CONTACT: Andrea Depwe, 512-327-9004

WHO: West Lake Beach, owners Andrea & David Depwe
WHAT: Austin landmark is celebrating its 50th Anniversary
WHEN: Saturday, May 8; 1-6 p.m.
WHERE: At West Lake Beach on Lake Austin

(AUSTIN, Tex) Fifty years ago, Dorothy Depwe, along with her husband Stanley, brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Sadie McRae, founded West Lake Beach in Austin. Having also helped create the Eanes History Center, Dorothy Depwe was adamant about keeping Austin’s history preserved. Dorothy passed the beach on to her son, David Depwe and his wife, Andrea. On May 8, 2004,West Lake Beach will host their 50th Anniversary celebration. Admission for the day will be free and all who come are ensured a wonderful day on the lake. Families are welcome to experience West Lake Beach and celebrate its success over the past half-century. The day’s festivities will include a face painter, a clown and other special activities for kids.

“We’re trying to preserve a little piece of what Austin used to be,” says Andrea Depwe. “We have people who have been coming here for several decades and now we want to celebrate with the entire city.”

As the notorious Texas temperature rises, more and more people are searching for ways to enjoy the outdoors. A secluded area located on the shores of Lake Austin, West Lake Beach is the ideal day getaway or location for a group event. It’s quiet enough to relax and listen to the water lap against the dock and shore; yet, there’s enough to keep young children active. West Lake Beach features picnic tables and pavilions, which makes it a hot spot for group outings. Visitors to West Lake Beach can swim, fish, play volleyball, or just relax under the shade of a large Cypress tree. Businesses like Harte Hanks and Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church have held their gatherings here year after year. Schools come to the beach for fieldtrips and outings. Families also come to enjoy the peacefulness of a day on the lake.

The Depwes are proud to have connected to the community for so long. “We’ve hosted birthday parties for children whose parents had celebrated their own birthdays at the beach when they were kids,” Andrea Depwe laughs. “It’s nice to be part of a family tradition, and we invite Austinites to take part in a true Austin landmark.”

As a guest, Andrea Depwe can discuss a number of topics, including:

The history of West Lake Beach
How West Lake Beach preserves Austin’s uniqueness
The struggle of maintaining a private park in Austin
How West Lake Beach is an ideal day getaway


For more information, visit www.WestLakeBeach.com or contact Andrea Depwe, (512) 327-9004, WestLakeBeach@austin.rr.com . **On May 8, the event is first come, first served, as the maximum occupancy is 300.