Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

The Texas Bucket List- We Slaughter BBQ in Bastrop

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Bastrop- There’s nothing like seeing the Lone Star State featured on film.  Texas has been a topic for a ton of major movies over the years, but there is one frightening horror flick that still strikes fear into the hearts of fans despite being over 40-years-old.  The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the most iconic movies ever shot here, and today you can experience a part of it first-hand at a little BBQ joint.

We’re at We Slaughter BBQ in Bastrop.

“It’s a landmark in a horror movie history,” Cory Young said. “It’s the original gas station from the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

Cory is the general manager who promises he’s nothing like the folks from the movie that served  up sliced members of society. He just works here and grew up right down the road.

“I grew up five minutes from here,” Cory said. “Born and raised in Smithville. Yeah, I don’t give off the vibe, really.”

Cory did what just about every kid who grows up in small town does.  He moved away, but not for long.

“I did cities for a while, and then really just got tired of traffic and stuff, so I made my way back out here after about ten years of moving around,” Corey said. “It’s actually very quiet and peaceful out here. You don’t hear sirens. You don’t hear gunshots. There’s no traffic. People leave you alone. It’s amazing. My parents and my family, they don’t recognize me, but it’s still the same old me. No one believes me, though, when I tell people I grew up on a farm, but yet I listen to death metal and watch a whole bunch of horror movies.”

Corey has the perfect qualifications to run this restored rest stop that has a relation to Texas horror movie history.

“Since I started working back here it’s kind of taken over my life,” Corey said.

Featured on the opening scene of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the building was meticulously restored over two and a half years.

“They took a lot of time and pride and effort into restoring everything they could as well as they could,” Corey said. “We got the ‘We slaughter barbecue’ sign completely recreated. We’ve got the little chair and the wash basket. We’ve got the red, white, and blue for the stools, for the chairs, and for the bench there. Right down to the red pole down there at the end. Very movie-specific. As I mentioned earlier, we have the Coke machine and the Indian oil pump that would go right out there. There’s a really iconic scene where Sally and her girlfriend are out here getting a soda and stuff, so it is very picture perfect to screen shots of the movie.”

Making sure the front facade is flawless took Cory a few days to figure out.

“My first day here, I was putting the stuff out front,” Corey said. “I was just kind of throwing it wherever. My second day here, I had seen the movie, and I recognized everything. I’m putting everything in its exact spot, I’ve got a screenshot of the movie. I’m getting everything aligned perfectly. It completely puts your perspective into a different light. People come here from all over the world. There’s nothing more annoying than if I go to a different country, and I go somewhere that’s like something that I love, and the person behind the counter doesn’t know what they’re talking about, that’s like the most disappointing thing in the world. There are die-hard fans out there, so you need to know what you’re talking about. I have enough respect for the job to at least give it that.”

We’re told they’ve got some of the best BBQ in Bastrop.

“A lot of the locals will come in here and completely forget this is a barbecue place,” Corey said. “They’ll just walk in and look around and they’ll be like, ‘Y’all sell barbecue?’ And it’s like, ‘Nah, the signs are a trap to get you lured in here.’”

If you’re really brave, you can even spend the night here.  Cabins come with a television and DVD player, so you can watch the movie while peering at the green van featured in the film right out your window.

“It’s really popular,” Corey said. “Our cabins are booked all the time through the whole month of October, obviously. It’s just a really neat, different sort of experience.”

There are people who ponder if the place will help them pull a practical joke.

“We get people all the time that ask me, ‘Hey, would you come up at 2:00 in the morning? Start a chainsaw and scare the heck out of my kids? I’ll pay you 50, 60, 70 bucks,’” Corey said. “I’m like, ‘I live five minutes away, I’ll totally set an alarm for 50 bucks.’ But unfortunately, due to our insurance and potential legal reasons, we’re not allowed to do that. Yeah. If you hear a chainsaw, run, because it isn’t us.”

This scary stop in the middle of central Texas can’t be missed and is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“There’s a lot of people under the impression that just because Hollywood slaps a ‘based on a true story’ onto something that it happened verbatim like the movie,” Corey said.  “‘Based on a true story’ is usually very loosely based, and it’s like one five-minute aspect of the movie is what it’s actually based on. ‘Based’ could be anything. You get a lot of people out here asking if it was real. So you tell them, ‘Yeah, of course. What do you think’s in the chili?’”

The Texas Bucket List – P-6 Farms in Montgomery

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Montgomery – Fall is always a fun time in Texas. As the temperature around Texas starts to dial back a bit, you’ll also find a few cornfields built for brave souls who don’t mind getting lost for a little while.

We decided to test our sense of direction down in Montgomery at P-6 Farms.

“It’s so cool, isn’t it?” Carey Poole said.

Carey Poole is the leading lady at P-6 Farms which is a far cry from her uprising in an urban setting.

“I’m a city girl,” Carey said. “I’m from Austin. Never in a million years would I have thought this was my job.”

She started this harvest festival with her husband Bo after he had one heck of an idea.  

“My husband is an old soul at heart,” Carey said. “Anything that brings back the past, that’s what he loves to do.”

Tired of tirelessly working on the road with construction and storm cleanup, Bo wanted to make the family farm a tourist attraction tied to agriculture.  So, in 2011 P-6 Farms formally let people flood their fields.

“It just seemed like it was the right thing for our family to do, bring him home and be all together as a network,” Carey said. “His mom works out in the grill. My mom works in the pumpkin patch. My dad works at the front gate. If it weren’t for our kids and our family, we wouldn’t be where we are.”

Over the course of eight weekends in the fall, thousands make their way to Montgomery to pick the perfect pumpkin, cozy up to cotton and let the kids blow off some steam.

“I love it,” Carey said.  “There’s nothing better than the giggles of kids. They come in clean as a whistle, smiling, happy, ready to have a grand time. They leave filthy dirty, crying because they don’t wanna leave. So, I know I’m doing my job.”

The biggest attraction at P-6 is an eight acre corn field that happens to be one big maze.

“Is it not crazy?” Carey said.

This laid out labyrinth isn’t just random rows and routes. There’s a method to the maze madness.  To get a good idea about what you’re dealing with, it’s better to have a sky-high view. It takes about a year to plan out what particular pattern the corn maze will have.  With a World Championship still fresh on the minds of fans, a huge field dedicated to the Houston Astros has been a home-run, except for the folks who can’t find their way out.

“All the time they get lost,” Carey said. “But, that’s why we have a 30-foot tower. So they can look up, signal how do I get out. They tell them right, left, straight, go this way, go that way, and it’s all in good fun.”

Getting caught up in this corn maze is only a small part of what Carey hopes families carry out of this experience.  

“They need to spend quality time outdoors,” Carey said. “They need to de-escalate and enjoy themselves.”

It’s also a learning experience for kids who might not get a chance to go to the farm frequently.

“It’s nice for the kids to know where the food comes from,” Carey said. “Majority of them have no idea where their food comes from. It comes from the grocery store. So, it’s nice to educate them about the importance of farmers.”

Eventually the field will be plowed, and the corn turned into feed, but for a few weeks in the fall you can get lost on a little piece of property known as P-6 Farms. Make sure to check out this fleeting fall experience that is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“We’re already planning for next year,” Carey said. “You plan before your current season is up.”

The Texas Bucket List: My Son’s Priceless Reaction to Texas A&M Aggie Football

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The grandeur and pomp that accompanies each Texas A&M University football game is enough to drive thousands of people into Kyle Field during football season, but for my young son Declan,  the initial excitement was enough to leave him wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

A few weeks ago, I attended a Texas A&M home game and during the team’s introduction onto the field, I put Declan on top of my shoulders, whipped out my phone and captured his priceless reaction.

Surrounded in a sea of maroon and white, Declan can be seen visibly soaking in the moment and being blown away by the amount atmosphere that accompanies each Texas A&M football game.

The video went a bit viral around College Station and what do you know, Declan was invited to practice!  An incredible experience for my little guy, something he got to check off his own bucket list.

Based on the video, it sure does look like we have a future Aggie on our hands!

 

The Texas Bucket List – Southern Waves Sailing Charters in South Padre Island

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South Padre Island, Texas- With so many adventures by land here in the Lone Star State, we headed to the coast to see what we could find on South Padre Island.  We’ve checked off the Port Isabel Lighthouse, built sand castles and even enjoyed some local seafood, but when we heard about a way to see South Padre Island from the water, we jumped aboard.

Relaxation, recharging, and really just having fun are some of the most popular things to accomplish down here.  But as the sun starts to set on south Texas, there’s a charter that will take you away for a serene sunset sail.

“You’re on the water, you get a view, you can’t go wrong with that,” Rhonda Ferrone said.

Rhonda Ferrone (Fur-own) and her husband John started Southern Waves Sailing Charters back in 2006 when they moved to the Island from the big ol’ city of Dallas.

“It’s dangerous because it’s like being on vacation every day,” Rhonda said.

With multiple businesses on the bustling island, it all started with the boat cruise and the simple idea of taking folks out on the water, making them a meal, and watching the sun set.

“Where else can you go,” Rhonda said. ”You have a grill, a chef grilling away, a musician singing away. I think it’s definitely different, and I think that’s the novelty of it.”

Faustino Camacho goes by the name Captain Tino and he’s in charge of this two-hour tour. As the cruise moves along, the smell of fajitas starts to fill the sea air and the sounds of a few BYOB cans popping interrupts the waves hitting the bow, but not in a bad way.

“You’ve got Chef Diego there, a five star chef, you know, everybody loves his cooking,” Captain Tino said. “Taylor on the tunes, every night, beautiful music and our weather. Our weather is one of the main things everybody loves about it. And of course Captain Tino.”

This low-key cruise focuses on one thing: relaxing and seeing the sights of South Padre from a different perspective.

“I think it’s two hours of escaping reality really,” Rhonda said.

Conversations are quiet. Reflections happen on the water and in the minds of those soaking in the final minutes of a summer sunset.

“Something about it, nice and relaxing, you can stare at it and watch another day pass by, “ Captain Tino said. “Looks like we’re going to have a good one. Real good one.”

These moments are some of our favorites here on The Texas Bucket List.  It’s a chance to think about this crazy ride called life and how lucky we are to live in state full of so much history, personality, and passion.  How each one of us in somehow connected to this piece of the planet that somehow calls to us in a way we love to hear.

“It’s home to me, that’s for sure, “ Captain Tino said.  “I’m a local, so I’ve been here all my life, born and raised and growing up on these waters, you know, wouldn’t have it any other way. This is nice.

The Texas Bucket List – Fischer Bowling Hall in Fischer

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FISCHER, Texas — Over in Comal County in the small central Texas town of Fischer you won’t find a lot of hustle and bustle, but as the sun sets on the local dance hall with a simple sign starts to draw a crowd.  If you decided to step inside this puzzling place, you’ll have some of the most fun you can have in Fischer.

Food, faith, friendship, folklore are just a few ways that cultures have shaped the Lone Star State, but over in central Texas you’ll find a fun game that made its way across the pond many years ago. Now this isn’t your typical 10 pin. Known as 9 pin bowling, it’s been around these parts since the 1800’s, and if you’re going to play, you better know the rules.

“The object is to get them all down or to get them all down and leave the red one,” said Rachel Luehlfing.

Rachelle’s family settled in Fischer in 1933. She’s in charge of the Fisher bowling league, a group of tightly nit Texans that meet here 4 nights a week, 49 weeks a year.

“Some people have more of the attitude of, ‘I’m here for the beer drinking, just to have fun,’ others are like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna win tonight,’” Rachel said.

This bowling hall got its start in 1897 when German immigrants brought the game of bowling to Texas.  Back then bowling was a bit different but the tradition continues here and in several other 9 pin bowling clubs in central Texas.  The only places in the united states that you’ll find it.

Mic Greyer is one of the newbies here.  He’s only been bowling for 6 years.

“This is just one of those places that I wish there were more of in, not just Texas but the rest of the country,” Mic said.

J.R. Sachtlelben – (sock-lay-ben) is one of the regulars and by regular, I mean his family has been bowling here for generations.

“My grandpop bowled here, we had aunts and uncles bowl here,” Dad bowled here. It’s a family deal.” J.R. said.

You won’t find scoring computers here, just a chalkboard that everyone keeps up with and pin setters, well that’s old school as well.

“It’s special and its sort of like church of bowling,” Lisa Kiefer said.

Lisa Kiefer understands the sanctity of this sport.

“To the town of Fischer, I think it’s really important and prominent but also sort of elusive and secretive,” Lisa said. “Like, some people in Wimberley don’t even know it’s out here. They don’t know there’s bowling alley.”

Now we all know what goes great with any good German tradition.

“All you gotta do is look at our team’s name,” Mic said. “Beer drinking and bad bowling. And that’s really that tells you what our priorities are.”

But the most valuable commodity in here is same currency Texans are known for, friendliness.

“This is Texarkana at its best, really,” Mic said. “Everyone needs to come to Fischer Hall and have a great time. It really speaks to the history of central Texas.”

 

The Texas Bucket List Christmas Edition – Texas Cowboys’ Christmas Ball in Anson

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ANSON, Texas – When it comes to holiday traditions here in the Lone-Star State, it’s not all about who’s got the largest display of lights. Over in Anson, things are much simpler. They like to cut a rug when it comes to Christmas.

Every December, the town of Anson gets together for a big ol’ bash. First, the locals prepare a traditional barbeque Christmas dinner with all the holiday favorites. As you peer into this Texas town during this time of year, you start to notice more than the extremely popular deviled eggs and the out of this world bread pudding. People here dress a bit differently. But as soon as you enter the Pioneer Hall, it all makes sense.  This is a celebration of the Texas Cowboy’s Christmas Ball. As one regular at this event put it, “This is as Texas as it gets.”

This annual Anson tradition has been the special gift locals and people from all over the country look forward to each Christmas.

Clay Deatherage was born and raised in Anson and he’s been raising Christmas spirit at the ball since he was a boy.  But the very first Christmas ball here took place in an entirely different century.

“The original Christmas Ball was held in 1885 in the Morning Star Hotel in Anson,” Clay said. “The hotel owner held a party Christmas Eve night to celebrate a wedding, and also probably to draw people to his hotel.”

One of those in attendance was Larry Chittenden. He was so impressed with the party that he wrote a poem dedicated to the one night soiree. That poem inspired two school teachers, Leonora Barrett and Hybernia Grace to re-enact the Christmas ball. It hasn’t stopped being a local Christmas favorite since. There are some ground rules that have stood the test of time here and will keep you on the nice list this Christmas.

“Gentlemen do not dance with a hat on, and that, that is just an old Texas dance hall tradition,” Clay informed us. “It’s out of respect for the lady your dancing with. Ladies are still required to wear a dress or skirt on the dance floor.”

Since 1993, one performer has been a staple of this celebration, Texas legend Michael Martin Murphey. Murphey was also inspired by Chittenden’s poem and wrote a song dedicated to the ball before he even knew it was still going on.

“I come to this ball because this is the heart of real Texas music,” Murphey said. “This hearts back to the original Texas music, cowboy music, it was invented here.”

Murphey and his band play an assortment of songs that are perfect for this sort of soiree.

“We emphasize a wide range of songs, but we emphasize cowboy music and some of the traditional cowboy songs for people to dance to, and uh so it’s a mixture of that and Christmas music,” Murphey said.

He also partakes in the old-time dancing and even he abides by the rules.

“It’s all about the heart and soul of the culture,” Murphey says. “This is sort of like if you are a New Yorker not going to Times Square on New Years Eve. You know what I mean?”

Buck Carter is another local who’s attended many Christmas Balls.

“It’s something to be proud of,” Buck says. “They have been doing it forever and a day, so.”

While the Texas Cowboys Christmas Ball is a celebration of the season, it’s also a connection to the way of life in this part of the Lone-Star State.  It’s a chance to toast the true cowboys who help cut the cloth of culture and Christmas.

“You meet the real old timers here, and that’s really an important thing to me,” Murphey says. “This is the oldest most venerable tradition in Texas that was started in Texas.”

So, if you happen to be in the Big Country during the Christmas season, swing on by the Texas Cowboy’s Christmas Ball for a holiday experience with true Texas roots that’s well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“If you want to key into the culture here and really learn who we are this is the place to start,” Murphey says.

Eight Quintessential Christmas Stops on The Texas Bucket List

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Oh there’s no place like home for the holidays, especially when home is in the Lone-Star State! With world famous holiday themed eats, festivals, light displays, and hotels unique to Texas, there’s a little something to get everyone in the yuletide spirit. The places, experiences, and treats featured in this list will have you saying merry Texas Christmas in no time!

Wassailfest – New Braunfels, Texas       

The lights in downtown New Braunfels shine like a beacon for Santa on the first Thursday of December, but the real treat here is the old world wonder boiled up by the folks in this part of the Lone-Star State at Wassailfest. Downtown New Braunfuls has been the place to taste this Christmas tradition since 1992. Some wassails are more spirited than others at this event featuring good food, award winning wassails, and family fun.

Watch now: New Braunfels Wassailfest

German Christmas Market – Tomball, Texas

During the second week in December, you’ve got to mossy on to Tomball. Here, you’ll find a huge Christmas market that’s been bringing together Christmas cheer and the German tradition of Oktoberfest since the 90s. Festivities kick off with a huge parade in which an official Christmas keg tapping is the grand finally. This Christmas celebration is also a cultural celebration; a chance to raise a glass to one of the many nationalities that has made Texas what it is today.

Watch now: Tomball German Christmas Market

Trail of Lights – Austin, Texas

This trail of lights has been burning bright since 1965 in the capital of the Lone-Star State. The Lights that line Lou Neff Road become a beacon of Christmas spirit in the live music capital of the world each December. With 2 million lights and 41 displays dedicated to the season, you’ll find some story time favorites, Texas themed treasures, religious displays showing the true meaning of Christmas, and far out favorites that represent what Austin is all about. However, the crown jewel of this trail just might surprise you.

Watch now: Austin Trail of Lights

Gaylord Texan Resort – Grapevine, Texas

Nobody celebrates Christmas quite like the Gaylord Texan Resort in the Christmas capital of the Lone-Star State. Over half a million visitors visit the Gaylord during the seven weeks that make up the holiday season to experience their take on a Lone-Star Christmas. No corner of the 125 acre Christmas themed paradise is untouched by the holiday spirit thanks to a talented group of artists who hand make each and every piece of decor. A snow slide, 14,000 foot ice exhibit kept at a wintry nine degrees, and a life size nativity scene made out of ice prove that everything really is bigger in Texas, even Christmas.

Watch now: Gaylord Texan Resort

Collin Street Bakery – Corsicana, Texas  

Oh what fun it is to ride to the Collin Street Bakery for some holiday delights. This little bakery in Corsicana, Texas works year round baking up a Christmas treat that’s not just a tradition in the Lone-Star State, but all over the world. Since 1896, the bakery has been getting a rise out of customers with their world famous fruitcakes. A product of the fall harvest, the one million fruitcakes sold by the Collin Street Bakery each year feature pecans, pineapple, cherries, and raisins.

Watch now: Collin Street Bakery

 Riverwalk Christmas – San Antonio, Texas

When the lights come on along the San Antonio Riverwalk, Christmas has officially begun. This light display, that is truly unique to Texas, has been spreading the joy of the season since the late 60s when the Riverwalk was built. Lights start being hung strategically during the first week in September on more than 180 trees. The grand total of strands in this display is 1,687, that’s over 21 miles of illumination. The Mexican tradition of luminárias, lit candles in sand filled bags intended to light the way for the Holy family, add to the magic.

Watch now: Riverwalk Christmas

Dickens on the Strand – Galveston, Texas

For more than 40 years, Dickens on the Strand has provided a unique Christmas experience to Texans and world travelers alike. Thousands of Charels Dickens fans make their way to Galveston to experience Christmas as it appears in the famous English author’s work. Costumes, historical buildings, and activities all fit the time in which Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” would have taken place. Galveston’s design, which parallels London during the Victorian period, makes it the perfect place to pay homage to a beloved author and his classic Christmas tale.

Watch now: Dickens on the Strand

Santa’s Wonderland – College Station, Texas

Each December hundreds of people voyage to south College Station to visit a Texas Christmas village known as Santa’s Wonderland. Millions of twinkling lights highlight what it’s like to celebrate Christmas with a Lone-Star State twist. Sprawling across 37 acres, this park has it’s own town, Santa’s Town, dedicated to the season. Sweet treats, savory eats, holiday gift shops, live music, Marshal Frostbite, a petting zoo, fine wine, fires to warm up with and cook s’mores on, and Texas Santa himself can all be found in Santa’s Town each and every night. It’s a true Texas Christmas experience.

Watch now: Santa’s Wonderland

The Texas Bucket List – The National Border Patrol Museum in El Paso

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EL PASO, Texas – Here in Texas, border security is a hot topic.  The line between Mexico and Texas stretches over 1200 miles and protecting it is a tough job.  Now we’re not here to talk about the best way to do that, but rather focus on the history of how it’s been done and how dangerous that job can be.

From Brownsville to El Paso, Texas shares a long line of border with our neighbors to the south.  A river may separate us, but in most border towns commuting back and forth is an everyday affair. However, there are those who don’t have the best intentions, and that’s where the border patrol comes in.

David Ham retired from the border patrol in 2003 but now he helps tell the story of the agency’s long history at the Border Patrol Museum in El Paso.

“Immigration is a very political issue right now, yes,” David said.

That’s why we’re going to focus on the history of these agents that have one heck of a responsibility.

“We enforce the laws that the people, who elected their congressmen, have passed,” David says. “That’s our job, to enforce the law. We try to do it as humanely as possible.”

Around 18,000 border patrol agents safeguard the borderline between the U.S.  and Mexico, but when the border patrol was established, bootlegging was the biggest issue.

“The big thing when it started was prohibition era,” David said. “That was the bloodiest era in our history. We lost more agents in that time period than any other, both here and on the northern border. That’s basically their primary job from 1924 up until prohibition ended, I think in ’34.”

When David started his career, the job itself started to change.

“The late 60s early 70s was when the cartels started moving drugs big time,” David informed us. “In 72 we started to see a big increase in drug loads.”

Even though the majority of the border patrol’s attention has shifted south, the mission has stayed the same.

“You read about the early history, and nothing really has changed,” David says. “People try to smuggle and people try to come here. It’s gotten a lot more sophisticated.”

With more sophisticated smuggling comes a need for more sophisticated modes of transportation and weapons for the border patrol.

“It’s a never-ending chase,” David explained. “They change and we have to change with them.”

Among the sieged weapons David showed us was a homemade shotgun from the prohibition era called a zip gun.

“They’re just as well armed as we are,” David said. “Got to be careful.”

The Border Patrol has to be fast as the smugglers too, that’s why they’ve got some supped up cars including a Firebird that was part of operation roadrunner.

Over the years, 124 men and women who have protected our border have made the ultimate sacrifice.  Here at the museum, they honor each and every one.

“That’s probably the most meaningful thing to me,” David said. “The fact I knew these guys, and they gave their life. It’s just like a war. You lose people and it affects you. You’re protecting the United States.”

So stop by the U.S. Border Patrol Museum in El Paso to see the hardware and hear how harrowing protecting the northern and southern borders of America can be.

“You get to see the type of people that these smugglers are and how they treat these people,” David said. “Those people that take apart that smuggling organization get a lot of satisfaction out of that.”