Brittany Kelley
KYLE — Nearly a month after the relocation process began for the Old Heritage Oak Tree — known as Jolene by community members — residents are campaigning once again to save a beloved and historical tree.
According to resident Kate Johnson, the Bearing Oak Tree off of Old Stagecoach Road was officially recognized as a way to mark boundaries within the city in 1871, when a survey placed a pile of stones and marked the tree to the east.
“This was used in metes and bounds and a survey to mark a corner of a property,” explained Johnson. “It helps when you buy and sell land. They used that corner to help them define where the boundaries are of each property … Now, the mound of stones has disappeared somewhat because of the city and because it’s a ditch right there, but the tree still stands and that’s the marker.”
Rachel Sonnier, assistant director of communications for the city of Kyle, stated that the realignment North Old Stagecoach Road was approved by city council Oct. 15, 2024. The project, which is part of the 2022 Road Bond, includes a half mile roadway reconstruction and widening improvements “to reduce congestion, enhance safety and improve traffic flow,” according to the bond’s website. As of November 2025, the project submitted 90% of the engineering documents.
With this widening, the tree will have to be removed.
Not only will this impact the tree, it will also allegedly negatively affect the owners of the land the tree sits on, said Johnson, as the city is taking 52 feet of land where their septic tanks lie.
“City staff and the project’s engineers evaluated the property owner’s concern about the tree and determined that it would need to be removed in order to complete the approved roadway improvements,” said Sonnier.
Johnson stated that the tree is more than just beautiful; it is part of the city’s early settlement history.
In an effort to urge the city to consider alternatives that protect the 150-year-old landmark, community members gathered Nov. 23 in front of the tree.
Johnson emphasized that the historical tree is not similar to the heavily-discussed Old Heritage Oak Tree, or Jolene, as relocating the tree would remove its significance.
“The Bearing Oak is a documented part of Hays County history and it’s an important part. It represents our county’s earliest surveying practices, our settlement history and the people who traveled this road for generations,” stressed Johnson.
“City staff explored potential alternative designs to avoid or minimize the impact on the tree. These alternatives were determined to cause significant delays to the bond-funded project and added additional costs that were not feasible,” Sonnier shared.
Construction on the roadway is expected to begin in early 2026, with a completion date in fall of 2027.
For more information on the road bond projects, visit www.KyleRoadBonds.com.
