What’s New July 18

Around town it’s not unusual to hear the question, “What are they building there?” or “What’s going to be there?”

Here are answer to two of the new constructions going up in Dipping.

Flying Fish Swim Academy

Driving the library, on Sportsplex Road, you might have noticed a mystery building going up across the street from EMS. The site will be the new swimming school, Flying Fish Academy.

Flying Fish Academy is the dream of owner Aaron Bond. “We’re opening in September and will offer ‘learn to swim classes’ for all ages,” Bond said. 

The facility’s indoor 65 ft. swimming pool will be heated and contain a state-of-the-art ultra violet water treatment system, working in conjunction with traditional chlorine cleaning.

It will offer basic swimming classes ranging from six months old infants, to adult. “For the infants, we call those the ‘Tadpole classes,’” Bond said. “We don’t intend to teach competitive swimming. For that type of ‘swim meet’ swimming, we will pass that on to other people as a swimmer gets better or expresses interest in swim meets. Our main intent will be to teach people basic swimming skills, such as the ones my operations manager Anya Lopez Fuentes and I have been teaching at the Founder’s Park swimming pool.”

Allstate-Ed Mena Agency

On Ranch Road 12, where it intersects with Old Fitzhugh Road and Timberline Road, an old building has been going intensive remodeling. The building will be the home of the Allstate Ed Mena Agency.

“I think Dripping Springs has a lot good things going for it,” agency owner Ed Mena said. “Despite its growth, it’s held on to its small town feel. You can tell people care about the town. I think we’re going to be a good fit for Dripping.” Mena has already joined the Dripping Springs Chamber and says he intends to be involved in the community. 

For a number of years, Mena and his agency have been staunch supporters of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which is a private nonprofit organization that serves as “the nation’s clearinghouse and comprehensive reporting center for all issues related to the prevention of and recovery from child victimization.”

“It was formed by President Reagan in 1984. Previous to that, there was no national clearing house to coordinate information to look for kids that went missing,” Mena said. “I’m very serious about giving my time, my money, and my effort to this organization.” For his efforts, Mena was given the honor of being the featured speaker at the Texas Heroes for Children Gala in Austin.

“We look forward to our coming opening, and being part of this community,” Mena said.

The Allstate- Ed Mena Agency plans to open its door later this month at 28496 Ranch Road 12. Their Dripping phone number will be 512 459-5363.