Renovation plans for the former Hill Country Golf & Guitar venue include:
- adding a seating area and planter boxes in the front courtyard;
- a new play scape area;
- changing wall-mounted lighting with dark sky-compliant sconces;
- and, a fresh paint scheme.
Apart from a slight increase in impervious cover due to the planned outdoor seating area, 75 parking spaces will remain the same on the 7.32 acre property located on the east side of the Nitro Swim facility. It will also keep its 18-hole miniature golf course, live music stage area and restaurant originally approved in 2012, city records show.
The owners said the volume expected from the non-amplified music stage will be constantly monitored and kept at or below 65 decibels--about the level of sound a passing car makes traveling 65 mph from 25 feet away. Existing speakers that run along the edges of the property by the golf course are being unplugged, council heard.
The iconic guitar sculpture is gone and is being with a self-contained water feature with wall, which will include signage. The sign request will have to be made in a separate city application, city staff indicated.
City staff-recommended conditions for site approval
Bee Cave city staff said April 24 they are waiting on a signed plan from a professional playscape installer, receipt of which is being recommended as a condition of site approval. A second condition is related to submission of a complete lighting plan. The venue’s owners want to light the golf course with string lights.
The new owners bought the venue in late 2017 after the owner of Hill Country Golf & Guitar was forced to foreclose on the property in early 2016.
It is expected Wild Kitchen & Bar will be open in early summer. The 2012 permit authorized live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings as well as on the weekends.
