Background

Jester King is a family-owned brewery, kitchen, farm, and event hall located on a 165-acre ranch nestled deep in the Texas Hill Country. In 2015, Jester King Brewery took its first major step towards the conservation of the surrounding Texas Hill Country by purchasing 58 acres of untouched landscape around the original brewery. This decision not only protected the natural beauty that surrounds the brewery, but also made room for the establishment of a small farm, growing fresh fruits and vegetables to be used in the kitchen and brewery.

In 2018, Jester King purchased an additional 107 acres of neighboring land to prevent it from being developed into a large 82-home residential development. Instead of using this land to expand their existing business infrastructure, they decided to protect it. Keeping it as “wild” as they could, the brewery built a 2-mile Nature Trail that provides guests and community members the opportunity to escape the stress of the nearby city, and appreciate the natural landscapes of the Texas Hill Country.

Project

The Nature Trail project began in early 2020, and was predominantly executed through volunteer labor, led by Jester King farmer Sean “Peppy” Meyer. It took about a year for volunteers to plan and complete the 2-mile trail system, and the main Nature Trail was opened to the public in February of 2021. Click here to watch a short video celebrating the trail’s grand opening. In the future, Jester King has plans to invest even more into its surrounding wildlife. The next goal is to install feeders, water capturing devices, and shelter to increase the amount of biodiversity around the property.

“The major catalyst for this project was watching the surrounding landscape become rapidly devoured by development. And with roughly 97% of Texas being privately owned, the ability to be within truly ‘wild’ nature is shrinking.” – Sean “Peppy” Meyer, Jester King Brewery.

Additionally, Jester King Brewery is a member of the International Dark Sky Association, utilizing recommended lighting practices around their property, and encouraging others to do the same. To learn more, or to align your own facilities with Dark Skies lighting, read this guide for Recommended Lighting Practices.

Community Impact

Jester King Brewery is a unique venue for a trail system, with an interesting approach to reach a wide demographic of community members. With the ability to purchase a glass of locally brewed beer or wine to take along on your hike, Jester King aims to reach a much wider audience, by turning hiking into a social experience. Families can safely utilize the Nature Trail, providing a connection between their children and the outdoors, all while enjoying the food and beverage options Jester King Brewery has to offer.