Congress Street Bridge

The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is home to one of the largest urban bat colonies in the world with over 1.5 million bats. The colony emerges en mass nightly around dusk and is estimated to consume from 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of insects a night. The Congress Street Bridge is just north of the South Congress area and is an ideal way to wrap up an afternoon spent shopping and eating along the strip. You can stand along the walking areas of the bridge or along the river bank and the walking path to the south of the bridge. The bat colony can be especially vivid against the dusk sky from the bank on the south-east side.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Most of the bats migrate during cold weather, so summer is the ideal season to view the spectacle in full. 
• The colony will emerge as the sun is setting each night.
• Located only 4.5 miles from the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark

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Congress Avenue Scavenger Hunt and Bat Tour

Whether a bat enthusiast or not, many just love to take in an evening view of bats in Austin as one of the many local Austin, Texas attractions.

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Bed and Breakfast Package

Before checking out all that Austin has to offer, start your day off with breakfast for two at Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark. Also enjoy luxurious room accommodations, turndown service and late check-out.

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