Wimberley Living, November 2025

In the heart of Wimberley, where cedar and cypress meet clear, winding waters, the Weeks family has quietly shaped both the physical and social fabric of the community for generations. From hand-built furniture known across the globe to the nurturing of young minds and the championing of local traditions, the Weeks family story is one rooted deeply in craftsmanship, education, stewardship, and love for the Hill Country.

At the center of it all stands Gary and Leslie Weeks, whose partnership began decades ago while attending the University of Texas. Their shared passion for creativity, craftsmanship, and meaningful living would soon take root in Wimberley, where they raised their family and founded Gary Weeks & Company Furnituremakers in 1992. With Gary’s fine woodworking expertise and Leslie’s artistic eye, they built not just a business, but a generational legacy that celebrates patience, precision, and pride in handmade work.

Their son, Austin Weeks, now 48, carries forward that legacy as the leader of a team of craftspeople at Gary Weeks & Company. His journey with wood began early—at the instruction of his father in a humble shop on the family’s ranch property, which once stood where Blue Hole Elementary now resides. What began in goat barns turned woodshop has become an award-winning enterprise producing thousands of fine furniture pieces, including the renowned Weeks Rocker, a design that has gained international acclaim with over 4,300 chairs crafted to date.

Austin’s connection to the art of furniture making is more than technical—it’s soulful. “My interest in woodworking began at a very young age,” he recalls, “and has stayed rooted in a love for the material itself—wood, trees, forests. It’s about understanding where things come from.” That reverence for craft and nature, paired with 35+ years of skill, has earned him recognition throughout the design world and deep respect from the community he calls home.

Austin’s wife, Robin Weeks, is another cornerstone of creativity and purpose in Wimberley. A lifelong educator and advocate for early childhood learning, Robin founded Tiny Tree, a local nature-based preschool that blends education with environmental appreciation. Her inspiration for Tiny Tree grew out of her own experiences teaching in Hays ISD, Mother’s Day Out, and St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, where their daughters once attended. Seeing a need for a program that rooted children in the rhythms of the natural world, Robin brought her vision to life—a place where curiosity and outdoor exploration guide the daily lessons.

Alongside her role as educator and founder, Robin also runs Spoke Hill, a creative venture producing handmade leather goods and crafts that reflect the same spirit of artistry that defines her family. “We’ve always believed in building things—whether it’s furniture, a school, or a sense of community,” she says. “There's satisfaction in watching something grow.”

The Weeks’ daughters, Bela (22) and Wiley (17), have grown up surrounded by that same ethos of creativity, work ethic, and connection. Bela, a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in marketing, now contributes to both family businesses as a marketing consultant and preschool operator. Wiley, a senior at Wimberley High School, shines on the school’s state-ranked tennis team, carrying on a family love of the sport that stretches back generations.

“Tennis has always been something that connects us,” says Austin, who serves on the Wimberley Community Tennis Association board and plays on competitive USTA San Antonio league teams. Bela played during her high school years, while Wiley now represents the Lady Texans on the varsity squad. Even Gary, decades earlier, was a devoted player—though today, Robin proudly admits she prefers the more leisurely pace of pickleball.

The Weeks family’s life extends well beyond work and the tennis courts. They are avid travelers and lifelong lovers of the outdoors—camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and exploring national parks whenever possible. “We’ve always loved the open road,” Austin shares, reflecting on years of family trips across the U.S. and beyond. Gary and Leslie, now 77 and 73, maintain their tradition of annual trips to Tuscany, where they’ve long kept ties to a favorite farmhouse retreat.

That same Tuscan charm once welcomed the entire family—and the woodshop crew—on a retreat to Italy, blending work, play, and the shared joy of craftsmanship abroad. Family gatherings have also taken them to Santa Fe, where Austin’s brother Zach Weeks and sister-in-law Laura Wheeler reside, and to the mountains of Roslyn, Washington, where sister Aubrey Weeks and her husband Daniel Webb hosted a reunion this past summer.

Closer to home, their property on Spoke Hill Drive—built entirely by hand, from the ground up—reflects the family’s dedication to self-sufficiency and design. Surrounded by neighbors and friends like Wimberley Glass Works, The Barnabas Connection, and Perry’s Metal Art, the Weeks have created a haven of productivity and purpose. Their long-haired dachshund, Page, keeps them company, a gentle reminder that even in a family of makers and doers, life’s simplest joys remain the sweetest.

Community service runs through every branch of the Weeks family tree. Both Austin and Gary have served on numerous local committees, with Austin notably chairing the Wimberley Planning and Zoning Committee for several years and contributing to the Blanco River Academy board. Their civic involvement extends to conservation and advocacy efforts as well, supporting organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, The Watershed Association, Hill Country Alliance, TESPA, and the Devils River Conservancy—all groups dedicated to preserving the beauty and resources of the Hill Country for generations to come.

As craftsmen, educators, and neighbors, the Weeks family’s impact is visible throughout Wimberley—perhaps nowhere more joyfully than in the gatherings they’ve hosted at Fischer Hall, where they’ve celebrated everything from rocking chair milestones to weddings. Their connection to Fischer Hall runs deep; years ago, Gary and Austin helped organize a community barn raising to construct a replica of the historic hall, now known as the Blue Barn at the Arnosky Family Farm—a structure that stands as both symbol and testament to what can happen when community comes together with heart and hands.

Through decades of dedication, creativity, and generosity, the Weeks family has helped carve Wimberley’s story—one that celebrates craftsmanship, stewardship, and shared joy. Their work and way of life remind us that what we build, whether with wood or with one another, can endure for generations.As Austin puts it best: “Thank you all for being a part of the social fabric of our wonderful piece of Hill Country, Wimberley.”

The Weeks family’s legacy is one of integrity, imagination, and connection—a living reminder that the strongest communities are built not just with tools and timber, but with purpose, passion, and love.

By Amber Finch | Photos by Yvette Foster