Happy New Year, Horseshoe Bay. As we step into 2026, your Board extends warm wishes for health, peace, and plenty of neighborly good cheer. Thank you for trusting us in 2025 and for showing up with your time, ideas, and steady support.

This past year was about progress you could see and feel. Fox Park reopened as a true neighborhood gem, with new amenities, thoughtful landscaping, and a cleaner, safer setting under those ancient oaks. The renovation was a community lift that brought City partners, local businesses, volunteers, and donors together. If you have not strolled the new court, the trails, or the spring area, make a plan to visit soon. Here is a video recapping the amazing grand re-opening we had last month.

Across the POA we focused on useful improvements. Trails expanded with work on Slick Rock Spur and Hi Mesa Loop, giving walkers and families more shaded paths and overlooks. Quail Point Lodge continued to shine as the hub for gatherings and education. We kept the spotlight on clear communication by updating the website, posting agendas and minutes more consistently, and making it easier to find board business and the annual election information. Our July Fourth celebration adapted to tough weather while still honoring first responders and welcoming the community. Bingo, Boogie at the Bay, Spring Fling, and Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off kept the calendar lively. The Phone Directory again debuted on July Fourth and remains a favorite resource.

We begin 2026 with two strong Community Education sessions in January. First, a wellness after fifty seminar with Karen Calderon Schweitzer and Dr. William Schweitzer that highlights practical, positive habits for everyday living, including skin care tips you can use. Next, a Fall Prevention program led by Steve Muller, a retired physician, focused on causes, consequences, and simple steps that keep you steady and safe at home. Please join us, bring a friend, and consider signing up to volunteer with a committee.

Our Christmas Celebration was a joyful capstone to the year. Members filled Quail Point Lodge for wonderful food, thoughtful performances, and a full dance floor. Thank you to the caterers, performers, volunteers, and staff who made the evening feel special. Click here or below for the video recap of the event.

Here is to a purposeful 2026, to steady stewardship, and to a community that looks out for one another.

Jim Orwick and the Hill Country Choir and Gun Club

by Whit Holcomb

When asked to sit down for a Community Corner feature, longtime Horseshoe Bay POA member Jim Orwick made one thing very clear from the start. He did not want the focus on himself. Instead, he repeatedly emphasized that the real story is the group he helped co-found and deeply values, the Hill Country Choir and Gun Club. As Jim put it more than once during our conversation, it is all about the group. That mindset says a great deal about Jim, a Horseshoe Bay resident for more than twenty years who loves the community for its natural beauty, its welcoming atmosphere, and most of all, the people who make HSB such a special place to live.

The Hill Country Choir and Gun Club traces its roots back to around 2008, during the early days of the Tea Party movement. Originally known as the Hill Country Men’s Choir and Gun Club, the group later changed its name to be more inclusive and welcoming to women, many of whom have been active members over the years. The group operates with no initiation, dues, or formal membership requirements. It does not endorse candidates or take official political positions. Instead, it exists as an open forum for thoughtful discussion, welcoming anyone who wants to participate, regardless of political affiliation or viewpoint.

Meetings follow a structured but open format that encourages respectful dialogue and shared perspectives. Discussions begin with local issues affecting Horseshoe Bay and/or Llano, followed by county-level topics from Llano and Burnet County. From there, the conversation moves to Texas state politics, then to national and federal issues. Each topic is discussed by going around the table, giving everyone an opportunity to share insight, raise concerns, or listen. Jim emphasized that this structure helps ensure balanced participation and keeps the conversations grounded and civil.

The group sometimes hosts speakers who share valuable insights and education. Later, these speakers are tapped to host a Community Education event for the POA. This month, Texas Attorney General candidate Mayes Middleton will have a ‘Meet and Greet’ with the Choir and Gun Club on Thursday, January 29, at 9:00 AM in the Lodge Room of Quail Point Lodge.

Throughout the interview, Jim repeatedly expressed his appreciation for the Horseshoe Bay POA Staff, Board, and everyone involved in helping make the group’s meetings possible. He credits the POA and the broader community for creating an environment where open discussion and civic engagement can thrive. In true Jim fashion, he deflected personal praise and redirected it toward the group and the community that supports it. His quiet leadership and commitment to inclusion reflect the best of Horseshoe Bay, reminding us that strong communities are built not just on shared views but on shared respect and the willingness to listen.

Please note - The HSB POA does not support or endorse any political candidates or parties. We offer space at Quail Point Lodge for our member's usage.

We are starting 2026 with two amazing Community Education events, and we are very excited. First, POA members Karen Calderon-Schweitzer and her husband, retired dermatologist Dr. William Schweitzer, will lead a wellness seminar. They will give an upbeat and helpful talk about simple wellness after age 50. Topics will include healthy habits, staying active, and practical skincare tips.

The following week, we will have another education event on Fall Prevention, led by Horseshoe Bay resident Steve Muller, a retired doctor who practiced Otolaryngology for over 30 years. This session will cover why falls happen, their effects, and how to prevent them—an important topic for many adults as we get older. Having two experienced doctors share free, practical health advice at the start of the year is an excellent opportunity for our community.

We work with the Horseshoe Bay Architectural Control Committee to enhance and maintain the Horseshoe Bay community. This message is from the HSB ACC:

I love the holidays. The extra time at home with family is such a blessing. However, it also showed me that my landscaping is a little sad, the exterior paint is a little drab, and the house itself is a bit too small for long-term guests. Part of my New Year’s resolution will be to address some of these issues.

If you, too, are considering home improvements, remember that per the Horseshoe Bay Declarations of Reservations, any project affecting the exterior of your home or property is required to be reviewed and approved by the Architectural Review Committee (ACC) prior to permitting with the city or beginning construction.

To provide more helpful information and streamline processes, the ACC has updated its website. Please visit us at www.horseshoebayacc.com or call the ACC Administrator at 830-598-3984 with any questions you may have.



Wishing you all a prosperous and blessed New Year!

-- The ACC of Horseshoe Bay

Peak Storm Services, owned by POA member Mike Biles, helps commercial and residential property owners get fairly and accurately paid on their hail-storm insurance claims and manages all the restoration construction. This includes roofing, gutters, stucco, siding, windows, electrical, painting, signage, and all items damaged by the storms. Peak handles everything, so you don’t have to do anything. 

IMPORTANT RESIDENT NOTICE: All of Horseshoe Bay was impacted by a storm over the last 2 years; if you don’t think you have damage, or your claim has been denied or underpaid, Peak Storm Services can help you confirm damage or get your claim turned around, but you have to act soon; the claim deadline is this APRIL!

For an informative and hassle-free consult, contact them at: peakstormsservices.com or 512.771.8172

Mission Golf Cars keeps Hill Country riders rolling with sales, service, parts, and flexible lease options, all supported by a convenient Marble Falls location. Their team can book service appointments, source accessories, help you choose the right new or pre-owned golf car for neighborhood cruising or course duty, and support commercial fleets with tailored lease programs. If you have questions about upkeep or upgrades, their staff can walk you through options and help schedule follow up service so your cart is ready for the season.