About Gillespie County, TX

Article on Luckenbach, Texas - Corisicana Sun

October 5th, 2008 categories: Places to Go & Things to Do

Here’s an interesting article on Luckenbach, Texas:

Stringer: Luckenbach, Texas

By Dr. Tommy Stringer

In 1977, Waylon Jennings sang the praises of Luckenbach, Texas, where everybody is somebody. He extolled the virtues of small town rural life compared to hustle and bustle of materialistic urban society.

The community of Luckenbach, located in Gillespie County, was established in the 1840s by a group of German immigrant farmers that included Jacob and August Luckenbach. They had arrived in Texas in 1845, and located near Fredericksburg the following year. In 1852 the family became American citizens, and relocated 12 miles southeast of Fredericksburg to a location that became the townsite of their namesake community.

The Luckenbach family was active in civic and political affairs. Jacob served as county commissioner and school supervisor, and brother Wiliam was justice of the peace for many years. Sophie Engel, Jacob’s daughter-in-law,was named post mistress when the post office was established in 1854. In addition, she operated a store and saloon, and the town also boasted a cotton gin, a dance hall, and a blacksmith shop. The Lutherans and Methodists both constructed houses of worship, and there was a school for the town’s children. By 1904 the population totaled 492, but that number declined consistently through the early decades of the 20th century. From the 1920s through the 1950s the census reported a population of 20.

In 1971 the Luckenbach family sold the town to John Russell “Hondo” Crouch a former swimming champion and journalist from nearby Comfort, Texas. He installed one parking meter near the general store, and introduced a number of special festivals to promote his town. For example, there was the Mud Dobbers Day, a women’s-only chili cook-off, and the Luckenbach’ s Great World’s Fair.

Music was a central part of Luckenbach’s culture. Jerry Jeff Walker recorded his best selling album “Viva Terlingua” in Luckenbach, and the town was the site of Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July picnics from 1995 through 1999. The dance hall attracts professional and amateur musicians who enjoy the casual, laid back environment of the community. Texas Monthly named Luckenbachas one of the state’s top 25 treasures. The Texas Department of Transportation has virtually given up on trying to keep highway signs posted directing travelers to Luckenbach as souvenir hunters repeatedly steal them. But if you want to go to Luckenbach, Texas, and return to the basics of life where everybody is somebody, just head out on FM 1376 of Highway 290 near Fredericksburg.

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Dr. Tommy Stringer is executive director of the Navarro College Foundation. His radio program airs at 6:55 a.m. weekdays KAND Radio.

For the original article, Click Here

To find out what’s currently going on in Luckenbach, Click Here

ROCKIN-AND-A-ROLLIN’ IN THE HILL COUNTRY - Family Friendly Comedy & Music Each Weekend

September 5th, 2008 categories: Places to Go & Things to Do

Looking for something fun and different to do this weekend? The Rockbox Theatre in Downtown Fredericksburg provides live, family friendly entertainment each weekend with high energy music from the 50’s-80’s, G-rated comedy, costumes and choreography. They have four weekend shows: 8pm Friday, 4:30 Saturday, 8pm Saturday, and 1:30 Sunday. This is how it works:

• The cast stays the same but the shows change every weekend.
• Shows are approximately 2 hours in length with an intermission
• All seats are reserved.
• It’s always family-friendly entertainment.
• The cast has logged in over 1800+ shows together in eight years

TICKET INFORMATION:

- All reserved seating
- Call toll-free (866)349-6688
- Call locally (830)997-ROCK (7625)
- Ticket Office Opens Daily at 10am
- Ticket Office at Rockbox, 109 N Llano Street
- Prices

• Adult $28-40
• Youth (17 and under) $15
• Senior, Active Military Discounts
• Group rates for 25 or more

- Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable, and there are no cancellations.
- Theater is handicap accessible.

Please be sure and confirm this information by going to the Rockbox Website Here,

Fredericksburg is full of German restaurants with great German cuisine like my favorite JaegerSchnitzel at the quaintest restaurant on Main Street but that's another blog. Today I want to tell you about the best Catfish place north of the Pedernales River.

Catfish Haven was started about ten years ago by Shane and Ruby Swenson. They moved to the current location about 5 years ago and their business has grown steadily over the years.

Shane is pictured here. He does catering for any size group, almost any kind of entrees.

Recently Shane and Ruby SOLD the restaurant to Clay and Nora Meadows. The Meadows are just now getting settled in the area. They are from Cincinnati and we want to give them a friendly "TEXAS WELCOME".

If you live in the area or are just visiting, try the catfish. You won't be disappointed.

The catfish has a cornmeal batter and is cooked just right. The fries have a crispy cheesy seasoning and the pinto beans have been slow cooked for hours.

Anyone like fried okra? This is delicious! There are other good sides as well but one of my favorite ways to judge a restaurant is by the salad bar. This one is fresh and cold. Lots of different kinds of veggies to choose from. Take your pick.

The decor is eclectic with a whole wall of license plates from all over the country. There is a mural on one wall of a river and a fisherman catching those wonderful catfish.

If you are hungry when visiting Fredericksburg, check out Catfish Haven. It is on Hwy 290 West on the right side of the road. It's almost to the edge of town so keep driving and watch for the sign. You'll be glad you did. See you there!

11AM-8PM weekdays 11AM-9PM Friday Closed Sunday & Monday

Ricki Eichler, your Texas Hill Country connection www.RickiEichlerRealEstate.com

Texas wildflowers are not always bluebonnets, although this is what we wait all winter for!

Big Bend Ranch State Park offered up some gorgeous blooms when we were there. I had never been to the desert and was surprised at how beautiful it was! Wildflowers were blooming everywhere!

I don't think you can beat wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country. If you think Texas is just all dry, flat and desert then you're in for a big surprise! These pictures were taken on a trip to the town of Fredericksburg and the flowers will just knock your socks off! *************************************************************** Linda Scanlan Your Fort Worth Realtor 817.262.9194

If you like Texas Hill Country wildflowers, you might want to visit the wild seed farm and buy the seeds you need to bring a little piece of the Hill Country to your own garden. The farm also has a Butterfly Haus, which opens for this seasom on the 21st of March. Plan on going during blooming season, before it gets too hot. April would be an ideal time.

For information, visit: http://www.wildseedfarms.com/

http://www.homeinsa.com/