Dripping Springs News Roundup: New Businesses, Real Estate Trends & What's Happening This July
Dripping Springs doesn't sit still — and this month is proof. From a major retail anchor confirmed for Belterra to a wave of new storefronts downtown, plus a real estate market that's finally showing signs of life, here's everything worth knowing about our corner of the Hill Country right now.
What's Happening in Dripping Springs This Month
The community is still riding the high of America's 250th birthday celebrations, but the calendar doesn't slow down.
The Dripping Springs Farmers Market continues its weekly run every Wednesday from 3–6pm at Dripping Springs Ranch Park (1042 Event Center Dr.), with 40+ vendors, live music, and kids' activities.
Dripping Springs Ranch Park also has a full slate of summer camps and programming running through mid-July for families looking to keep kids busy before school starts back up.
🔗 Dripping Springs Ranch Park Calendar
New Businesses Opening in Dripping Springs
It's been a genuinely busy stretch for local business openings:
Target is officially coming to Dripping Springs — a 145,000-square-foot store anchoring The Village at Dripping Springs near Belterra, sitting on a 26.45-acre site between CVS and Dripping Springs Racquet Club. No grand opening date has been announced yet, but it's a major signal of continued retail growth in the area.
Southern Roots Boutique opened downtown at 330 West Mercer St., Ste. 7, on June 5, with a grand opening celebration featuring local musician Thomas Babiak.
Beerburg Beer Garden opened a new outdoor space with native landscaping on May 28, hosting a ribbon-cutting with the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Golden Chick opened near the intersection of Hwy. 290 and RR 12, expanding downtown dining options with fried chicken, tenders, and southern sides.
Hear in Texas, a veteran-owned audiology practice, opened at the Arbor Center offering hearing assessments, cochlear implant support, and tinnitus management.
Band Aid School of Music — the Austin-based, performance-focused music school founded by James Mays — opened its Dripping Springs location on April 19 at 30307 RR 12, Ste. 700. Rather than solo practice-room lessons, students learn guitar, bass, drums, piano, and voice while working toward real performances, with band programs and summer camps rounding out the offering.
Dripping Sweat, a mat pilates and barre studio that got its start in 2025 through pop-ups and rented spaces, has settled into a permanent home inside the Meta Mixed Martial Arts building. Owner Nevin Spinosa still shows up at community pop-up events too, but now has a dedicated studio to call home.
Drip Swag Shop, previously e-commerce only, opened its first physical storefront this spring after two years online.
Local Business Spotlight: Nectarine Cafe and Bakehouse
Some of the best local stories start with a personal need. Nectarine Cafe and Bakehouse, located at 2001 Hwy. 290, Ste. 116 just past downtown, was founded in 2018 by Kate and Charles Smith after they struggled to find dining options for their two young sons, who are allergic to gluten and dairy. What began as a search for their own family's sake grew into a full menu built for celiac, vegan, keto, and vegetarian diners alike — alongside plenty for anyone who just wants a good meal. Their hot chicken sandwich, featuring crispy plantain-crusted chicken, pickles, hot honey, and spicy mayo aioli on a gluten-free brioche bun, has become a standout order.
🔗 Read the full story on Community Impact | Nectarine's website
🔗 Source: Community Impact business coverage
Closures & Changes to Know
Not every update is an opening. Oakwood Public Market recently announced its closure, and Desert Door Distillery, the Texas sotol distillery, quietly closed its doors back in April. If you're a regular at either spot, it may be worth checking their social channels for final details.
Dripping Springs Real Estate Market: Where Things Stand
If you've been watching home prices, 2026 has been a story of correction and opportunity. Over the three months ending May 2026, the median home sale price in Dripping Springs was $515,000, down 4.9% year-over-year, with homes typically selling in around 87 days. Zillow's broader estimate puts the average home value at $763,164, down 9.8% over the past year.
Part of the story is supply: roughly 8,000 new residential lots have been permitted across the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, feeding new master-planned communities including Big Sky Ranch, Wild Ridge, Double L Ranch, and an expansion of Caliterra.
Some local agents believe easing mortgage rates could bring buyers back off the sidelines later this year, though — as always with real estate predictions — that remains to be seen.
🔗 Redfin: Dripping Springs Housing Market
Support Local This Month
Every new business on this list is a neighbor investing in Dripping Springs. If you haven't checked out Southern Roots, Beerburg, or Golden Chick yet, this is your sign. And if you run a business that belongs on this list next time, [get listed on DS Tiger Guide →]
Have a business update, opening, or event we should know about? Reply to this newsletter or submit it directly to our directory — we love featuring local news first.
