How this Central Texas town went from rural retreat to Austin’s buzziest suburb
July 13th, 2021
By Shelley Bueche Sep 18, 2020, 11:19 am
Bee Cave is arguably Central Texas’ — ahem — buzziest town. Nestled in the foothills of the Texas Hill Country, the area is part suburban enclave, part rural retreat. But along with its unusual name, Bee Cave boasts an intriguing history, beginning with Native Americans camped along the banks of Barton Creek to its reputation today as one of Austin’s toniest suburbs.
A rural retreat on the banks of Barton Creek
German pioneer Dietrich Bohls fled from the bustling city of Austin in the 1850s (which then boasted a population of 900) and headed to 17 miles towards the western outskirts. When Bohls arrived, the land was home to Native American camps, and filled with cedar trees and large Mexican honeybee nests along the limestone banks of the area where Barton Creek and Little Barton Creek join. The Bohls family became the first white settlers to establish roots, and their sturdy family cabins are still in existence today and can be viewed near the front of the Spanish Oaks subdivision close to Bee Caves Road.
