Rocksprings sits on the western fringes of Texas Hill Country, and almost 100 years ago, the small town was almost blown off the map by an F5 tornado, the third deadliest twister in Lone Star State history.
On April 12, 1927, a powerful storm struck just three miles northwest of the Edwards County seat, unleashing catastrophic destruction. In a matter of moments, it demolished 235 of the town’s 247 buildings and left nearly a third of the population dead or injured, claiming 72 lives and wounding more than 200 others.
Rocksprings was resolute in its recovery. The community pressed forward, rebuilding around an economy rooted in wool and mohair production, and by the 1960s, Edwards County was home to more Angora goats than any other place in the world.
While Texas Highways reported in 2021 that the sheep and goat industry had declined from its peak, Rocksprings remains a popular destination for tourists visiting Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area (less than 10 miles away) and Kickapoo Cavern State Park (just under an hour away), where you can view millions of Mexican free-tailed bats and take guided cave tours.
This zero-stoplight town with under 1,000 people today is also attracting visitors for abundant hunting on area private ranches stocked with deer, quail, turkey, and other animals, as well as those riding the nearby Twisted Sisters (also called Three Sisters) legendary motorcycle route.
A Town Born Near the Rock Spring
Rocksprings takes its name from the Rock Spring, a modest one-inch trickle of water that once flowed from the surrounding stone and continued seeping in the city park as late as the 1970s.
The rock spring drew cattle and sheep ranchers to the area in the 1880s as well as farmers and even outlaws, according to a state historical marker on US Highway 377.
Rocksprings was selected as a town site by J.R. Sweeten in 1891, according to the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), and became the county seat of recently established Edwards County.
By 1892, TSHA says that Rocksprings, then called Rock Springs, had a population of 250 with a blacksmith, hotel, doctor, real estate agent, druggist, two lawyers, and two saloons.
The first courthouse burned in 1897, leaving only the stone exterior walls, and was rebuilt on a simplified design. The cause of the fire remains a mystery.
Another lingering question was why the town ultimately chose to combine its name into a single word rather than keeping it as two.
The town grew slowly, peaking at just under 1,500 people in the 1950s before receding.
THSA says that “the production of wool and mohair reached its apex in 1940, with 331,970 sheep and 376,322 angora goats being counted in the county, after which Rocksprings called itself the ‘Top-o-the-World’ in mohair production.”
By the 1980s, the sheep count was under 50,000, and the Angora goat count was approximately 150,000. As of 2020, ranching continued to control the area’s economy.
The 100-Year-Old Slick Rock Challenge
Perhaps the best time to visit Rocksprings is during the annual 4th of July celebration and the Slick Rock Challenge PBR bull-riding competition.
This 3-day celebration combines rodeo events, dancing under the stars, a parade, and cornhole and washer-pitching tournaments. It also shines a spotlight on the local goat industry with shearing demonstrations, goat roping, and a goat cookoff.
Typically held the last weekend in June, this community event, hosted by the Edwards County Fair, has been running for 97 years, starting in 1929 in the aftermath of the tornado.
“After Rocksprings got wiped off the face of the earth, a group of men put together the fair grounds and started the fair association in 1929,” Edwards County Judge Souli Shanklin, whose great-grandfather was the first president of the association, told the San Antonio Express-News in 2017. “They were gonna show everyone that this community wasn’t going away. And all the ranchers would donate sheep and goats, and they’d have a free barbecue every day of the rodeo. It was the biggest event in this part of the country for many years.”
Planning a Weekend Visit to Rocksprings
Visitors to Rocksprings have the choice of staying on courthouse square with the Historic Rocksprings Hotel, established in 1916 and one of the few buildings to survive the 1927 tornado, available with 13 rooms.
The hotel is just 15 minutes away from the area’s top attractions:
- Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area: This park is accessible by scheduled tours only. Call the Devil's Sinkhole Society at 830-683-BATS (2287) Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to make reservations. From late spring through early fall, you can view some 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats as they venture out each evening to consume up to 30 tons of beetles and moths. Nature walks and birding tours are also available through the 1,860-acre natural area. There is also a viewing platform to glimpse the 50-foot-wide shaft that drops 140 feet into the cavern. The 350-foot cavern is not open to visitors.
- Kickapoo Cavern State Park: Just under an hour away from Rocksprings, this state park offers hiking, mountain biking, caves, camping, bird watching, and geocaching. There are 8 trails in the park, ranging from under a half mile to nearly seven miles. The Armadillo Lookout Trail (0.6 miles round trip) features a scenic overlook. Like Devil’s Sinkhole, here you can view the Mexican free-tailed bats in-season. There are 20 known caves in the State park (including the 1,400-foot-long Kickapoo Cavern), and guided cave tours are given every Saturday at 1 p.m. Some 240 migrant and resident bird species have been sighted in the park.
As you drive around Rocksprings, look for the area’s ranching heritage from the local high school (the Rocksprings High School mascot is the Angoras) to the American Angora Goat Breeder’s Association, which was established in 1900 and is located on W. Austin Street in Rocksprings.
When you get hungry, check out King Burger Drive Inn, Lotus Thai Café, and Jail House Grill & Bar in Rocksprings.
Texas Hill Country spans more than 31,000 square miles, yet many travelers rarely wander beyond the familiar paths of Austin and San Antonio. Venture west, though, and you’ll discover Rocksprings, a rugged outpost where history runs deep, bats fill the evening sky, and the spirit of Texas still feels untamed. It’s a drive that rewards the curious.
