The origin of the name "Blowout" is reported to be due to a bat guano explosion, when ammonia and other gases built up inside the cave and lightning struck its mouth.

There is little trace of the community today, as only several scattered houses are located among the rocky hills.

There was one brief interruption when the creeks and rivers flooded due to heavy rain and when the mail carrier was arrested for "abstracting money".

Settlers sold wagon loads of bat guano for fertilizer and appeared to have ended briefly, until local rancher Frank Lacy discovered gold in a nearby creek in 1896, thus causing a gold rush in the community.

[3] Blowout is located 15 mi (24 km) northwest of Johnson City in northwestern Blanco County.