were also profitable commodities. The arrival of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway in 1887 brought increased economic opportunity, and by 1890 the population of Boerne had risen to 800.

Boerne residents voted to incorporate in 1909 and established a mayor-alderman form of city government. Also in that year they established the Boerne Independent School District. The population was reported at 950 in 1914, and the community prospered through the 1920s. The Great Depression of the 1930s, however, all but put an end to the tourism and cotton farming that had been staples of the local economy. The population fell from an estimated 2,000 in 1928 to 1,117 in 1931; it had risen to only 1,271 by the 1940s. In the 1950s, however, many residents turned to nearby San Antonio for employment, and Boerne became a bedroom community. The population grew at a slow but steady rate, reaching 2,169 in 1960. In the 1960s construction in neighboring Bexar County of the San Antonio Medical Center and the University of Texas at San Antonio, as well as the completion of Interstate Highway 10, made Boerne even more attractive as a town from which to commute. Its population rose to 2,400 by 1970, 3,254 by 1980, 4,274 by 1990, and 6,178 by 2000."
Named for Ludwig Boerne, a German author and publicist. Founded in 1852.

Boerne Area Historical Preservation: 210-249-2030
P.O. Box 178, Boerne, TX 78006
Hwy 37 at FM 1376, Boerne, TX 78006
Email: alasdar@texas.net; www.rootsweb.com/~txkendal/bahps.htm

PRIOR NAMES: Tusculum

MEDIA COVERAGE: Latest News; Newspaper: Boerne Star

WEATHER: Weather Underground

CEMETERIES:

OTHER PROFILES: Wikipedia; Podunk Profile; City Data; Texas Escapes; Travel Texas (not available)

NOTES:

(We welcome submission of updates, additions, corrections & digital photos, without compensation.)

SANDY ROAD GUEST HAUS:

An Upscale Western-style Guest House Bed & Breakfast in a Beautiful Ranch Setting in the Gorgeous Texas Hill Country

B&B Reservations & Information: 281-300-7177
9242 RR 1320 (Sandy Road), Johnson City, TX 78636

Web: www.SandyRoadGuestHaus.com
Email: info@SandyRoadGuestHaus.com
Come Relax & Enjoy!

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