ROCK TOWN

The natural surroundings of Ingram have always provided benefits to Texans who settled along this segment of the Guadalupe River. In the 1800s, early settlers grew crops in the rich soil, set up millworks, and made wooden shingles from the forest of cypress trees lining the river banks. A move to higher ground after severe flooding in 1932 prompted the citizens of Ingram to rebuild using local flagstone, inspiring the community’s nickname “Rock Town”. The building material also gave Ingram a unique Hill Country aesthetic, helping to attract visitors looking for an authentic rural central Texas experience. But Ingram offers more than just a pleasant stopover for lunch and shopping along the bucolic byways of the Guadalupe. The community and beautiful surroundings have also drawn artists and artisans, inspiring the creation of the Hill Country Arts Foundation, a multi-faceted studio and performing arts center located along the Guadalupe’s banks. Formed in 1958 by a group of local artists and art enthusiasts, the Foundation has developed into a thriving center for creative endeavor, including a 722-seat outdoor amphitheater, an intimate 150-seat indoor performance stage, artists’ studios, 1,700 square feet of gallery space, and a year-round schedule of art classes.