At least 25 people ventured out on the “Intro to Your Remarkable Riparian” Wine Walk on Friday evening, August 3, led by Sky Lewey of Nueces River Authority, and even more came just for the introduction and to enjoy an evening at local outdoor eatery, Hippie Chic's River Shack. The walk was a collaborative effort between Texas Hill Country River Region, Sky Lewey and Hippie Chic's River Shack in an effort to provide additional exciting experiences for visitors while promoting sustainable tourism and Riparian function.
A few local residents and many tourists gathered at Hippie Chics for a complimentary glass of wine and a short introduction and viewing of a large river basin model before heading down to the river to explore the riparian area in person.
Frio Canyon Vineyard donated bottles of their wine that is grown locally in Leakey, in addition to some other donations, THCRR provided handheld fans, souvenir wine glasses and packets of grass and wildflower seeds that guests took home to plant on their own and encourage healthy riparian function. Guests also spread some of these seeds near the river while on the walk, under the direction of Sky Lewey, to get a hands-on experience, while enhancing our own riverbed vegetation.
Guests took yellow river trash bags to clean the river as they walked, and got an exciting and educational guided tour of the river front on nearby private property, and finished up back at Hippie Chics for some delicious food and live music by Luke Johansson.
“It really was awesome! Educational, fun, great music, fabulous wine & good food. Sky Lewey did a fantastic job. She is so knowledgeable, and the 8 foot basin model really puts things in perspective. Everyone was very attentive, interested and grateful for her and her expertise,” says Terri Archer, one of two Hippie Chics.
Texas Hill Country River Region provided marketing support for this event through financial and in-kind donations to help promote tourism in the area.
Any local businesses interested in creating events and activities to promote tourism in Uvalde County should contact Annabell McNew at
annabell@visituvaldecounty.com for more information on how THCRR can assist.
To coordinate an educational guided walk or informational session with Sky Lewey, please email
slewey@nueces-ra.org.