Ep.#39 - New Beginnings In The Texas Hill Country W/ Executive Director Kristi Gerdes

Join Jake and Leah as they sit down with Kristi Gerdes, the brand-new Executive Director of the Texas Hill Country River Region (THCRR), to talk about the future of tourism, hidden gems along the Frio River, off-season adventures, and the importance of preserving dark skies.

Whether you’re planning a summer float, a cozy fall getaway, or curious about family-friendly activities in Uvalde County, this episode is packed with local insight, history, and inspiration.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories from the heart of Texas Hill Country!

00:00 – Welcome + Spotlight on Camp Riverview in Concan, TX 01:00 – Meet Kristi Gerdes, new Executive Director of Texas Hill Country River Region 02:00 – Growing up in Uvalde + early river memories 03:00 – The opening of House Pasture (1998) and local traditions 04:00 – How the area has grown & the role of social media in tourism 05:00 – Why travelers trust TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube over Google blogs 06:00 – Kristi’s vision for Visit Uvalde County social media 07:00 – Building tourism beyond summer: fall, winter, and spring opportunities 09:00 – The magic of off-season camping, hiking, and campfires 10:30 – Lower lodging rates + quieter river experiences in fall/winter 11:30 – Hidden gem: Lost Maples State Park & nearby Utopia 13:00 – Kayaking, Chalk Bluff Park, and water adventures beyond the Frio 15:00 – Uvalde Nature Park & family-friendly activities 16:00 – Local history, Briscoe-Garner Museum, and the Opera House 18:00 – Tourism challenges: seasonal closures & siloed businesses 19:30 – Kristi’s strategy to bring partners together for bigger events 21:30 – The role of social media & bridging generational marketing gaps 22:30 – Birding tourism opportunities and community collaboration 24:00 – Astro-tourism & preserving dark skies 🌌 27:00 – Advocacy for clean rivers, landscapes, and skies 29:00 – Building off-season tourism & uniting visionary locals 31:00 – Exciting new interactive website for Visit Uvalde County 32:00 – Wrap-up + Kristi’s warm welcome into the community

Kristi Gerdes is the newly hired Executive Director of The Texas Hill Country River Region (THCRR), a DMO founded in 1998 with the mission of promoting Uvalde County as an overnight year-round tourism destination and to increase off-season occupancy in the region’s accommodations.

📧 Email: [email protected] 🌐 Website: https://visituvaldecounty.com/ 📱 Text Questions To: (830) 834-5534

• Camp Riverview – friocampriverview.com

• Songs On The Frio – songsontherfrio.com

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