The Quarries history is strong and its future is bright

The Quarries Recreation & Fitness Ministries is located on 57 beautiful acres in northwest Austin that is rich in history.  Today, one may hear children's voices cheering at The Quarries Camps or the soft sound of a peaceful fisherman's cast. It is true that the sights and sounds at The Quarries have changed over the years. The Quarries property was a former limestone quarry operated by M.E. Ruby. After a decade or more of digging operations, the quarry itself dipped below the ground water table and became a lake, fed by a spring flowing into its northwest corner. 

In the 1980's, Hyde Park Baptist Church (HPBC) began looking for a location to support its growing recreation ministry. At the time, various sports were practicing at locations across the city, and the vision of having a single recreation spot for HPBC members and leagues began to grow. In 1983, an HPBC church member purchased The Quarries property for Hyde Park's use, and then-Recreation Minister, Bob Lumpkin, moved his office to the property and set to work. Lumpkin developed a baseball and football field on the site. Over the next few years, Hyde Park members contributed money and man hours to build the pavilion, which was used for church youth activities, camp outs, and more.

In 1984, it became clear that The Quarries was a prime destination for ministry of all kinds, and plans began for a Christian Life Center (CLC) and expansion of the sports fields. Hyde Park High School had already begun using the fields for practices, in addition to the many leagues and church events taking place every week. The next decade saw the developing and honing of site plans for The Quarries, and the development of the entrance from the Mopac service road was a key expansion factor. In 2006, the church celebrated the opening of the new CLC with weight rooms, aerobic rooms, gym, rock wall, and the Lakeside Grill. The City of Austin approved the designation of The Quarries as a city park, encouraging its use not only by church members or league participants, but the local community as well. Additionally, the opening of the state of the art Hyde Park High School campus in 2009 and the inception of The Quarries Church in 2009 have further expanded ministry opportunities at this location. Looking forward to the next 30 years, The Quarries holds abundant promise as an amazing treasure in the heart of northwest Austin.