Leakey

This Hill Country town of about 350 is the county seat of Real County. It’s located in the canyon carved by the Frio River, and the mountains that bracket Leakey gave it its nickname of “The Swiss Alps of Texas.” Leakey is surrounded by lofty cliffs and rolling hills that give the Hill Country its name, and it's also known for the natural springs that feed into the Frio River (these underground springs keep the river cool year round; in fact, “frio” is Spanish for “cold”).

Native Americans settled in the area first, including the Lipan Apache, Comanche, and Tonkawa tribes. John H. Leakey, a pioneer from Tennessee, brought his family here in 1856. With the cypress trees lining the Frio, he built the first white settlement in the area, which in turn would carry his name. Initially, it was called Leakey Springs, after the cool springs that fill the Frio, but by the 1880s its name was shortened to simply Leakey (pronounced “LAY-kee,” by the way, not like the word “leaky.”).

For its first two decades, the tiny village was fairly primitive and isolated, and was subject to frequent Native American raids. These tapered off around 1883, the same year a post office was established in the town. Also in 1883, Leakey’s first school was built on land donated by the Leakey family, and in 1884 the town was named the county seat of Edwards County.

No, that wasn’t a typo; when Leakey was first settled, it was in Edwards County, which was created by the Texas State Legislature in 1858 from Bexar County land. Haden Harrison Edwards was a friend of Stephen Austin, and helped settle several communities from east Texas to the Hill Country; the county, Edwards Plateau, and the Edwards Aquifer are all named after him. Leakey remained the county seat of Edwards County until 1891, when government was moved to Rocksprings, which remains the county seat today.

So how did Leakey become the county seat of Real County, and for that matter, how did the county come to exist? Again, it was the Texas State Legislature. In 1913, they created Real County from territory taken from Edwards, Bandera, and Kerr counties. Leakey was named the county seat, and the county itself was named after Julius Real, a former member of the Texas Senate. This designation involved creative legislation, since Leakey wasn’t officially categorized as a town until 1951!

For decades, Leakey flourished and grew in part due to the lumber industry. The trees alongside the Frio were a great asset, and helped build several Hill Country structures. Unfortunately, the “replant as you cut” process used in the modern lumber industry didn’t exist then, so lumber faded as a major industry in Leakey. The Hill Country is prime ranching land, however, and it became the chief economic strength of the town. In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Leakey was known for the Angora goats raised on its ranches. We’re sure their herds grazing the countryside enhanced its “Swiss Alps” nickname!

The mountainous terrain around Leakey makes it popular for touring the Hill Country, by car or motorcycle. One of the scenic highlights is a challenging motorcycle trail known as the “Twisted Sisters.” It’s named after the three winding roads that comprise it, and Leakey falls at its halfway point. The trail is open to adventurous sightseers year round, of course; it’s all on public roads. While it offers some of the most spectacular views of the Hill Country, we like to caution our guests that some of its twists and turns can be challenging, even for experienced riders. For more detailed information on the Twisted Sisters Motorcycle Trail, Ride Texas and Rider Magazine offer articles and reviews.

Want to learn more about Leakey? We’ve made it easy! Scroll to the bottom of this page for conveniently categorized listings of businesses and attractions in the area. We’ve researched and customized these listings to appeal specifically to guests who are new to Leakey. Follow this link to check out our fantastic vacation rentals in and near Leakey!

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