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Keep Austin Weird

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Austin TX

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Austin

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Austin ✌🏻

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Let’s go!

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Austin, TX

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Highlights of Auatin

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Austin, TX

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Austin, TCEA

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https://freefuninaustin.com/how-to-see-bats-in-austin/https://freefuninaustin.com/how-to-see-bats-in-austin/

https://tea.texas.gov/

https://6street.com/

Lhttp://texassports.com/

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Mt. Bonnell

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Mount Bonnell , also known as Covert Park, is a prominent point alongside the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. It has been a popular tourist destination since the 1850s. The mount provides a vista for viewing the city of Austin, Lake Austin, and the surrounding hills.

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Teach, Discover, Lead

The Texas faculty is united by a desire for impact - both on students and in their fields. For 140 years, UT Austin has provided first-class education and world-class research. Attracting the top talent from around the globe, we value a culture of learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility to transform lives and society. Living in Austin's not bad either.

UT's faculty includes numerous MacArthur, Guggenheim and Carnegie fellows, more than 125 members of national academies, and other winners of globally important prizes such as the Nobel, Pulitzer and Edison. Texas also has a long history of welcoming visiting professors and lecturers to enrich the student experience, from Barbara Jordan to Karl Rove and Matthew McConaughey to Kendra Scott.

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Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader, home to more than 51,000 students and 3,000 teaching faculty.

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Get the latest Texas Longhorns Football news, photos, rankings, lists and more on Bleacher Report

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Teach, Discover, Lead

The Texas faculty is united by a desire for impact - both on students and in their fields. For 140 years, UT Austin has provided first-class education and world-class research. Attracting the top talent from around the globe, we value a culture of learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility to transform lives and society. Living in Austin's not bad either.

UT's faculty includes numerous MacArthur, Guggenheim and Carnegie fellows, more than 125 members of national academies, and other winners of globally important prizes such as the Nobel, Pulitzer and Edison. Texas also has a long history of welcoming visiting professors and lecturers to enrich the student experience, from Barbara Jordan to Karl Rove and Matthew McConaughey to Kendra Scott.

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Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader, home to more than 51,000 students and 3,000 teaching faculty.

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After leading small-town Carthage to back-to-back state championship games, the state's top running back prospect is ready to sign with Texas.

Posted February 5th, 2018

CARTHAGE - Keaontay Ingram's hometown is quintessential Texas.

The main road through Carthage takes you past the high school, the police station and straight to the town square. The locals used to have a movie theater that operated on the weekends. It's been converted into a church. All that matters here is family, oil field work and football because, frankly, there's not much else.

And that's OK with Keaontay Ingram.

"All they talk about in the barbershop is football," Ingram said. "All these old-timers talking about how they used to be back in the day. You know how that stuff goes. But I feel it absolutely means a lot."

Ingram, 18, was born in Marshall but has lived in Carthage his whole life. He has carried this town's state championships hopes and dreams for the past three years. The running back who will sign with Texas on Wednesday has led Carthage to back-to-back Class 4A Division I state titles, the school's fifth and sixth crowns in the last 10 years. At the last celebration in December, Bulldogs coach Scott Surratt said, "Welcome to Title Town."

Now, Ingram is ready for a new uniform, a new home, a new purpose. The state's No. 1 running back prospect - and sixth in the country, per 247Sports' composite rankings - could have signed with Texas in December during the early signing period. But he chose to wait until the traditional signing date in February so he could sign with his friends.

RELATED: Texas commits Keaontay Ingram, Keondre Coburn talk status
Opposing coaches saw an opening. Jimbo Fisher wanted Ingram at Florida State and then tried to lure him to Texas A&M. Ingram even took an official visit to College Station. But Ingram will become a Longhorn, a key figure in what's expected to be the nation's third-best recruiting class.

"I've always told him that the world has more to offer than right here in Carthage," said Ingram's mother, Brandie. "You've got more things to see out there."

Ingram's one of those All-Everything players you'd expect Texas to sign. He owns the school record with 76 career touchdowns and is one of only three Carthage players ever to rush for more than 5,000 yards. The Bulldogs scored anywhere from 41-60 points in all but two games last season.

Perhaps Ingram's most impressive stat: Three, as in only three lost fumbles over the last two years. They all came in one game, according to Surratt. China Spring's defense somehow knocked it loose three times in their 2016 state semifinals matchup.

"After his first fumble, I said if you fumble eight more times, I'm gonna beat you," Surratt said, laughing now at the memory. "I told him, 'You're our guy. You're the reason we're here. Run us to the state championship.'"

That's exactly what Ingram did. He finished with 168 yards on 26 carries and scored the game-winner, a 1-yard plunge in triple-overtime.
RELATED: Commitment 101: Keaontay Ingram, Carthage running back RELATED: The Dotted Line: What is left for Texas in the 2018 recruiting class?
Midway through last season, Texas coach Tom Herman said his team lacked a game-changing running back. "Maybe he's on this roster, maybe not," he said. Daniel Young showed real promise in November, and perhaps Toneil Carter will have a bounce-back season in 2018.

Ingram doesn't plan on wasting any time. He'll enroll this summer and wants to start contributing this fall. When he returns home, he wants to go back to the barbershop as a Big 12 champion.

"I just think it would be best for him to get out of here for something different," Brandie Ingram said. "Austin is a place of its own. I think it's a planet of its own. Austin is weird."

Ingram spoke at length with the American-Statesman for our eighth annual signing day Q&A, following Oklahoma City cornerback Josh Turner (2011), Brenham defensive tackle Malcom Brown (2012), Harker Heights guard Darius James (2013), Denton Guyer's Jerrod Heard (2014), Euless Trinity offensive lineman Patrick Vahe (2015), Manvel's Reggie Hemphill-Mapps (2016) and Fort Worth All-Saints defensive end Max Cummins (2017):

Did you feel pressured to sign in December?

It wasn't too bad. It wasn't nothing to be stressed out about. Yes, I did get pressured a little bit from the coaching staff, but I understand that from a recruiting standpoint. Family and friends, I don't think there was any pressure on their part. It was a good problem to have at the end of the day, but it wasn't anything to stress out about.

So you never wavered on Texas?

Naw. Not at all.

Why was it so important you signed with your friends?

Well, because it's a one-time deal. We all want to celebrate it together. I don't know. I might not get to see them again, especially some of the people I grew up with. From what I hear, college is nothing like the people you grew up with. I mean, you're going to meet new friends in college, but it won't be like the people you grew up with. We were thinking why not all sign together, make it one big special deal? That's what we agreed upon, and that's what we did.

As you began to think about colleges, how did you narrow it down? Why Texas?

At first, where I wanted to go, it didn't matter just as long as I can get somewhere. I wanted to go somewhere to get an education. But I wasn't really trying to focus on one school. The reason why I picked them is that it just felt like it was where I wanted to be. I'm not going to act like I've been anywhere and everywhere. But when I stepped on that campus, it felt like home. It felt like the spot I wanted to be, so I just stuck with it.

Someone of your stature has a lot of options. Did you hear other coaches out? How many visits did you take?

Well, I only took two - including one this past weekend. Texas A&M.

How was A&M coach Jimbo Fisher?

Oh, he's a real good dude. He knows what he's talking about, and we talked football.

Did you get a good vibe from them? Was it different from when coach Kevin Sumlin was there?

Oh, totally different. Different coaches are bringing a new demeanor. They're going to change up the offense. It's way different from when I went there on my junior day going into my senior season.

Was the Texas coaching staff nervous?

Nah, we had an understanding. I'm going to let somebody know what's going on. I'm not the type of person that will let people have their head spinning.

So I'm sure you watched this season. Texas had issues at running back. What are you thinking about the Longhorns as you watch the season unfold?

The situation is what it is. I feel like each one of us has our own demeanor and what we bring to the game. Hopefully in the next few years, it will be all straightened out. It was just the first season. It's not going to be fixed all in one blue moon. It's a process, and hopefully it will be where it needs to be in the next couple of years.

I did see one article that you were impressed by the Texas-USC game. What did you see during that game?

You haven't seen Texas play like that in a long time. With what they bring on the defensive side, I feel like if the offense is clicking, I feel like it would have been a different outcome. So to get an opportunity to fix that and be a part of soothing like that speaks volumes.

Is it resonating with you how good this recruiting class could be?

Oh, yes sir. From all the coaches I've talked to, the best football is played in Texas. They didn't have too many players going to Texas. But we all see what the situation is, and you can tell that we're all on the same page. If not, we'd all be somewhere else. Hopefully we can get something clicking.

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Our 8th annual Signing Day Q&A: Carthage's Keaontay Ingram sees brighter days ahead | Hookem.com

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CARTHAGE - Keaontay Ingram's hometown is quintessential Texas. The main road through Carthage takes you past the high school, the police station and straight to the town square. The locals used to have a movie theater that operated on the weekends. It's been converted into a church.

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Austin

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New in Canvas - My Textbooks

The University Co-op and The University of Texas at Austin have come together to make it easier than ever to find the course materials you need this semester.

To get started, log in to Canvas, click on a Course and select the My Textbooks link in the course menu - you'll see a list of all the materials required for your courses. Welcome back Longhorns, Hook 'em!

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University of Texas at Austin Canvas Learning Management System

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The University Co-op and The University of Texas at Austin have come together to make it easier than ever to find the course materials you need this semester. To get started, log in to Canvas, click on a Course and select the My Textbooks link in the course menu - you'll see a list of all the materials required for your courses.

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Whether a bat enthusiast or not, many just love to take in an evening view of bats in Austin as one of the many local Austin, Texas attractions.

Simply put, people are batty for Austin's world-renowned Mexico free-tailed bats and their night flight of 60-plus miles per hour and 2-mile high flight patterns, and feeding frenzy of Austin insects.

Thanks to Lady Bird Lake, formerly Town Lake, circa 1980 renovations making a home for the bats in Austin, Texas, the South Congress Bridge, also known as the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, bats put on a nightly spectacular show of dynamic aerial flight typically lasting 45 to 60 minutes long.

Whether attending the Austin Bat Festival, a visiting tourist, or a Keep Austin Weird local, bats in Austin under the South Congress Bridge entertain and amaze all walks of life, from the youngest to the oldest.

About the Bats in Austin

From March through November of each year, large groups of locals and tourists visit bats in Austin, Texas.

Each night between 5PM to 7PM, many bat enthusiasts and watchers stake out lookout spots below and above the South Congress Bridge.

It's one of the best places to catch a direct view of the South Congress Bridge Bats, also known as Brazilian free-tailed bats, emerging and shooting out for their nightly feeding and aerial show.

The bats in Austin are a medium-sized bats with broad, black, forward pointing ears, and wrinkled lips, long and narrow wings, and typically attain reddish to dark brown or gray fur color.

Their tails extend more than one third beyond the size of their body, offering bats in Austin great flight patterns and precision.

The bats of the South Congress Bridge in Austin, Texas also help keep Austin's insect population at bay and in check.

Eating roughly 20-30 thousand pounds of insects on each night flight, nearly one and a half million bats in Austin call the South Congress Bridge home during this time period.

Most bat colonies of a million or more can consume up too 250 tons of a variety of insects in a given night.

Drawn to areas with water access and warm conditions, most bats in Austin delight in moths, crickets, grasshoppers, and Texas-size mosquitoes that the South Congress Bridge offers in great number.

In addition to bats in Austin, Texas living and congregating under the South Congress Bridge, these bats congregate in large numbers and can be found in the following places:

In various caves of the Texas Hill Country

The sides of buildings

Various Texas caves and caverns

Hancock Center and IH35

McNeil Overpass and Interstate 35 bridge in Round Rock, Texas

Bracken Cave just south of Austin (the largest colony of this bat type)

Viewing Bats In Austin Information

Come join a wide range of locals, bat watchers and enthusiasts near dusk at the South Congress Bridge for batty night of fun with the South Congress Bridge Bats in Austin, Texas.

Oh yes, and don't forget to bring your blankets and covers for the grass covered area, wear a hat or bring some other head covering as we would hate for bat droppings to land on your do by chance.

Please make sure all items you bring to watch bats in Austin are bat friendly and bat safe for your own bat viewing and bat watching experience.

Please do show up early enough to take advantage of first serve free parking, and learn about Nightwing sculpture located onsite.

Other non-paid and paid parking is located near Auditorium Shores as well as the Austin Statesman.

And it goes without saying, but please no handling of these beloved bats as we are visitors within their habitat.

Please keep their habitat clean from pollution and contamination by picking up and throwing away your trash should you have any or should you see trash.

The bats in Austin, Texas will greatly appreciate and reward all of us continually to call and make Austin, Texas their home and with a spectacular nightly summer aerial show.

For more specific updates and information as it pertains to visiting bats in Austin, Texas and surrounding areas, please contact the Bat Conservation International at 512-327-9721.

Also, we invite you to explore other bat-watching sites throughout Texas.

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South Congress Bridge Bats | Austin Bats | Austin, Texas

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Whether a bat enthusiast or not, many just love to take in an evening view of bats in Austin as one of the many local Austin, Texas attractions. Simply put, people are batty for Austin's world-renowned Mexico free-tailed bats and their night flight of 60-plus miles per hour and 2-mile high flight patterns, and feeding frenzy of Austin insects.

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http://roundrockdonuts.com/http://roundrockdonuts.com/

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This vibrant neighborhood south of Lady Bird Lake is a must-stroll for visitors and a popular hangout for locals. South Congress oozes homespun character and boasts the story of Austin's yesteryear in its boutiques, eateries, galleries and music venues.

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Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader, home to more than 51,000 students and 3,000 teaching faculty.

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Brad’s Link

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Teach, Discover, Lead

The Texas faculty is united by a desire for impact - both on students and in their fields. For 140 years, UT Austin has provided first-class education and world-class research. Attracting the top talent from around the globe, we value a culture of learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility to transform lives and society. Living in Austin's not bad either.

UT's faculty includes numerous MacArthur, Guggenheim and Carnegie fellows, more than 125 members of national academies, and other winners of globally important prizes such as the Nobel, Pulitzer and Edison. Texas also has a long history of welcoming visiting professors and lecturers to enrich the student experience, from Barbara Jordan to Karl Rove and Matthew McConaughey to Kendra Scott.

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Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader, home to more than 51,000 students and 3,000 teaching faculty.

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Newspaper

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Texas Capitol

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Link to RR Dounut

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About Round Rock Donuts

Since 1926, people from all over the world have been stopping by to give our famous yellow (or are they orange?) donuts a try.

Round Rock Donuts, made from the original owner's recipe, are created with as much care and finesse as they were years ago. The yeast-risen donut originates from a bread-like dough; its distinct yellow color (from fresh eggs) immediately sets it off from any other donut.

Unlike baking powder donuts, this yeast donut cannot be machine-made; it must be hand-rolled, cut, fried and iced. On busy days, now as in the past, the bakery turns out 200 dozen of these popular originals.
Texas Farm and Ranch Journal - Jeanette DesLauriers
View Our Story

Merchandise

Now you too can own some cool Round Rock Donuts swag! Stop by to get some for yourself, your family, or your friends!

Go To >>

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Since 1926, people from all over the world have been stopping by to give our famous yellow (or are they orange?) donuts a try. Round Rock Donuts, made from the original owner's recipe, are created with as much care and finesse as they were years ago.

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Somewhere in the vast hallways of the University of Texas at Austin, there is a collection of the brains of roughly 100 former psychiatric patients. The brains in this collection were preserved in jars of formaldehyde to be used for research and educational purposes. Yet about half of them sat mostly ignored for 30 years.

In the mid-1980s, the Austin State Hospital had run out of room to store the collection of brains that had been harvested from patients at the former psychiatric hospital. So about 200 brains were transferred to the University of Texas' psychology department to be used as a teaching tool.

The psychology lab only had room for about half of the brains, however, so the other 100 or so were kept in the basement of the school's Animal Resources Center. Then, in 2014, an audit reported that the basement brains had mysteriously gone missing. Rumors started circulating that the jars had been stolen, though it's possible the university had simply kept poor records and was never quite sure how many brains were in the collection in the first place.

According to some reports, the brain of Charles Whitman, the infamous shooter behind a tragic shooting spree at the university in 1966, was among them, as there was a large tumor on his brain. However one of the curators of the collection is skeptical as to whether that is just urban legend. In any case, all the brains specimens were anonymized per federal law.

The 100 or so brains currently preserved at the university's psychology department were sent through MRI equipment and are still actively used for educational purposes.

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Brain Collection at the University of Texas at Austin

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Somewhere in the vast hallways of the University of Texas at Austin, there is a collection of the brains of roughly 100 former psychiatric patients. The brains in this collection were preserved in jars of formaldehyde to be used for research and educational purposes. Yet about half of them sat mostly ignored for 30 years.

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Iconic Downtown Austin Hotel Near 6th Street | The Driskill

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The Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin TX is a landmark of Texas hospitality, with a prime location and elite level of service, making it the best hotel in Austin.

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Texas Capitol

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Official website of the Texas State Preservation Board. We preserve, restore, and maintain the Texas Capitol, Capitol Visitors Center, Governors Mansion, Bullock Museum, State Cemetery and their grounds.

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Bats and more Bats

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When is the last time you saw the bats in Austin emerge at dusk? The huge crowds that assemble downtown to watch these winged mammals head out to get their dinners are one Austin's best arguments that we're still keeping it weird. You probably already know that the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that roost under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge comprise the largest urban bat colony in the world. But what's the best way to catch them in action? Here's everything you need to know to see bats in Austin.

When are the bats in Central Texas?

Mexican free-tail bats arrive in Central Texas in the early spring and hang around until the first cold front in late October to mid-November. In June, mama bats give birth to one pup, and these babies are ready to fly by mid-August (which is when emergences peak, since the colonies can double at this time of year).

What can I expect to see?

It's good to remember that the emergence of the bats relies on many factors, including the time of year and the weather. You can call the "bat hotline" at (512) 327-9721 to see when bats have been emerging downtown. That said, some evenings, swarms of bats emerge and others, it's hard to see much of anything at all. Loud noises and bright lights can disturb the bats and negatively impact their emergence.

Keep in mind, if you sit underneath where bats emerge, you run the risk of having guano fall on you, so you might want to bring a light jacket or a hat.

Where can I see the bats?

Downtown Austin. Of course, this is the most popular way to see bats in Austin. You have a few options on how to be a part of this natural spectacle:

Sit on the lawn or stand on the bridge. The easiest thing to do is to pack a picnic and head down to the Statesman's Bat Observation Center in the northwest corner of the parking lot at least an hour before dusk. Street parking is available nearby, and there are several parking lots, as well, which are a bit of a longer walk. There is signage which will tell you more about the bats and you'll be surrounded by many other families doing the same thing. If you have older kids who don't mind standing for longer periods of time, you can find a spot on the southeastern part of the bridge about an hour before dusk. The best part is that these options are both free!

Take a boat tour. Capital Cruises and Lone Star Riverboat both offer public sightseeing cruises which are about an hour in length and which cost $10 per adult and $5-$7 for kids. Departure times vary slightly, depending on what time of year it is, and you do need to arrive a bit in advance. Compared to hanging out on the ground, this is a little more comfortable, and you can usually snack on the boats while you listen to the guide tell you more about different spots along Lady Bird Lake. If you have kids who have a hard time sitting still or who have a daredevil streak, this option may be too stressful to be worthwhile.

Canoe or kayak to the bridge. If you have your own canoe or kayak, you can get up close and personal with the bats, along with anyone else who has the same idea. Several vendors rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards near the bridge. You can also book a bat tour with The Texas River School, which hosts a monthly Moonlight Bat Float, complete with music from local musicians and which benefits the nonprofits work to take at-risk kids for adventures on the water. Live Love Paddle also hosts bat tours.

Enjoy the view while you eat. The north side of Lady Bird Lake has several hotels with restaurants, which claim to have the best bat watching. One casual option is Alta's Cafe, which is located atop the Waller Creek Boathouse. There are a few piers along the north side of the Lake that also offer great vantage points to see the bats.

Round Rock. Nearly half a million bats emerge from a spot close to the intersection of IH-35 and McNeil. Head to 601 North Interstate 35 Frontage Road in Round Rock with your blankets and something to cover you in case of any guano falling from the sky. Free parking is located nearby.

Bracken Cave. Austin may be the largest urban bat colony, but Bracken Cave, located half an hour northwest of San Antonio, is the location of the world's largest bat colony and one of the largest concentration of mammals on Earth. In 2014, the cave and land surrounding the cave came under the management of Bat Conservation International. Members have the opportunity to visit the cave certain times each year and the public can sign up for a few nights as part of a tour package with Natural Bridge Caverns.

Eckert James River Bat Cave. The Nature Conservancy manages the Eckert Cave, which is about 16 miles from Mason, Texas. Tours run from Thursdays-Sundays from mid-May until late September. Some sunrise viewings of the bats returning from their nocturnal hunts are also offered.

Old Tunnel State Park. The abandoned railroad tunnel that gives Old Tunnel its name is home to up to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats and 3,000 cave myotis bats from May through October. Bat-viewing opportunities are available seven nights a week, and nightly educational presentations are given Thursday through Sunday. The park is located about 15 miles south of Fredericksburg. Call (866) 978-2287 to get the latest emergence time information.

Comments

comments

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Everything You Need To Know To See Bats in Austin | Free Fun in Austin

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When is the last time you saw the bats in Austin emerge at dusk? The huge crowds that assemble downtown to watch these winged mammals head out to get their dinners are one Austin's best arguments that we're still keeping it weird.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When is the last time you saw the bats in Austin emerge at dusk? The huge crowds that assemble downtown to watch these winged mammals head out to get their dinners are one Austin's best arguments that we're still keeping it weird. You probably already know that the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that roost under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge comprise the largest urban bat colony in the world. But what's the best way to catch them in action? Here's everything you need to know to see bats in Austin.

When are the bats in Central Texas?

Mexican free-tail bats arrive in Central Texas in the early spring and hang around until the first cold front in late October to mid-November. In June, mama bats give birth to one pup, and these babies are ready to fly by mid-August (which is when emergences peak, since the colonies can double at this time of year).

What can I expect to see?

It's good to remember that the emergence of the bats relies on many factors, including the time of year and the weather. You can call the "bat hotline" at (512) 327-9721 to see when bats have been emerging downtown. That said, some evenings, swarms of bats emerge and others, it's hard to see much of anything at all. Loud noises and bright lights can disturb the bats and negatively impact their emergence.

Keep in mind, if you sit underneath where bats emerge, you run the risk of having guano fall on you, so you might want to bring a light jacket or a hat.

Where can I see the bats?

Downtown Austin. Of course, this is the most popular way to see bats in Austin. You have a few options on how to be a part of this natural spectacle:

Sit on the lawn or stand on the bridge. The easiest thing to do is to pack a picnic and head down to the Statesman's Bat Observation Center in the northwest corner of the parking lot at least an hour before dusk. Street parking is available nearby, and there are several parking lots, as well, which are a bit of a longer walk. There is signage which will tell you more about the bats and you'll be surrounded by many other families doing the same thing. If you have older kids who don't mind standing for longer periods of time, you can find a spot on the southeastern part of the bridge about an hour before dusk. The best part is that these options are both free!

Take a boat tour. Capital Cruises and Lone Star Riverboat both offer public sightseeing cruises which are about an hour in length and which cost $10 per adult and $5-$7 for kids. Departure times vary slightly, depending on what time of year it is, and you do need to arrive a bit in advance. Compared to hanging out on the ground, this is a little more comfortable, and you can usually snack on the boats while you listen to the guide tell you more about different spots along Lady Bird Lake. If you have kids who have a hard time sitting still or who have a daredevil streak, this option may be too stressful to be worthwhile.

Canoe or kayak to the bridge. If you have your own canoe or kayak, you can get up close and personal with the bats, along with anyone else who has the same idea. Several vendors rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards near the bridge. You can also book a bat tour with The Texas River School, which hosts a monthly Moonlight Bat Float, complete with music from local musicians and which benefits the nonprofits work to take at-risk kids for adventures on the water. Live Love Paddle also hosts bat tours.

Enjoy the view while you eat. The north side of Lady Bird Lake has several hotels with restaurants, which claim to have the best bat watching. One casual option is Alta's Cafe, which is located atop the Waller Creek Boathouse. There are a few piers along the north side of the Lake that also offer great vantage points to see the bats.

Round Rock. Nearly half a million bats emerge from a spot close to the intersection of IH-35 and McNeil. Head to 601 North Interstate 35 Frontage Road in Round Rock with your blankets and something to cover you in case of any guano falling from the sky. Free parking is located nearby.

Bracken Cave. Austin may be the largest urban bat colony, but Bracken Cave, located half an hour northwest of San Antonio, is the location of the world's largest bat colony and one of the largest concentration of mammals on Earth. In 2014, the cave and land surrounding the cave came under the management of Bat Conservation International. Members have the opportunity to visit the cave certain times each year and the public can sign up for a few nights as part of a tour package with Natural Bridge Caverns.

Eckert James River Bat Cave. The Nature Conservancy manages the Eckert Cave, which is about 16 miles from Mason, Texas. Tours run from Thursdays-Sundays from mid-May until late September. Some sunrise viewings of the bats returning from their nocturnal hunts are also offered.

Old Tunnel State Park. The abandoned railroad tunnel that gives Old Tunnel its name is home to up to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats and 3,000 cave myotis bats from May through October. Bat-viewing opportunities are available seven nights a week, and nightly educational presentations are given Thursday through Sunday. The park is located about 15 miles south of Fredericksburg. Call (866) 978-2287 to get the latest emergence time information.

Comments

comments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Everything You Need To Know To See Bats in Austin | Free Fun in Austin

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When is the last time you saw the bats in Austin emerge at dusk? The huge crowds that assemble downtown to watch these winged mammals head out to get their dinners are one Austin's best arguments that we're still keeping it weird.

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WOW!! The power of the new clips app! Thanks, Mason!

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WOW!! The power of the new clips app! Thanks, Mason!

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Thanks Mason!

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Come see Austin!

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Official website of the Texas State Preservation Board. We preserve, restore, and maintain the Texas Capitol, Capitol Visitors Center, Governors Mansion, Bullock Museum, State Cemetery and their grounds.

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Welcome to Austin