Jacob’s Well Natural Area
Photos by Melinda Seib
Jacob’s Well Natural Area consists of five land surveys that all use the spring as a corner to tie the properties together. These surveys were conducted in 1847 by a prominent surveyor names Bartlett Sims. One possible explanation about the name that is circulated is that in the early 1850’s William C. Winters, a San Jacinto veteran and early settler of Wimberley, hiked up Cypress Creek searching for its source and found an overflowing spring. It is said that Mr. Winters exclaimed, “Like unto a well in Bible times.” Thus it was named ‘Jacob’s Well’. The property changed hands many times over the next 100 years and became a popular recreational destination. Here are some interesting facts:
Jacob’s Well Natural Area is a little over 81 acres.
Jacob’s Well is an artesian spring that releases thousands of gallons of water a day.
Jacob’s Well is the second-largest fully submerged cave in Texas.
The water source comes from the Trinity Aquifer, which makes its way from an extensive underground cave system.
The deepest part of the cavern system is 140 feet deep. The main cavern length is 4,341 feet, and the secondary cavern, which branches off the main cavern, is 1,314 feet long.
The water temperature stays at a constant 68°F.
Jacob’s Well is the headwaters of Cypress Creek, which flows through Blue Hole Regional Park and feeds into the Blanco River.
More than 200 Native Indian groups, collectively known as the Coahuiltecans, populated Central Texas. Three of the most prominent Indian tribes that roamed this area were the Tonkawa, Jumano, and the Comanche.
Source: Jacob's Well Natural Area
Location
1699 Mt. Sharp Rd. Wimberley, TX, 78676
512-214-4593
Jacob’s Well Natural Area is approximately 10 minutes from Wimberley, TX.
Hours of Operation: 8 AM to 6 PM daily. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day.
Additional Activities
Guided morning tours: Free to the public, offered Saturdays, October – May at 10 am
Additional Places to visit to see Fossils
Driftwood UMC Natural Area
TEKS CONNECTION
Science:
2nd Grade
2.2 Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student develops abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry in classroom and outdoor investigations.
2.2(E) communicate observations and justify explanations using student‐generated data from simple descriptive investigations
2.4 Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses age‐appropriate tools and models to investigate the natural world.
2.4(B) measure and compare organisms and objects
2.5 Matter and energy. The student knows that matter has physical properties and those properties determine how it is described, classified, changed, and used.
2.5(A) classify matter by physical properties, including relative temperature, texture, flexibility, and whether material is a solid or liquid
2.7 Earth and space. The student knows that the natural world includes earth materials.
2.7(A) observe, describe, and compare rocks by size, texture, and color
2.7(B) identify and compare the properties of natural sources of freshwater and saltwater
2.7(C) distinguish between natural and manmade resources
2.9 Organisms and environments. The student knows that living organisms have basic needs that must be met for them to survive within their environment.
2.9(C) compare the ways living organisms depend on each other and on their environments such as through food chains
2.9(A) identify the basic needs of plants and animals
3rd Grade
3.2 Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses scientific practices during laboratory and outdoor investigations.
3.2(F) communicate valid conclusions supported by data in writing, by drawing pictures, and through verbal discussion
3.9 Organisms and environments. The student knows and can describe patterns, cycles, systems, and relationships within the environments.
3.9(A) observe and describe the physical characteristics of environments and how they support populations and communities of plants and animals within an ecosystem
4th Grade
4.2 Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses scientific practices during laboratory and outdoor investigations.
4.2(F) communicate valid oral and written results supported by data
4.7 Earth and space. The student knows that Earth consists of useful resources and its surface is constantly changing.
4.7(B) observe and identify slow changes to Earth's surface caused by weathering, erosion, and deposition from water, wind, and ice
4.9 Organisms and environments. The student knows and understands that living organisms within an ecosystem interact with one another and with their environment.
4.9(A) investigate that most producers need sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make their own food, while consumers are dependent on other organisms for food.
Social Studies:
2nd Grade
2.1 History. The student understands the historical significance of landmarks and celebrations in the community, state, and nation.
2.1(B) identify and explain the significance of various community, state, and national landmarks such as monuments and government buildings
2.5 Geography. The student understands how humans use and modify the physical environment.
2.5(A) identify ways in which people have modified the physical environment such as clearing land, building roads, using land for agriculture, and drilling for oil
2.5(B) identify consequences of human modification of the physical environment
3rd Grade
3.3 Geography. The student understands how humans adapt to and/or modify the physical environment.
3.3(B) identify and compare how people in different communities adapt to or modify the physical environment in which they live such as deserts, mountains, wetlands, and plains
3.3(C) describe the effects of human processes such as building new homes, conservation, and pollution in shaping the landscape
3.14 Social Studies skills. The student applies critical‐thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of valid sources, including electronic technology.
3.14(C) interpret and create visuals, including graphs, charts, tables, timelines, illustrations, and maps
3.15 Social Studies skills. The student communicates in written, oral, and visual forms.
3.15(E) create written and visual material such as stories, pictures, maps, and graphic organizers to express ideas
4th Grade
4.8 Geography. The student understands how people adapt to and modify their environment.
4.8(A) describe ways people have adapted to and modified their environment in Texas, past and present, such as timber clearing, agricultural production, wetlands drainage, energy production, and construction of dams
4.8(B) Explain reasons why people have adapted to and modified their environment in Texas, past and present, such as the use of natural resources to meet basic needs, facilitate transportation, and enhance recreational activities
4.8(C) Compare the positive and negative consequences of human modification of the environment in Texas, past and present
English Language Arts & Reading:
2nd Grade
2.7 Response skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student responds to an increasingly challenging variety of sources that are read, heard, or viewed.
2.7(E) interact with sources in meaningful ways such as illustrating or writing
2.9 Genres: The student recognizes and analyzes genre‐specific characteristics, structures, and purposes within and across increasingly complex traditional, contemporary, classical, and diverse texts.
2.9(D) recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: (ii) features and graphics to locate and gain information
3rd Grade
3.7 Response skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student responds to an increasingly challenging variety of sources that are read, heard, or viewed.
3.7(E) interact with sources in meaningful ways such as notetaking, annotating, freewriting, or illustrating
3.9 Genres. The student recognizes and analyzes genre‐specific characteristics, structures, and purposes within and across increasingly complex traditional, contemporary, classical, and diverse texts.
3.9(D) recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: (ii) features such as sections, tables, graphs, timelines, bullets, numbers, and bold and italicized font to support understanding
4th Grade
4.7 Response skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student responds to an increasingly challenging variety of sources that are read, heard, or viewed.
4.7(E) interact with sources in meaningful ways such as notetaking, annotating, freewriting, or illustrating
4.9 Genres. The student recognizes and analyzes genre-specific characteristics, structures, and purposes within and across increasingly complex traditional, contemporary, classical, and diverse texts.
4.9(D) recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: (ii) features such as pronunciation guides and diagrams to support understanding
Source: Lead4Ward
