What is Jacob's Well?

Jacob’s Well is an artesian spring which flows from the Trinity Aquifer and forms the headwaters of Cypress Creek in Wimberley, Texas. Today, Jacob's Well is contained within the 81-acre Jacob's Well Natural Area, which serves as a protective barrier around the spring. A normal flow rate for Jacob's Well is about 2 million gallons of water per day. Due to the ongoing drought (since 2022), flow rates are much lower than expected at the present time.

The Jacob's Well Cave

Cave divers with the Jacob’s Well Exploration Project (JWEP) have mapped over 6,000 feet of underwater passage with a maximum depth of 137 feet.

Early Exploration

Exploration of the submerged cave system began in the early 1900's. Before SCUBA equipment was available, divers used whatever they could to explore the cave system. A local story tells of children using a homemade diving helmet fashioned from an old hot water heater tank. The tank was weighted with lead and had a glass face plate, cut-outs for the shoulders, and a tire inflation nozzle that allowed air to be pumped into it through a hose. The children would put the helmet on and drop down into the spring attempting to reach new depths.

SCUBA Exploration

The creation of a new technology in the 1950s, called SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus), led to a renewed interest in exploring Jacob's Well. SCUBA equipment allowed recreational divers to reach new depths; however, they also encountered new dangers. At least 8 individuals lost their lives diving in Jacob's Well between 1960 - 1985. In 1985, following the drowning deaths of two young men, a local and well-respected diver nearly lost his own life attempting a recovery dive. Deeply concerned, the local diving community helped to spread awareness and recreational SCUBA diving at Jacob's Well halted.

Research Dives

Underwater exploration of Jacob’s Well by trained cave divers began in 2000. As part of a research project with the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, members of the San Marcos Area Rescue Team (SMART) attempted to map and obtain video imagery of the cave system. It was later determined that the cave extended much further than previously thought.

By 2004, teams were surveying and mapping out the submerged cave system. More help was needed.

In 2007, the Jacob's Well Exploration Project (JWEP) was formally created. This coalition of volunteer, self-funded cave divers has conducted ongoing exploration and research activities. To date, the project has surveyed and mapped all areas that are currently accessible. Information obtained from these dives has allowed the project to produce a highly detailed map of the cave system where they have documented approximately 6,000 feet of passages. The project’s survey results show Jacob’s Well to be the longest cave in Hays County and the second longest fully submerged cave in Texas.

Prehistory

Humans arrived in central Texas as early as 15,000 or 20,000 years ago. Early humans followed and hunted large Ice Age mammals like Mastodon, Mammoth, and extinct forms of Bison. After the Ice Age, early humans hunted Bison, White-tailed Deer, and Pronghorn Antelope. These nomadic groups moved frequently, often stopping where big herds would stop. These stopping sites often had some or all of these factors: A source of clean water, native plants, a form of shelter, and native species of wildlife - big and small. Springs, like Jacob's Well, would have been ideal sites for traveling peoples. A constant source of clean water to quench your thirst. Native plants providing sources of food, medicine, and dye for textiles and clothing. Limestone overhangs - a perfect spot to take a rest out of the elements.

Many different groups of people called central Texas, and the areas surrounding Jacob's Well, home. Some of those groups include Coahuiltecans, Tonkawa, Apache, and Comanche.

History

The present-day city of Wimberley was founded and settled in the mid-1800's. Many of the early settlers of Wimberley had been awarded land grants of 640 acres or 320 acres. These land grants were used to encourage settlement of Texas and were given to families (640-acres) and single men (320-acres). Many veterans of the Texas Revolution were also awarded land grants for their military service.

The land that makes up Jacob’s Well Natural Area originally consisted of five land surveys that all used the spring as a corner to tie the properties together. These surveys were conducted in 1847 by a prominent surveyor names Bartlett Sims. Origins of the name Jacob's Well stem from two different sources. 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, some believe it was named ‘Jacob’s Well’. A separate story points to Jacob De Cordova, a prominent local land agent, who had a habit of naming things after himself.

The property changed hands many times over, consolidating and dividing. What is now Jacob's Well Natural Area was once a goat ranch and at another time an RV Park.

Funded by the 2007 Hays County Parks bond, the official Jacob’s Well Natural Area became a public open space in 2010. Today, a conservation easement exists over the 81-acre property which prevents the property from ever being developed or subdivided.

Jacob’s Well Natural Area remains a popular recreational destination today.

The Middle Trinity Aquifer is the primary groundwater resource for water supply in the region. Jacob’s Well flow responds to climatic variations of both short- and long-term cycles. Groundwater pumping from the Middle Trinity Aquifer also directly influences flow at Jacob’s Well. The combination of periodic drought cycles and increased groundwater pumping has significantly diminished spring flow in recent years. Groundwater use is managed and coordinated by the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District through the Jacob’s Well Groundwater Management Zone.