Austin, TX
Texas’ Adorable City Outside Of Austin Is A Hill Country Gateway Full Of Wildlife And Small-Town Charm – Islands
The Texas Hill Country is downright easy on the eyes — and on the soul. The scenic terrain stretches across the heart of the Lone Star State, west of Austin, as far as the eye can see. The central region is known for its rustling rivers, freshwater springs, towering oaks, and, of course, its rolling stony hills. It’s also chock-full of historic communities, from Mason, the “Gem of the Hill Country,” to the German-infused town of Fredericksburg.
The roots run just as deep in Copperas Cove, a humble farming town founded in the late 1870s. The darling city has sprouted much since then. About 40,000 people now call this rural-suburban area home, making it the largest city in all of Coryell County. Despite its size, Copperas Cove is still beloved for its tight-knit, small-town atmosphere. As one resident shared on Niche, the city is full of “quaint neighborhoods with lots of trees and friendly faces.” Another local added: “If you’re looking for a great area to raise your kids or to even start a family, Copperas Cove is it.”
Straddling Highway 190 about 70 miles north of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), the city serves as a gateway to the seemingly boundless lands of the Texas Hill Country. Put simply, there’s no room for boredom in this nook of the state. Copperas Cove teems with a variety of parks, wildlife, and outdoor adventures, with sprawling lakes and recreation areas just a short drive away.
Experience the wilds of Copperas Cove
The rural flair of Copperas Cove is pretty hard to ignore. ‘Round these parts, it’s not uncommon to see speedy roadrunners, burly armadillos, wild turkeys, and various other wildlife roaming the lands. If you’re keen on seeing more critters, mosey on over to Topsey Exotic Ranch. Perched on the outskirts of the city, the safari excursion is one Copperas Cove’s top-rated attractions.
“Deer, cattle, emu, an ostrich, zebras and more will walk alongside your vehicle in hopes of getting tossed some food pellets to snack on,” reads one review on Tripadvisor. “You will also see rabbits, prairie dogs and squirrels. Some kangaroos and a camel can be seen behind a fence.” The animal-filled outing costs $16 per person, at the time of writing, with discounts available for seniors and children 12 and under. Buckets of animal feed can be purchased for an additional fee.
You can also find a few green spaces in town. Copperas Cove City Park is among the more popular outdoor haunts; it includes ponds and a seasonal pool. You can also make a splash at Belton Lake or Stillhouse Hollow Lake, both about a 30-minute drive away. The former spans more than 12,000 surface acres of water, while the latter covers just over 6,000. A bevy of sandy beaches and parks hug the waters. If you opt for Belton Lake, tackle trails at the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area or do more wildlife watching at the Miller Springs Nature Center, situated on the southern end of the reservoir.
Where to stay and eat
Wondering where to hunker down for the evening? If you’re up for braving the wilds, grab your best camping gear for a comfortable night outdoors and snag a spot at one of the many campgrounds along the lakes. Live Oak Ridge Park Campground sits right next to Miller Springs Nature Center on Belton Lake and receives strong reviews for its amenities and setting. If you find yourself at Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Union Grove Campground offers a few screened shelters for those without camping gear. The facility also has plenty of spots to park a rig or pop a tent. Both campgrounds offer showers, a dock, and a playground. A swimming beach can also be found at Union Grove.
Don’t want to rough it? If you’d prefer a more luxurious abode, there’s a decent selection of familiar hotel brands in Copperas Cove, too, including the Comfort Suites, Days Inn by Wyndham, and Best Western Inn & Suites, all of which are located in the same vicinity. You won’t go hungry in this part of Texas, either. Feast on fettuccine alfredo, cheesy ravioli, baked lasagna, and other pasta staples at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria — rated the No. 1 restaurant in the city over on Tripadvisor. If you’re craving down-home country classics, grab a table at Lil-Tex Restaurant or Bobby B’s Southern Cooking & More. Just don’t skip dessert.
KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Kerrville issued a shelter-in-place Thursday morning, with heavy rain causing reported evacuations early Thursday morning. A Flash Flood Warning is currently in place for Kerr County as the Guadalupe River continues to rise.
Around 5:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said a “large and deadly flood wave is moving down” the Guadalupe River.
KXAN First Warning Weather Meteorologist Kristen Currie said approximately 11 inches of rain have fallen northwest of Kerr County since 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The Guadalupe River is expected to reach major flood stage in multiple areas.
Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter said “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.” Officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
Here are the latest headlines:
Live updates
7:03 a.m.: KXAN’s Kevin Baskar is in Gillespie County providing updates on the latest flood conditions in the area. Watch his update below.
6:37 a.m.: Kerr County officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
6:27 a.m.: Video shows emergency crews hauling boats and rescue equipment through Kerrville.
6:15 a.m. NewsNation correspondent Xavier Walton and his photographer captured a structure being swept up in river water and crashing into a Kerrville bridge. The structure appears to be some sort of shipping container, pushing against the bridge.
Watch the video below:
6:08 a.m.: Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter confirms “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.”
6:02 a.m.: The Guadalupe River at Center Point is expected to crest at 35 feet, which is the same crest as July 4, 2025.
5:57 a.m.: The National Weather Service said “a large deadly flood wave” is moving down the Guadalupe River.
5:49 a.m.: The Comfort Volunteer Fire Department said it has units in Kerrville and Centerpoint alerting people along the Guadalupe River. They’re helping Kerr County with evacuations along Highway 27 between Comfort and Centerpoint. They said all VFD personnel are OK.
5:30 a.m.: The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it’s received reports of “street flooding in Ingram, and it’s likely many roads and city streets are flooded as well.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As flood threats continue across parts of South Central Texas, Austin Pets Alive! has activated emergency response efforts to support animal shelters affected by the inclement weather.
In a social media post, APA! wrote, “We began offering aid last night, working to secure fosters for 10 dogs in the Castroville shelter, an open-air shelter that sits at the bottom of a valley.”
APA! said the situation escalated overnight with additional shelters reporting flooding. One shelter confirmed that floodwaters reached its facility, APA! added.
Communities overwhelmed due to weather include Uvalde, Castroville and Sabinal.
The nonprofit is asking the Austin community to foster, adopt or donate to free up capacity for animals displaced by the disaster. APA! needs to clear out its facilities to assist the animals in need of shelter.
Here are ways you can help:
- Adopt: APA! is offering a “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” on all animals.
- Foster: The shelter is seeking foster homes for a minimum of three weeks.
- Donate: Proceeds will fund vans and response teams setting up a staging and triage center at the heart of the disaster zone, along with an expanded stockpile of preventatives, PPE and additional supplies.
If you would like to donate, click here.
AUSTIN, Texas — With heavy rain expected across parts of Central Texas this week and flooding top of mind, the city of Austin is proposing to put more money toward flood mitigation improvements in next year’s budget.
The proposal would invest in new flood infrastructure, add staff, and help move flood mitigation projects forward, according to city leaders. Austin City Councilmember Ryan Alter said the investments are aimed at keeping the city prepared for future flooding.
Residents who live near waterways say they have seen how quickly conditions can change. David Haderspeck, who lives near Shoal Creek, said the creek “fills up pretty fast” and “gets a lot higher than you’d expect.” He said he has watched the water rise dramatically after rain.
“I’ve seen it come up probably 10 to 15 feet to the ordinary high-water mark,” he said.
This week, parts of Central Texas, including the Hill Country, are expected to get heavy downpours. While Austin is not expecting the same impacts as parts of the Hill Country, leaders said the city is using this year’s budget planning to continue investing in flood safety.
Alter said the city has the expertise to address flooding risks but needs to follow through on projects.
ALSO| Central Texas urged to prepare as heavy rainfall sits in forecast over next two days
“We have the experts. We just have to put the plans into practice, and that’s what we’re doing in this budget,” he said.
Under the budget proposal, the city would provide about $134.5 million for the Drainage Utility Fund, which helps pay for flood mitigation, drainage infrastructure and watershed protection efforts.
Alter said the proposal would shift more of the funding balance toward building new infrastructure.
“What we’re going to do is shift that balance a little bit more to building new infrastructure so that when we do have large flooding events, we’ve got that infrastructure in place to keep people safe,” he said.
The proposal also adds staff and invests in both new and existing flood mitigation projects across the city.
Asked whether the proposed investments would be enough moving forward, Alter said, “I do…I think we’re doing the right thing and just making sure that our residents have the infrastructure to stay safe.”
Alter said heavy rain cannot be prevented, but the city’s goal is to have infrastructure in place to help keep people safe when it happens.
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