ACUHO-I News Blog

“Keep Austin Weird” – it’s the unofficial “official” slogan for the city of Austin. What began as an off-the-cuff remark during a pledge drive for KOOP has turned into a massive marketing campaign to support local businesses. Other cities have tried to “borrow” it (“Keep Ann Arbor Weird”?), but no one does weird like Austin.

So, what makes us so weird? For starters . . .

We have the largest urban bat colony in North America. Nearly 1.5 million (you read that right, million) Mexican free-tailed bats call the Ann Richardson Bridge over Lady Bird Lake home each year. The bridge is just three blocks west of the Convention Center, so you’ll be able to walk over easily from your hotel. Since the bats emerge each night at dusk, the flight times vary. You’ll need to call the Bat Hotline at 512.416.5700, Category 3636 for the current schedule.

Austin has the only clothing-optional public park in Texas. Hippie Hollow is located on Lake Travis and is about a 30-minute drive from downtown.

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Howdy! Greetings from the 2010 Annual Conference and Exposition Local Arrangements Committee. We can’t wait to welcome y’all to Austin on June 26th!

Over the coming months, I’ll write about Austin and all the things that make it quirky and wonderful. Some of the topics we’ll cover: BBQ and Tex-Mex, cultural options, live music and other things you must see while in town. We will also preview some of the activities planned for the conference itself. Anything else you want to know about? Leave me a comment and I will add it to the list.

I love showing off my town to guests, so my goal is to get you fired up to visit the best city in the Lone Star State (That’s right, Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth and San Antonio. I said it.).

In the meantime, enjoy my favorite song about Texas by one of my favorite Texas artists, Lyle Lovett: That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas).