01/17/2025
Devil’s Sinkhole Society Annual Meeting Held
Wednesday evening, January 15, the Devil’s Sinkhole Society held its 2025 annual meeting. The Society has been in service to the community, operating the Rocksprings Visitors Center and providing tours and other support for the Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area as a Texas Parks friends group since 2001.
After a delicious potluck buffet featuring Bennie Piper’s enchiladas and beans, Aguilera rice, Sandra West’s pralines and banana pudding, and other delicious items, President Andrew Barnebey reviewed some of the bigger moments of the preceding year.
The highlight of the year was easily the one hundred guests who turned out for the April 8 total eclipse. Guests came from about twelve different states and four other countries.
A second top highlight was Texas Parks’ hiring of new park superintendent Paris Gill specifically for the Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area. It’s been at least ten years since the Sinkhole has had its very own park staff. New funding provided to our state park system by the voters of Texas and other legislative measures are allowing good park enhancements to occur all across the state.
A third positive item is a Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation grant that has slated four bird blinds to be added to the state natural area which will expand the site’s ability to attract birders and other outdoors enthusiasts.
Barnebey also mentioned two bits of bad news the Society endured this year: bat numbers were the lowest in all the 24 years Devil’s Sinkhole volunteers have provided bat tours.
The worst day for the Society in a long time, however, was the death of Superintendent Ken Watson. Watson was an icon of the Texas Parks system and one of the best superintendents to ever supervise the Devil’s Sinkhole, and most of all, a really great human being.
The annual meeting concluded with the reelection of 5 of the nine board members:
Returning for new two-year terms are Treasurer Emma Barnebey, Secretary D.L. Somerville and at-large board members Mike Cox, Kim Ort, and Dennis Piper. They rejoin the other four members: President Barnebey, Vice President Richard West, and at-large members Joe Rendon and Mike Saunders. Park Superintendent Paris Gill serves as an ex-officio board member.
The Devil’s Sinkhole Society offers day tours and nature walks at this time of year. Tours are available Wednesdays through Sundays preferably at 10 AM and 1 PM, though there is flexibility. All tours start at the Rocksprings Visitors Center on the town square and reservations for tours are helpful. Call 830-683-2287 or email [email protected]. The visitors center is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 AM until 3 PM.
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