An Update from the Board of Directors
Regarding the COVID-19 Emergency
DHCS cares deeply about the preservation of the Driftwood area and its residents and visitors. For this reason, all meetings and public events of the DHCS are cancelled through April 30, 2020. Communication from DHCS will be accomplished through electronic media. We thank all of our members and friends and request each of you take appropriate actions to protect and preserve your family and friends. We will get through this emergency and will be stronger as a result.
Social distancing in 1920
Current Projects
Designate the Travis Heritage Trail a Scenic Highway
Currently, the Driftwood community is working with Hays County Commissioners and Texas state legislators to place the Travis Heritage Trail under the Texas State Transportation Code Title 6, Chapter 391., Highway Beautification. This will ban junk yards, sanitary fills and billboard placement on the Heritage Trail, and preserve the beauty and historic significance of this roadway for future generations.
We propose to transfer the full designation authority of Highway Beautification for Hays County from the state legislature to the Hays County Commissioners Court. This legislation will transfer the State responsibility back to the local citizens of Hays County, where it rightfully belongs.
To date, 380 people have signed our petition to give Hays County Commissioners authority to designate the William B Travis Trail a scenic highway. You too can support this effort and spread the word!
Please support our effort by adding your name to the petition we will present to the Legislature in the 2021 session. Your email address will only be used for Driftwood Historical Conservation Society communications, and you may opt out of these at any time.
Roads Advisory Group (DRAG)
The next Roads Advisory Group meeting is cancelled. Meetings will resume when advised by the Board.
Capital Campaign
DHCS is happy to report that the results of our Capital Campaign allows us to move ahead with our Overland Partners planning project! Our deep appreciation goes out to all our donors whose generosity is enabling DHCS to take this important step. This project will allow us to develop a conceptual plan for downtown Driftwood and identify and other special character areas in the Driftwood Core Area that we want to be especially proactive in preserving and enhancing. Overland has great experience helping communities like ours work out action plans for conserving their scenic qualities, historic legacies and unique characters. We look forward to our work with them!
Annual Dues!
It's time to renew your annual dues. Our memberships begin at only $25 per year. You may mail us your dues, bring them to the monthly meeting, or pay by PayPal.
Natural Area
Last spring, a large group of Dripping Springs High School students conducted a service project at our Natural Area. They assisted with installation of freestanding rainwater systems (donated by Plateau Land & Wildlife) as well as other necessary weeding and cleanup activities. Master Naturalists also provided support. Another project is planned for this March.
About Us
The location, natural beauty and character of Hays County have resulted in a significant increase in the population of Hays County, and this growth is projected to continue. We welcome new residents of Hays County, and we must accommodate this population increase. However, improvements made to date have eliminated features and sites that formed and were the character of Hays County. This character of Hays County is not only our history but also our future. The beauty of Hays County has served to create a thriving wine industry, bed and breakfast/resorts, restaurants and active heritage-tourism trade that appreciates Hays County as it exists today. The nature of Hays County may change, but segments must be preserved out of respect for our past, the heritage-tourism economic engine of today, and the benefit of future generations.
Dark Sky Initiative
DHCS aligns the Driftwood/Onion Creek Valley with Dripping Springs regarding the International Dark Sky Initiative, because we believe it is critical in preserving the environmental natural history in the entire region.
Wimberley Valley, which encompasses the cities of Woodcreek and Wimberley, was also officially designated the third International Dark Sky Community in Texas in 2018 by the The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).
https://haysfreepress.com/2018/06/20/wimberley-valley-cities-go-dark/
Membership Levels (Annual Dues)
The Cicero Rufus Perry Rangers -- $25
The Ben Milam Colonists -- $50
The Thomas Martin Postmasters -- $100
The William J. Cannon Boosters -- $250
The Widow Freelove Woody Grantees -- $500
The Col. William B. Travis Heroes -- $1,000
You may mail us your annual dues or bring them to the meeting. Or pay by PayPal one time, or set up a monthly plan!