1971 Map of Joy Hollow

About this map

The Edwards Co-Real Co boundary splits this remote stretch of the Texas Hill Country, where the upper reaches of the Nueces River carve through a landscape of deep canyons and limestone features. This 1971 survey captures a period of ranching isolation, centered on large holdings like Eagle Ranch and Greenwood Valley Ranch, the latter of which features the Greenwood Valley Landing Strip as a vital link to the outside world. The terrain is defined by its complex hydrology, from the Blue Hole on the East Prong Nueces River to numerous isolated water sources like Turkey Canyon Spring and Sanchez Spring. Subterranean features are also noted, including Pape Cave and Red Arrow Cave, while the presence of the Kaolin Mine in the northwest suggests the small-scale extraction of industrial minerals in an otherwise agrarian landscape.