Field Trips

FIELD TRIP
Driftwood & Salt Lick BBQ
Monday, May 3, 2010 — 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Buses depart from the Hilton Austin
Hosted by Scott Roberts

In the Hill Country of northern Hays County, a rapidly growing county just to the southwest of Austin, Driftwood is a 500-acre development with a little over 10% impervious cover and best management plans (including rainwater harvesting) that attenuates over 90% of the nonpoint source pollution. Driftwood is considered a model for how to develop low density, minimal footprint subdivisions. Driftwood has over 50 acres of vineyards planned with over 30 acres already producing red wine. Most of the 90 homes will be situated (with minimal disturbance) along Onion Creek. There will be nine miles of trails (already constructed). There is a buffer area along the creek where the property owner (he is not a developer) wants to initiate a stream side restoration banking project. The owner is Scott Roberts. His family has been in the area since 1867 and he wants to maintain the rural lifestyle in the area just outside Austin. The small town center will emphasize this rural concept by encouraging the trading of locally grown organic farm products through the center. There will also be a small lodge on the property to facilitate retreats for people from the urban areas of Texas.

In addition to the tour of the property and future bank site, we’ll stop at the owner’s Salt Lick BBQ, one of the nation’s most legendary BBQ restaurants — a very rustic place located on the 500 acres in Driftwood. The Salt Lick has been featured on the Food Channel, the Discovery Channel, NBC (Today Show), ABC Nightly News, the New York Times, and even the History Channel. People come from all over the world to experience the Salt Lick and the owner wants to protect this area from Austin’s urban sprawl. Salt Lick only takes cash and you bring your own flavored libation. It is wildly successful. The blackberry cobbler a la mode is to die for.

EARLY Registration: $45 (before January 25, 2010)
PRE-CONFERENCE Registration: $55 (before March 24, 2010)
LATE Registration: $80 (after March 24, 2010; if space available)
REGISTER NOW!