Cofran's Texas . . .
Hill Country Portal

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

CITY: Unincorporated

CHAMBER, TOURISM & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Nothing formal

NEIGHBORING TOWNS: 10 mi N of Utopia; 30 mi W of Bandera; 17 mi E of Leakey; 43 mi SW of Kerrville

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS: Ranching, hunting, Stte park tourism

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS: Birdwatching, hunting, tourism, Lost Maples State Natural Area park. See full details in Directory below.

• Scenic Drive - FM-337: Both east and west spans some of the Hill Country's most spectacular scenery-wooded steppes and tiny secluded valleys. This route is the only way to enter Vanderpool, and is rated one of the top ten scenic drives in the state.
• Lone Star Motorcycle Museum: 830-966-6103; More than 50 vintage (1910s-1980s) motorcycles on display, plus lots of motorcycling posters & memorabilia. Free admission. lonestarmotorcyclemuseum.com

NEARBY & HILL COUNTRY-WIDE ATTRACTIONS: See Attractions.
Some of the very nearby attractions include:

• Concan: Frio Bat Cave; Frio River Recreation
• Leakey: Wildlife Art Museum; Real County Historical Museum; Frio River Water Recreation; Twisted Sisters Scenic Drives & Motorcycle Routes
• Medina: Apple Capital
• Rio Frio: Ancient Live Oak Reference Landmark; Frio River Water Recreation
• Utopia: Sabinal Canyon Museum; Golf; River Water Recreation
• Vanderpool: Lone Star Motorcycle Museum

PARKS: There are state and local parks in the greater area as profiled on the Parks page. These nearby parks include:

• Concan: Garner State Park
• Kerrville: Kerrville-Schreiner Park (county)
• Vanderpool: Lost Maples State Natural Area: 830-966-3413; From Vanderpool, go N on 187 to LMSNA. Besides bigtooth maples the sycamores thrive on the waters of the Sabinal River. Fall foliage usually peaks in early November. A 2,175 acre preserve where you can camp, backpack, picnic, swim, watch birds. tpwd.state.tx.us/park/lostmap

EVENT CALENDARS: Festivals & Major Events; Local Activities & Fun Things To Do; Farmer & Flea Market Days; Specialty & Seasonal Market Days; Art & Galleries; Quilting & Fiber Arts; Car Shows; Motorcycling Events; Beer & Brewing; Wine; Pet Events

WEATHER: Local Weather; Hill Country-wide Weather

MEDIA COVERAGE: See full details in Directory below.

• On-Line News: Google News
• Newspapers, Radio/TV, Articles & Videos:

MAPS: Local Google; Hill Country Special Maps

HISTORY: Handbook of Texas Online: "The land on which it is located was given as a headright certificate by the Republic of Texas to Jose Texaso and patented by John W. Smith, assignee of Jose Texaso, on August 18, 1849. Smith sold his patent to Victor P. Considerant, who in turn sold several tracts to Henry Taylor and Gideon Thompson. Eventually Taylor owned several thousand acres in the Vanderpool area, where he gave away and sold land for a school, churches, and a cemetery. The Sabinal valley, in which Vanderpool is located, was first settled in the 1850s but was temporarily abandoned in the late 1860s due to raids by Comanche Indians. A post office was established in 1886, closed in 1889, and then reopened in 1902. The town was named for the first postmaster, L. B. Vanderpool, but the site had previously been called Bugscuffle. A school, known as Bugscuffle School, was established and in 1887-88 had fifty-three pupils and one teacher. In 1923 it was made an elementary school and had thirty-six students. As late as 1942 the school still existed. The Upper Sabinal Missionary Baptist Church of Christ organized before 1888 and reached a maximum membership of forty before it disbanded in 1947. The Catholics of Vanderpool organized in 1975; in 1989 there were fourteen families in the parish. An Apostolic Church met in the community house in the 1980s. It had been organized in 1923. The picturesque site of Vanderpool, which is nestled in the Sabinal Canyon surrounded by hills, was used by various Indians. The presence of Comanches, Apaches, Tonkawas, and Kickapoos was recorded by settlers, and Apaches were known to have established villages in the vicinity. Bird watchers come annually from around the nation and foreign countries. Hunting has replaced cotton as the farmers' chief "money crop." The Bell Ranch, now Rancho Las Campanas, has been fenced and stocked with exotics. In 1990 Vanderpool had one business and a population of twenty-two. The population was twenty in 2000."

PRIOR CITY NAMES: Bugscuffle

HISTORICAL MARKERS:

CEMETERIES:

• Vanderpool Cemetery: See cemetery & Photos

AVAILABLE SERVICES: Gas: yes; Convenience Stores: yes; Restaurants: yes; Lodging: yes; Grocery Stores: no; Banks: no; Vehicle Repair: no; Hospital: no; Med Clinic: no; Post Office: yes; Public Schools: no; Cemetery: yes

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

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BUSINESS & ORGANIZATION DIRECTORY




ST MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH: 830-966-6268; FM-187, Vanderpool, TX 78885

VANDERPOOL COMMUNITY CHURCH: 830-966-3583; FM-187, Vanderpool, TX 78885

EMERGENCIES
(Police, Fire, EMS/Medical)
Dial 911

CRIME STOPPERS-REPORT ANONYMOUSLY: 1-800-222-8477; or click: Stoppers

UTOPIA EMS AMBULANCE: Non Emergency 830-966-2435; Utopia, TX 78884. utopia-vanderpool-esd.org/UtopiaEMS.html

UTOPIA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT: 830-966-3767; Utopia, TX 78884. utopia-vanderpool-esd.org/UtopiaVFD.html

VANDERPOOL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT: Admin 830-966-5500; HCR 01 Box 100, 32647 FM-187, Vanderpool, TX 78885. vanderpoolvfd.org




LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENT: Unincorporated

LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT: See: Bandera County Government Offices

STATE & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: For offices that represent the Hill Country,
see: Texas & Federal Government Offices

US POSTAL SERVICE (USPS): 800-275-8777; usps.com.
Local post offices:830-966-6152; 32474 FM-187, Vanderpool, TX 78885

CRISIS HOTLINES: click Hotlines-Emergencies

DAY & SEASON HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES:

See full list of leases for this town at: Hunting & Fishing.




A PEACE OF HEAVEN CABINS & RV PARK: 830-966-5198; Vanderpool, TX 78885

A RIVER HAVEN RETREAT: 830-966-2322; Vanderpool, TX 78885

BEND O' THE RIVER BED & BREAKFAST: 866-796-0660; 830-522-46621; Vanderpool, TX 78885

(The) BLUE HOUSE ON MOON DANCER RANCH: 830-279-9755; 353 Olsen Ranch Road, Vanderpool, TX 78885

CLEAR SPRINGS LODGING: 830-966-2164; Vanderpool, TX 78885

FARHAVEN: 210-860-1837; 830-966-3723; Vanderpool, TX 78885

FOSTER HAUS: 830-966-3498; Vanderpool, TX 78885

FOX FIRE CABINS: 877-966-8200; 830-966-2200; 117 Olsen Ranch Rd, Vanderpool, TX 78885. foxfirecabins.com

LAS CAMPANAS RANCH: 830-966-3431; POB 235, Vanderpool, TX 78885

LODGES AT LOST MAPLES: 877-216-5627; 830-966-5178; POB 215, FM-337, 77 Lower Sabinal River Rd, Vanderpool TX 78885. lostmaplescabins.com

ORCHARD INN: 830-966-3591; Vanderpool, TX 78885

ST. CLARE'S CABIN: 361-549-4719; FM-337, Vanderpool, TX 78885

Note: Check RV Parks below for availability of cabins, guest houses and other accommodations.






ACE CAFE: 830-966-6103; Vanderpool, TX 78885. Located at Lone Star Motorcycle Museum: Hamburgers, Aussie meat pie, salads.

BUG SCUFFLE RANCH: 830-966-5185; Vanderpool, TX 78885. Bow Hunting. Health and Dietary Products

CAMP LONEHOLLOW: See Hunt listings

CAMP LONEHOLLOW: 830-966-6600; Vanderpool, TX 78885, TX 78024. lonehollow.com. For boys and girls.

IMAGINE LAVENDER: 830-966-5105; 17582 FM-337 E, Vanderpool, TX 78885. imaginelavender.com. Imagine Lavender in Blanco now has this product line. The lavender farm here in Vanderpool is no longer active.

DAVID B BLACK LAW OFFICE: 830-966-4288; FM-187, Vanderpool, TX 78885

JOHN SCOTTY CUSTOM BUILDERS: 830-966-3591; Vanderpool, TX 78885

KING LOCK & KEY SERVICE: Vanderpool 830-966-3778; Vanderpool, TX 78885

LOST MAPLES RV & CAMPING (AT THE COUNTRY STORE): 830-966-3568; 33533 FM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885. lostmaplesrvandcamping.com. Located 3 mi S of Park, at 337 W intersection. Ice, groceries, gas, cold drinks, restrooms. New 2015

RIVERPC & WEB-AUTHOR: 830-966-2410; Vanderpool, TX 78885. riverpc.com

STEPHEN L SCHAEFER PC ATTORNEY AT LAW: 830-966-5600; Vanderpool, TX 78885

TIM’S SPRAY SERVICE: 830-966-6159; Vanderpool, TX 78885. Landscaping & tree services

WALKER LAWN CARE SERVICES: 830-279-4260; Vanderpool, TX 78885




LONE STAR MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM: 830-966-6103; At 36517 FM-187, Vanderpool, TX 78885. 4 mi N of Vanderpool. Free admission. More than 50 vintage (1910s-1980s) motorcycles on display, plus lots of motorcycling posters & memorabilia. lonestarmotorcyclemuseum.com




ANN K. SCHNEIDER: 830-966-3431; POB 238, Vanderpool, TX 78885




A PEACE OF HEAVEN CABINS & RV PARK: 830-966-5198; Vanderpool, TX 78885

A RIVER HAVEN RETREAT: 830-966-2322; Vanderpool, TX 78885

LOST MAPLES RV & CAMPING (AT THE COUNTRY STORE): 830-966-3568; 33533 FM-187, Vanderpool, TX 78885. lostmaplescountrystore.com. Located 3 mi S of Park, at FM-337 W intersection. Ice, groceries, gas, cold drinks, restrooms. New 2015

CALL or e-Locate BEFORE YOU DIG!
Free Texas 811 Locator
1-800-344-8377
www.texas811.org

LOCAL UTILITY PROVIDERS:

BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (BEC): 866-226-3372; 830-370-7648; banderaelectric.com. Service Area Map. Nearest service office: Leakey: 485 W FM-337. Serves: Camp Wood, Concan, Hunt, Leakey, Utopia, Vanderpool

HILL COUNTRY-WIDE UTILITY PROVIDERS:

For Hill Country area utility service providers (electric, gas, water, sewer, trash),
telecom providers (land lines, cellular service, TV, internet), and related services (package delivery, newspaper, etc.), click: Utilities & Telecom





LOST MAPLES WINERY & POLVADEAU VINEYARDS & TASTING ROOM: 830-966-5131; 34986 FM-187, Vanderpool, TX 78885. lostmapleswinery.com. Nestled in a canyon along the crystal clear waters of the Sabinal River in Bandera County, this vineyard is blessed with abundant natural resources and natural beauty. Originally brought to Texas by Spanish missionaries, the hearty and robust Black Spanish/Lenoir grapes were originally used to make communion wine. Today, they form the basis of our deliciously distinctive wines.

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