The many changes of Kerrville's Louise Hays Park

Water skiers performing at Kerrville's Louise Hays Park.
Click on any image to enlarge.

When the Louise Hays Park was built in a day, back in April 1950, it had several features which no longer exist.

Pontoon bridge

One was the old mill dam, made of wood, which crossed the river at an angle, funneling water into the mill race, where the flow of the Guadalupe River was used to turn an “under water iron turbine.” The power it produced was used to saw lumber, mill grains, make shingles, and even run a small electric generator.

Evidence of that mill dam can still be seen, in the form of square holes in the riverbed, lined with concrete, which dot across river below the current concrete dam. These can be seen from the pavilion at the end of Earl Garrett Street, but also near the footbridge below the concrete dam. As recently as last week, a friend asked me about those square holes in the riverbed.

The other feature is long gone, washed away in a flood, probably in the 1950s.

On the day the park was built, a bridge was built across the river, connecting the new park with the downtown area, near the present-day pavilion and steep stairway beside it. 

It was a “pontoon” bridge, made of small floating connected sections sitting directly on the surface of the water. It had a deck for pedestrians to use in crossing the river, but since it floated, and was on top of the river, the sections were hinged at their joints, meaning, as you traveled across the bridge it would bend slightly as you approached the joints between the sections.

This must have added to the fun of crossing the river, walking on a bridge with a slight wobble.

The bridge was not very practical for a river prone to flooding, and it did not last very long.

Another interesting feature was the donation, by Harry Dietert, of a millstone once used in the previously mentioned mill, which was built by his ancestor, Christian Dietert. The stone, which was a “French burr millstone,” was made into a table for use at the park. A 1971 news story in this newspaper reported the stone and table had ‘gone missing’ during an expansion of the park. My own theory is this: some pranksters rolled it over to the river and pushed it in. Whenever the river is low, as it was last summer, I scan the banks to see if the old millstone shows up.

Another feature, though not present when the park was built in 1950, was a Navy jet on display near the children’s playground. It was a F9F-5 Panther, and it was placed in the park in 1959. I’m not sure when it was removed, but the story I’ve heard about its removal suggests it was heavily vandalized and was no longer safe for kids to climb on.

Another interesting attraction at the park was the water ski shows produced in the late 1950s. It’s hard to believe, but ski boats and very acrobatic and athletic skiers once raced past a crowd of spectators – performing tricks and jumps – and then somehow safely making a 180 degree turn before flying off of the dam there in the park.

Up in the higher part of the park, behind the current Park Street apartments, there used to be a collection of picnic tables and a covered barbecue pit. I remember these, since they were often the site of community gatherings – usually when a local service club had a fundraiser, serving delicious smoked barbecue and mountains of sides.

I have a vague memory of another park feature – on the hillside below the picnic area, there used to be a miniature golf course. Sadly, I don’t have any photographs of this concession. If you have one, I’d love to make a copy of it.

The park has seen many renovations and expansions since it was built, reflecting the changing needs of our community. It’s still a jewel in the middle of town – and I’m thankful the Hays family who donated the first 35 acres to start the park, as well as the hundreds of folks since then who have worked to make it the beautiful park it is today.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who has many happy memories of times spent with family at Louise Hays Park.  This column originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times December 9, 2023.

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