Built in 2021 through a partnership between HCC and the City of Austin’s Urban Trails Program, the Whirlpool Patio serves as a gathering place and educational center along the Violet Crown Trail. The patio’s design includes a handmade hardscape spiral design of limestone and grout in homage to the nearby Whirlpool Cave. Located under the MoPac overpass at Latta Drive and Convict Hill, educators and students use this space as an outdoor classroom on field trips to the Whirlpool Cave.
To further enhance the space, HCC applied to the City’s Neighborhood Partnering Program to partner in funding and resourcing the addition of 12 interpretive educational panels exploring the mysterious world of caves, along with a stone salamander carving. Austin Water resourced the new cave murals framing the space. The patio's educational elements are intended to interactively connect the community directly to nature and to encourage understanding of the Hill Country's unique geological profile.
“Connection to nature, recreation opportunities for the entire family, and exploring unique aspects of the Hill Country are at the heart of the Violet Crown Trail experience,” said Kathy Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the Hill Country Conservancy. “By building the Whirlpool Patio and Education Center, Hill Country Conservancy and our partners at the City of Austin and Circuit of Americas have created an engaging place for our community to learn about and interact with the unique ecology and geography found in the Hill Country. As our region is one of the fastest growing in the nation, only a conservation-minded community will be able to protect our beautiful Texas Hill Country for future generations to enjoy.” | 
