A billion years ago, give or take a few hundred years, molten magma cooled and crystallized into pink granite under layers of rock far beneath the earth’s surface. Gradually exposed by uplifting, erosion and the coming and going of seas through the geologic ages, Enchanted Rock acquired its dome shape through a process of exfoliation that occurs when natural heating and cooling processes cause the granite to flake off in thin, curving layers. The legendary dome was one of many in a batholithic area encompassing 60 square miles in the center of the state. It was spared the fate of the other pink granite batholiths, they were heavily quarried for the construction of buildings and structures, from the State Capitol building to the coastal jetties. It’s name came from American Indian legends that described it as haunted, because of the creaking and groaning caused by natural heating and cooling of the rock. It is a National Natural Landmark and people love to hike to the top to see the panoramic view of the Hill Country.
