Built in 1905 and consolidated with Fredericksburg ISD in 1961, Willow City School served generations of families in northeastern Gillespie County. Like many rural schools of the time, students often carried their lunches in half-pint jars with their names carved into the lids, while others used flour sacks, lard buckets, or metal lunch pails. Meals commonly included homemade bread, boiled eggs, sausage, dried meat, butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit, and cookies. A designated area inside the schoolhouse was reserved for storing lunches during the day.

The Willow City Community Club was organized on May 12, 1961, shortly after the school’s consolidation. In 1967, the Willow City Volunteer Fire Department was established and now oversees the Willow City VFD Special Schoolhouse Fund, which supports preservation and maintenance of the historic school building.

Today, the restored schoolhouse remains an important landmark and gathering place for the Willow City community.

In 1865, John Ebert deeded eight acres of land for a school. The school was formally organized in 1870 and named Cave Creek for a nearby creek known for its natural caves. The one-room schoolhouse was completed in 1881, just in time for the September school opening.

Students shared responsibility for maintaining the schoolhouse, cleaning the building and carrying wood for the stove, which stood in the center of the room. That original wood-burning stove remains in use today. Children traveled to school on foot or by donkey, reflecting the community's rural character.

In addition to the natural caves in the area, a man-made cave was dug into a nearby creek bed by a hermit named Berg. Local stories tell that Berg made and sold whiskey in the area. Unaware of the laws, he was eventually warned that his activities were illegal and advised to avoid getting caught. Students from Cave Creek School often visited Berg’s Cave, making it a memorable part of local lore.

The first teacher at Cave Creek School was James A. Larson. Over the course of the school’s 68-year history, there were 20 teachers. Enrollment reached 82 students in 1917, when Miss Cora Hahn was the teacher.

Sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s, a stage and pavilion were built on the school grounds. School closings in May became important community events and were always well attended. The day typically included children’s programs and graduation exercises in the afternoon. In the evening, men of the community cooked barbecue sold by the pound, while families brought side dishes and gathered for picnics on blankets spread across the grounds. Adults who had once attended Cave Creek School as children often presented a play, followed by a dance held in the pavilion.

The Cave Creek School closed in 1950, when it was consolidated with the Fredericksburg Independent School District.