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

Exploring the Frio River Region with Kristi Gerdes | The In-Between Podcast Ep. 39

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!

---

⏱️ Timestamps

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

---

👤 Guest Bio

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: [e-mail]
🌐 Website: https://visituvaldecounty.com/
📱 Text Questions To: [phone]

---

🙌 Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

• Camp Riverview – friocampriverview.com

• Songs On The Frio – songsontherfrio.com

---

🔑 Keywords & SEO Tags

Frio River, Concan TX, Uvalde County, Texas Hill Country, River Region, Garner State Park, Lost Maples State Park, Visit Uvalde County, Concan camping, Frio River cabins, Texas dark skies, astro tourism, Texas family vacations, fall in Texas Hill Country, spring getaways Texas, Texas birding, Camp Riverview, House Pasture, Texas travel podcast.