Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

The Texas Bucket List – The Tejas Rodeo Company in Bulverde

by

Bulverde – At an arena, just north of San Antonio you’ll find a rodeo that puts the bull in Bulverde. The Tejas Rodeo Company offers a regularly occurring rodeo from March to November each year and it herds in people from all over the place.

“If you haven’t seen a rodeo and you’re from Texas, you haven’t lived life,” said Yancey James. James makes up half of the team that put this little show together. “We’re just part of each other’s life on a daily basis,” said Trey Martin. Trey Martin is the other half. “We each bring different things to the table,” stated Trey.

These two Texans came up with an incredible concept, a weekly rodeo that takes place at a venue that takes Texas culture to the extreme. It’s like a Lone Star State theme park. “We really do offer a true taste of Texas here,” said Trey.

Now Trey, grew up in Devine, went to Sul Ross and became a big-time lawyer. In 1993, he bought 71 acres in Bulverde not knowing one day it would turn into one of the most sought-after places on Saturday night.

“I can’t really call it a job, because I’m doing what I love,” expressed Yancey. James is from Kerrville and he was a professional bull rider a few years back. But in 2006, they found themselves in a team event they never expected. “We kind of joined forces, and the next thing I knew, in a big whirlwind, I’m knee deep back in the rodeo business,” joked Yancey.

Watching bulls and blood and the dust and mud and hearing the roar of the Saturday crowd isn’t the only reason to get out to Tejas, they also have one superb steakhouse. “What we’re known for is our KC steak. And that stands for Kansas City. Well, believe it or not, that’s a west Texas method of cooking. They would take a piece of meat, and they would heavily season it, and they’d pan sear it. And it’s that seasoning and the pan searing where you lock in that flavor,” explained Trey.

“When these people come, they want to drink, they want to eat. They want some entertainment, and so that’s what intrigued us to go on and build various different venues inside of the big venue itself,” said Yancey.

There’s even history on the walls of the restaurant. From Winchesters, Colts, to turn of the century chaps. “Most of the stuff was in my house. And so some of it’s my father’s, so I know it all and I like it all or I wouldn’t have had it there, wouldn’t have put it here. So we got a lot of favorites,” explained Trey.

Despite the darn good steak and the amazing mac and cheese, you just can’t come out of the chute and say the Tejas Rodeo Company is an amazing restaurant because it truly is so much more than that. “So everybody looks at us as a rodeo and a steakhouse, but we’re a working ranch. So our day starts at seven in the morning and it doesn’t end until seven at night. We house about 50 head of horses. Probably 20 head of cattle and sheep. The whole nine yards. So it’s a full-time job in itself,” said Yancey.

For the cowboys and cowgirls showcasing their grit and guts, this great venue is also a proving ground to get to the next level. “When you’re a rodeo cowboy, you’re trying to rodeo somewhere every day. That’s your job. That’s your life. That’s what you do. It’s no different going to the office. You miss two or three days, you don’t get paid for two or three days. So it’s a good filler for the pro cowboys. And it’s a good stepping stone for the younger athletes coming up, trying to go into the professional ranks,” explained Yancey.

Keeping things country and keeping up with the traditions we’ve had in Texas all these years is what the Tejas Rodeo Company is truly trying to rein in. “I don’t want to say the Western lifestyle’s a dying breed, but it’s definitely not as prevalent as it was 30, 40, 50 years ago. And so it struggles a little bit, but it’s a true way of life for people still to this day,” said Yancey.

“Keeping the Western heritage alive, I think is important to both Yancey and I, and really just putting on a good show and keeping it all clean,” stated Trey.

The Texas Bucket List – The Roadside America Museum in Hillsboro

by

Hillsboro— Smack dab between the Metroplex and Waco, you’ll find Hillsboro, which also happens to be the home of some very nice billboards for our favorite rest stop in West. Before we buy a bunch of kolaches at Slovacek’s we got our fill of Americana at one awesome stop. “Welcome to Roadside America… in Hillsboro, Texas. I’ve got some pretty interesting things, I would say,” said Carroll Estes. Carroll is the curator at the Roadside America Museum.

Originally from Dallas, Carroll bought the old Ford Dealership in Downtown Hillsboro and converted it to a showplace for all his possessions.“It’s mainly a hobby turned into what people started calling a museum. So, I started calling it a museum too,” he explained. A lover of all things 50’s, Carroll has been collecting a curious assortment of anything that makes him feel like he’s a kid again. “I wish I had a time machine. I’d go back to 1959 and stay there forever… Reason I picked 1959 I wouldn’t want to miss the fins on ’59 Cadillac,” said Carroll. “Such a simpler time. Before the computer age and all that stuff took over. And the cars, the cars of the 50s, come on, that’s all I need to say.

Vintage records, vintage remedies, and vintage road signs are just a few of the retro things Carroll collects. He searches the state looking for this stuff, but also finds some of it on the internet. “I do find things on there now from time to time… I guess… there’s some advantages [with computers]. The spell check is good,” he commented. Fortunately, U-S-A is easy to spell and this place sure showcases that it’s proud to be American.

“I know some collectors they collect great stuff, but they just build rows of shelves and stick things up on shelves… But you could give some personality,” he said. Carrol’s collection includes massive cartoon characters that are colossal in size. Pepe Le Pew, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Sylvester the Cat! “My goal is to get the entire Looney Tunes cast someday…Foggy, you got to have Foggy [Foghorn Leghorn]. I’m looking for a Foggy,” he said. “The eight foot Big Boy over here, which was my first fiberglass statue…I just found out a couple of years ago that he came from one of the first two Big Boy restaurants,” said Carrol.

Grape soda known as Grapette also means a great deal to this gatherer of all things 50s.“I got what I think may be the largest Grapette soda collection in existence,” he claimed. “I got started on the Grapette because that was my favorite drink as a kid, for one thing. I was 12 before I knew my tongue wasn’t supposed to be purple.” Carroll’s colossal collections of grape soda and Looney Tunes are impressive, but there is even more out back.

“I’ve got an old general store out back…it’s a display. It’s not for selling. It’s for showing… Built it out of 100% old rustic materials. It’s pretty cool. Stocked up with any kind of old store stock like stepping back into the forties…It covers a few decades, but it goes from all the way to turn of the century up probably,” he said.

It’s been said that as you get older, three things happen. First your memory goes and the other two, well I can’t remember the other two, but not Carroll. He is too busy remembering the 50’s because that brings him back to a joyful time in his life, a joy he wants to share with Texas.

“If you grew up in this area, it will take you back to a time that just makes you feel good… It was just a time in history I think everyone should either relive or at least learn about,” he concluded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – Stella Moon The Fire Mermaid in Port Aransas

by

Port Aransas – Fun in the sun is the name of the game when down on the Texas coast. Some folks are even lucky enough to live with the ocean in sight. “It’s a really good place to live if you like the beach and you like fishing and you like just being by the water,” said Amber Frazier. Amber is a realtor in Corpus who helps folks find their perfect place near la playa.“You can find a nice house on the island for around $115,000 to $200,000,” she explained. Now being a realtor is a good gig, but Amber has another career that’s a bit more exciting. “Very much more interesting,” she agreed. As the night falls, Amber has a transformation into Stella Moon the Fire Mermaid.

Every Saturday night during the summer you’ll find Amber… I mean Stella Moon, at Bron’s Beach Carts in Port Aransas putting on a show that puts people in a trance. “She adds an exciting flare to the night,” said Kristy Jackson. “How could you beat that?” added Woody Gordon. “Generated a lot of excitement around here,” claimed Bron Doyle.

Stella lights the state on fire, literally! While we’re used to hot temps in Texas, it’s a whole other world to see her dance so close to the flames. “I get little burns here and there, but that’s just the name of the game. Play with fire, you’re bound to get burned,” Amber added, nonchalantly. “I just learned to get better and better and now I don’t burn myself at all.”

After 10 years of fire dancing, Stella Moon shows off here moves at Bron’s and brings her fire dancing show anywhere that needs to see the light. She’s performed on stage with rock legends and been all over the world bringing her fire to the festivals. It’s like people have money burning in their pockets to see her. “It keeps me going and keeps me flowing and everybody knows, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, that’s Stella Moon, the Fire Mermaid.’ And it just really makes me happy. It makes my soul really, really happy… It brings joy to people. It’s such a unique trade and a unique performance,” said Amber.

 

What starts out as fire dancing quickly escalates to fire hula hooping, fire throwing and fire whipping! “My favorite trick is my fire whip. It’s wild,” she said. “That crack of the whip, I don’t care if you’re just locked in the show, it’ll make you jump,” said Woody. “[The most difficult trick is] fire spitting. You can aspirate your lungs and die immediately. So it’s the most dangerous trick when it comes to fire dancing,” Amber explained. “It’s just all about practice. Practice makes perfect,” she added. “I’m not worried about her playing with fire. She’d been doing it a long time. I think she’s super safe about it. She’s got a lot of people helping her, and so I think ultimately, she’s an entertainer,” said Kristy.

There’s no smoke and mirrors here, just the sight of fire dancing in ways it’s not supposed. If your ears are burning, chances are it’s from the dull ripping hum of the combustion cutting through the air. “When I’m fire dancing, I don’t see anything or anybody around me. It’s strictly on the fire and the sound of the fire, it’s just calming,” said Amber. “She’s so good at it that she can get close to people and do all the tricks that she’s doing and she knows she’s in control,” added Bron.

“It’s a dream come true. I love it. I get to bring joy to people’s lives and it’s literally mesmerizing. So it just makes me so happy. It’s changed my life completely,” explained Amber. “I don’t know of anywhere else in Texas, and I was born and raised here, that offers that kind of experience,” claimed Kristy. “I haven’t been anywhere else where you can see something of that quality, that amazing,” agreed Woody. “She’s definitely the best fire dancing real estate agent in the state of Texas, hands down,” confirmed Bron.

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – The Chairy Orchard in Denton

by

Thanks to a collection of colleges and an eclectic feel, Denton, Texas has been called a mini Austin of sorts and the stop we found fits right in.   Along the banks of Copper Creek on the city’s northeast side is a chairy orchard but we’re not talking delicious fruit, this chairy orchard pulls the seat out from under ya.  Turns out it’s field full of chairs!

“A lot of them think it’s cherries. They’ll say, ‘Where are the cherry trees?'”, joked Anne Pearson.

Pearson and her friend Judy Smith got my hopes up about my favorite fruit, fortunately I was able to find a seat to hear them tell me about the quirky collection that initially got folks thinking they were off their rocker.

Friends since 1973, the two met in the meadow that happens to be in the middle of their two homes.

“So you guys always had this space between you?”, I asked. “Yes. Yeah. Always”, they said. “Our kids built forts in that tree and we had soccer games happen out here, I mean our kids are older than you. My son is going to be 58. What can I say? You’re almost the age of our grandchildren”, the two explained.

I was on the edge of my seat to hear what the family thought of their little business!

“At first my kids were like, “Oh, mother, you have always embarrassed me, But this is it. … but now,  their like, “Oh, I’ll help you do this and help you do that”, Judy explained. “They’ve seen it be a success?” I asked. “Yeah. “And I think they’re proud of us now”..

“What has your relationship been like over those years?” I asked. “We’ve never had an issue. We’ve traveled together”, Anne reminisced.

The two hang out everyday, despite the fact that Ann still works.

The way I see it, you two decided to put two chairs out here, you were drinking some wine and you said, “Let’s just leave the chairs out there.” Is that what happened? “No”, Anne corrected. “Judy had chairs hanging in the tree and then we were at work one day and said, ‘Well, why don’t we put some on the ground?’ We call that the Chairy Tree”.

“Our goal was a hundred chairs and I bet it didn’t take us three months. Not even. We got a hundred chairs and went, huh, we’ll get more”, Judy bragged.

That’s when it grew, and grew and grew.

Where do all these chairs come from? “Garage sales. Thrift stores. Dumpsters. Dumpsters. Curbs.  Yeah. And people donate. Sometimes- Sometimes. … not very often. People come and think they can take a chair. But no, it’s not like that”, Judy said.

Red chairs, blue chairs, black chairs, old chairs, new chairs.  One has a little star, man what a lot of chairs there are.

“People have said, there’s an aura here. Now some people don’t get it, but some people really feel like it”, Judy explained. “Every one of these chairs was chosen by somebody, by a family. It has a history. They were in a kitchen, they were in somebody’s dining room, they were in their bedroom. They all had a previous life. And now we’ve brought them here”.

The imagination and humor these two can put together makes meeting them a worth while stop on The Texas Bucket List, heck they even have titles!

“We’re the Chairy Fairies, but also lately we’ve been calling ourselves the Chairwomen too”, Judy said excitedly. “You all are the boss”, I joked. “We are! We’re really tough!” they joked back.

Don’t let them fool you.  Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter while people play musical chairs around the chairy orchard is what they consider the best seat in the house.

Is that the best part for you guys? Just seeing people come here and smile. “It is! Oh yes! Because, we don’t know they’re coming. It’s all a surprise.  We come out, we, it’s really fun to talk to them because- To see why they came. They don’t understand why, why is this here? They say Dallas would never allow this Fort Worth, Austin would never. We checked before. Would never allow this”, they explained.

“Why do you think it speaks to people? Why do you think people find it so amusing?”, I asked. “Because it’s just silly. It’s so unusual. There is- It has no reason.” Anne laughed.

But there is a reason, their friendship is the reason.  Taking the time to sit down and enjoy one another helps bring a light hearted look not only into their lives but others as well.

Well, what would you guys do without each other? “I think my life would not be nearly as fun. We have a lot of fun. Sometimes people have asked, if, “Say, haven’t you ever had a fight?” And I said, “No, not really.”  And I can tell you one thing that why it works, Ann will probably agree. If Ann doesn’t want to do something that I do, we don’t do it. We both have to agree”, Judy said.

After being friends for 45 years, these guys have figured it out.

“I think my life would be half empty if it weren’t for her. Because we do so much together. We do. You know, she- It’s just the best. It’s just wonderful to have a good friend. Yeah. A lot of people don’t. You don’t need 10 good friends. No. You need one or two good friends. We just have a good time”, they said.

 

The Texas Bucket List Check It Twice – USS Lexington in Corpus Christi

by

Corpus Christi⁠—Back in 2013, we took you down to Corpus Christi to visit the USS Lexington. This amazing aircraft carrier built in the early 40’s is a true marvel to explore, so when we found out they added something very unique to the ship, we figured it was about time to check it twice!

“Most of us naval aviators have a big attachment to the ship you did your first landings on and Lexington was the home for most of us,” said Rocco Montesano.

One the very first season of The Texas Bucket List, we meet Rocco Montesano, the executive director of the USS Lexington. The former Navy pilot served for 27 years and worked on the Blue Ghost for 20 years. In 2018, the man who loved this ship set sail for the sea in the sky, but his inspiration lives on.

“A lot of times you can’t drag your kids to a historical monument so we have to make ourselves more of an attraction. A fun place,” said Rocco.

“He was a mentor of mine, a friend, and a just an incredible guy. We miss him dearly,” expressed Steve Banta.

Steve now fills the sizable shoes Rocco left behind. Fortunately, the former Navy captain is holding the ship steady by continuing the mission.

“We are always looking for ways to make this place relevant. It’s important for us to preserve the history of the USS Lexington and then share that with all of our guests,” he said.

The crew decided to take it up a notch by adding an escape room that gives brave visitors an escape from reality.

“It’s the only one that’s on a historic aircraft carrier in the entire world,” said Steve.

“The idea of trying to escape from an actual World War II aircraft carrier seemed to me very cool,” said Rodolfo Magnus.

Rodolfo is the technical advisor on the ship and he was locked into the idea of adding this engaging expansion.

“When I approached them in the beginning it was ‘Oh, you’re crazy. It’s not happening,’” said Rodolfo.

“I was a little skeptical just because I wasn’t sure. It was brand new for us, but the fact is he has been very successful in his ideas with us in the past, and…it was a worthwhile experiment,” explained Steve.

“So this is the entrance to the escape room area of Lockdown On The LEX. We have our first mission. Beat the Blast… A guy stowed away on board the ship. He’s got a nuclear bomb and you’ve got to defuse it,” said Steve.

If you’ve never been in an escape room, the basic concept is you must use clues in the room to advance to the next room and eventually escape. Some can be extremely detailed and without a doubt, this escape room has an all too real feeling and deals with subject matter that actually pertains to the ship’s history.

“This ship’s last operational mission was in the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962. So the basic story is there’s a guy, his dad, a Russian guy, was disgraced by the Cuban Missile Crisis. They did not get what they wanted. The son grew up knowing that, he’s bitter about the Lexington, and so he has stowed away on board the ship, smuggled in a nuclear bomb and he’s allowed you to have one chance to help and solve it, so that you can save the day,” said Steve.

“I think it was a brilliant idea to tie the escape room story to the actual history of the ship. So then we had to think about how to tie it to real events that happened on this ship,” said Rodolfo.

“We love sharing the history of this amazing ship, but there are people who maybe aren’t into museums and history, but they’re into these kinds of games. And so we’ve got this whole new demographic that comes on board,” said Steve.

“So when the timer goes off and you start, you hope that the team will work together by separating and finding things and telling each other what they’re finding… if we’re not communicating you’re not going to make it out,” he said.

“You will operate real Naval equipment that sailors used onboard this ship, radar scope, communications gear. It might help to know Morse code.” said Steve.

“It’s a unique opportunity to interact with real World War II equipment inside of a real World War II aircraft carrier,” added Rodolfo. “In all my life I wanted to have a big countdown clock over a bomb. Well now we have it.”

So if you’re into history, teamwork, and unique adventures that make you think, experiencing the escape rooms of the USS Lexington, it’s all hands on deck on The Texas Bucket List.

“This ship, I mean it’s an icon for the local area,” concluded Steve.

“You can have a lot of fun aboard this magnificent piece of a US history,” remarked Rodolfo.

“Come for the fun of it and we’re going to slip some education and history while you’re here,” said Rocco Montesano.

The Texas Bucket List Christmas Edition – The Polar Express Train Ride in Galveston

by

Galveston— On the west side of the strand sits a tall building that’s been the site of the Sante Fe Railway for over 100 years.

This hallowed ground for train hobbyists was the hub for railcar riders coming to the island from 1887 to 1967.  Today it’s a museum and during the most magical time of the year, it turns into the terminal for the Polar Express!

“Museums are here to be these connective tools and I think we’re just incredibly fortunate that we’ve got an opportunity to bring people in from far and wide, all ages,” said Jim Rosengren.

Jim is the Executive Director of the museum that makes a Christmas miracle come true of a multitude of merry children.

“So the idea of a theatrical recreation of the movie is that we have six passenger cars in our train set. Each one has about six actors in them. And so each one is simultaneously more or less recreating certain really iconic elements of the movie,” he explained.

The Galveston Railroad Museum is home to two Santa Fe Warbonnets and these beautiful trains take tons of good little girls and boys on a ride all the way to the North Pole.

“These are real locomotives. These are real train cars. The trains move, they smell like trains, they sound like trains. We’ve got professional actors who are engaging you in some of the best children’s theater you’ll ever see. There really are no equals. It’s just a fantastic event,” said Jim.

“It was awesome,” commented Brian Miller.

“It’s fantastic,” added Jeff Barnett.

Of course you can’t help but notice all the folks really getting into the experience wearing their finest sleepwear, sort of a tradition that started from the movie.

“You’re talking about kids dressing up in pajamas. It’s just a great date night. You’ll see two adults dressed in pajamas,” said Jim.

“My son Caleb, 15, who was drug here, forced to wear pajamas and then my daughter five who is thrilled with everything,” explained Jeff.

“I was forced… the whole family is in PJ’s, so it made it feel that much special,” said Brian.

The Polar Express experience all starts with eager riders getting their golden ticket and once you enter the terminal, the show begins.

The story of a child unsure of Santa’s status in the center of the story but as soon as the curious conductor comes in, it’s off to ride the rails.

“It felt maybe like a dream and a wish and just so cool. It was awesome,” said Blake Miller.

Once aboard, it’s off to the North Pole but of course the crazy caribous get in the way and you know the only way to get those things to move.

Once you do get past the reindeer, you pull into the North Pole and the big man boards the train.

His gift to all the girls and boys is a bell that symbolizes the spirit of Christmas—because if you can hear it, you believe.

Of course the experience wouldn’t be complete without some hot chocolate.

“I love this place. It’s so cool. You get to be on a train and have hot cocoa and ring bells. It’s so fun,” said Blake.

“I will not testify as to whether or not I heard the bell. I’m not going to give up that little part of it,” added Jeff.

Once you pull back into the Galveston Railroad Museum it doesn’t take long to realize that experiencing the joy, hope, and spirit of Christmas with family and friends is what makes this stop worth wishing for on The Texas Bucket List!

“It’s a way for family to get together and have fun,” said Ava Lyons.

“Great family time… Seeing all the little kids especially, they had smiles on their face for sure,” remarked Brian.

“You get to come together with all the people and the kids they come unglued. You know that’s what it’s all about,” said Jeff.

“Come down here and enjoy this moment with your family and have fun and the people are so nice here and you should always have fun,” concluded Blake.

“These kids are making memories, other people are being reminded of their good memories for the season… It’s a great time,” said Jim.

The Texas Bucket List Christmas Edition – Moody Gardens in Galveston

by

Galveston— Amidst the miles of two million lights at Moody Gardens, an Annual cold Christmas attraction can be found known as Ice Land. This winter wonderland lets visitors celebrate Christmas around the world. Travel from Russia and Egypt to China and beyond to see how other cultures celebrate the season.

When it comes to Christmas, it’s hard to beat a tropical destination like Galveston Island but when you find yourself inside the annual attraction at Moody Gardens, you probably want to bring a heavy hat and some gloves.

“Two million pounds of ice. Everything you’re going to see in Ice Land this year…We are all around the world. We literally went global for Ice Land this year,” said Alexis Shelly, the Public Relations Coordinator for Moody Gardens.

Despite the freezing temperatures, people flock to enjoy the sights and the experience Ice Land has to offer.

“It is nine degrees, but people have a great time. It’s really become a holiday tradition for families,” Alexis remarked.

Every year Ice Land has a different theme. This year’s theme is Christmas Around the World.

“This is my favorite thing we’ve ever done. It’s so beautiful in here. I’m partial to London. London is my favorite city in the world, and we actually do have Big Ben and a telephone booth in here…” she said.

It takes a lot of time and effort to turn two million pounds of ice into a world of frozen art.

“The actual tent is constructed starting in August. Kids aren’t even back in school yet, and we’re already getting ready for the holiday season… Then, the ice comes down in September. And then our carvers this year got here October 1st, and they worked for about a month. And then we opened on November 16th. So it’s literally a process… They are absolute professionals. Our carvers come over from China, we found the best in the world. They really have it down to a science. They get in here, they get going, we give them chainsaws and ice picks. Everything you see in here was freehand,” Alexis explained.

At the end of the impressive attraction is a giant ice slide and Shivers Ice Bar.

“And they’re literally five feet apart,” added Alexis.

If the spirits don’t warm your spirits, a walk among the amazing display of lights will.

“We literally made it brighter than it’s ever been before. We never had two million lights before, and this trails about a mile long….But you don’t realize you’re walking that much because you’re just looking at pretty Christmas lights,” she said.

Around every corner, behind every bend and in places you’d never expect to see them, there are lights everywhere.

Once you close things out with a nativity scene that illuminates the nights sky, it’s easy to remember the real reason for the season, making Moody Gardens a stop that will make you Merry for Christmas on The Texas Bucket List!

“It’s amazing to celebrate the holiday season in a little bit of a different way. You don’t typically think of a tropical island for the holiday season. We go all out for the holiday season, so it’s definitely something that should be on your bucket list,” said Alexis.

The Texas Bucket List – ShangriLlama in Royse City

by

Royse City—  Royse City may not have rolling green hills and rainbows, but out in rural Rockwall County is a really big residence that’s right out of Ireland.

Coming from California, Sharon and her husband, Paul, were looking for something kooky because they needed a home with lots of space for their whole furry family.

“We checked it out and didn’t know, oh, it’s also a castle. It’s like, okay, where’s the decision here? A llama castle?” said Sharon.

Llamas are what this woman loves. Not exactly what you’d expect from a retired ghost writer.

“I thought I’d just be chilling, watching movies, and going to ladies clubs. I did that for a little while, and then I got bored,” she confessed.

Sharon’s son, Tommy, was allured to llamas too. He was infatuated with these curious creatures after a school trip to a zoo. Before long, their curiosity became a reality as they opened ShangriLlama to share in the love of llamas.

Having such unique pets patrolling their Irish palace is already peculiar enough, but Sharon went above and beyond by giving her fuzzy friends funny names.

“Dalai Llama was something kind of mystical, magical, creepy, whatever, eyes, you know, something that draws your attention… Bahama Llama, some llama that’s just chill. His personality is just laid back… Drama Llama, a dramatic looking guy… Pajama, just because we needed for the Llama Llama Red Pajama story book to have a namesake for that… Then we’ve got Como T. Llama. Now, he’s a funny dude,” continued Sharon. “He was the star of a show called Llama Cop. Serious. I know. It totally sounds like I’m making this up.”

The life of a Llama is a curious one full of unique facts. Native to South America, they can each carry up to 100 pounds and the hierarchy in their pack is curious to see.

“The pack mentality is fascinating…. A higher-ranking llama gets to boss around their lower-ranking ones, and the lower ones aspire to be higher ranking. So there’s that friction there, but it gives them something to do,” said Sharon.

Taking pictures is another thing that comes naturally to llamas.

“They’re very social. They like people. They don’t like us hugging them the way a dog does, and that’s surprising to most people. You can see the whites of their eyes, take pictures, take a selfie with them, but once you start hugging them and hanging on them, they do pull back…They have their bubble,” she explained.

That bubble goes away when you have crackers. Sharon holds the Triscuits between her teeth for the llamas to grab.

“They like Triscuits. Just the plain ones.. It looked like a kiss, but he didn’t,” she said as Drama Llama ate the cracker from Sharon.

“They’re both beautiful and goofy in the same moment. Usually you’re one or the other, but they’re beautiful to look at, and then you’ve got this head on a long pole and these big eyes, and they’re looking around, and it’s just an interesting combination,” she said.

So if peace and tranquility combined with a crooked smile and crazy selfies is what you’re looking for, Shangrillama achieves nirvana on The Texas Bucket List.

“People rarely get to be around a pack of llamas,” she continued, “pure joy when they come in and see a room full of these beautiful animals, and that’s why we do it.”

The Texas Bucket List – Riley’s Tavern in Hunter

by

Hunter⁠—Smack dab between San Marcos and New Braunfels is an oasis situated between two railroads tracks in the tiny town of Hunter, Texas.

Hidden between the trees is a watering hole with one heck of a story.

“You’re not going to find a more authentic bar,” said bartender, Cody Hilder.

“I call it a Hill country gem. It’s what I’d call it,” said customer, Larry Jones.

“It’s a whole mess of things to come together that make it a happy place,” said Joel Hofmann.

Joel is a 4th generation Texan and the owner of Riley’s Tavern. It’s the oldest business in these parts, housed in a building built in 1895, and holds a very distinguished historical designation.

“It’s the oldest tavern in Texas,” said Cody.

“Well, it’s a sense of pride for me, especially being a Texan,” confessed Joel.

In August of 1933, when Texans repealed prohibition and popped a top, Riley’s Tavern took home the very first license issued by the state of Texas⁠—Number 00001.

“Yes, there are bars…that were open prior to prohibition that reopened or… turned into a social hall… [or] dance hall…that didn’t serve at that time. But the designation of the first after prohibition still stands because it’s the first license that was issued,” said Joel.

A young J.C. Riley drove to Austin with his uncle to get the license.

“He wasn’t really supposed to get the license, his uncle kind of got it for him because he was 17 years old. And so he managed the place under his uncle’s ability to get the license for it,” continued Joel. “We always have that crazy uncle that lets us do that kind of stuff.”

Riley owned the Tavern for 58 years until he took to the big bar in the sky in 1992.

Joel took over in 2004 at the age of 25.

“I’m the third owner, the second longest tenure,” he said.

“They’re great people and they’ve really done Riley’s, justice,” said customer, Larry.

“It feels the same way it would’ve if you walked into it 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 40 years ago, even 85 years ago,” claimed Cody.

“It’s a great feeling when you can make people happy and enjoy just a few minutes of their day by coming here and unwinding a little bit,” said Joel.

Being a former musician, Joel wanted to make sure the tavern stayed true to its roots and constantly brings in bands to perform in the perfect Texas setting.

“That is our main goal…to get a lot of music many nights of the week as we can…Supporting them, giving those folks a place to play, a place to make money, a place to get their music heard, is a big deal,” he explained.

“Joel does a really good job at keeping it real American roots music,” said Cody.

“Keeping the tradition going and that’s a good thing,” confirmed Larry.

“We try to support music, good music, local music…touring music, honky-tonk music, you know music that has roots, bluegrass and blues and soulful music. Not what you turn on the FM radio music any longer. That’s a…source of pride,” said Joel.

But there can be a bit of a conundrum considering where the saloon is situated in between the train tracks.

“Yeah, it’s no big deal. Walk outside, oh the train’s there. I’ll go back and have another beer,” said Larry.

“I’ve heard bands play along with the train whistle when they play outside, just just added into the song and so that’s really cool,” explained Cody.

What really down home about Riley’s is its old school Texas feel. A simple Lone Star State lounge with live music, cold beer, and national historic register sign.

“You can actually check out some real Texas history here,” said Joel.

“It’s the kind of bar a bar would go to,” commented Cody.

“If you’re a true Texan, this is true Texas here,” said Larry.

The Texas Bucket List – Joystix in Houston

by

Houston—From beer, burgers, baseball, to a big below ground basin, we’ve got a big list of things to do in the Bayou City. Now added to that includes an incredible place to play a few games.

“You’ll see stuff here you either have not seen before or that you want to see again,” said Charles Kalas, owner of Joystix.

Charles opened this unique game room at the gates of Minute Maid Park back in 2003. It serves mostly as a showroom and not a public arcade, but this retro room is open for rent for private parties and events.

“We turn everything on and then you have your own instant game room for yourself,” said Charles.

Attached to his Eighteen Twenty bar, the game room is a great place to get some drinks. If you happen to go on the first and last Friday of the month, you might get a chance to sneak in to see the assortment of games Charles has on hand; and if you are in the market for a machine, he is your guy!

“Buy ’em [a machine] and take it home tonight!” said Charles.

His passion for playing games while getting paid all started at the age of 14 when he saved up his allowance and bought his first machine.

“This is my first machine I ever bought back in 1987. It’s the only game that truly I will say is not for sale no matter anything,” he said. “It’s actually a pretty reliable machine… At 14, starting a business and knowing that it would probably never end because I’d have to keep working forever. It was neat.”

From there Charles kept building his business.

“I would go to auctions when I was in high school. I’d buy a Pac-Man for $50 or a Tempest for $100, put them in a restaurant or a bar or a hotel. And then, while everybody else was having fun…going out after school. I’m running around counting my quarters and fixing games,” he continued, “from there it went to college, at A&M, and put games in the Dixie Chicken and Dudley’s Draw and all in Northgate and stuff like that.”

Today he has 9,000 square feet of all sorts of games that are for sale or for rent and reminiscing about how radical the 80’s were is part of the joy of Joystix.

“A dinosaur, like me, remembers back when we used to play games in arcades,” said Charles. “The whole social interacting aspect of it, that’s what people like.”

A step into this showroom is a blast to the past, as it is packed with a massive assortment of pinball machines and an array of other arcade games. He even has four of the first arcade game invented.

“A lot of people think that Pong is the first machine ever. [It didn’t come out] until about 1974. Over here we have Computer Space. It came out in 1972 and I mean look, you got to appreciate…the futuristic look here,” he said.

If playing games sounds like the perfect place to spend some time, then putting your hands on the controls at Joystix is well worth a couple of quarters on The Texas Bucket List.