Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

The Texas Bucket List – The Summit at Big Bend in Terlingua

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The vast expanse that is the Big Bend region of Texas is one of a kind. Soaring peaks, stretches of desert and the Rio Grande cutting its way through the region makes for one of the most incredible sites in the entire Lone Star State.  In the middle of all this nothingness is the tiny town of Terlingua.  With a population of 110 folks, it’s fascinating how many people are drawn to this desolation destination.  But when you see a glamping destination like The Summit at Big Bend, you understand the draw.

“This is unlike any other place in Texas,” said Billy Bartko, creator of The Summit.

Billy and his wife, Jess, created The Summit in 2021 and in that short amount of time, they’ve built so many domes for folks to stay in, that their little corner of the desert looks like a space outpost.  These domes have king-sized beds and beautiful views of Big Bend, but if you want to lay your head down on something as hard as a rock, the caves at the Summit have proven to be quite popular.  “The two caves really are built for a romantic reconnecting trip,” said Billy.

Billy and Jess both used to be commercial pilots, but they came to Big Bend to start a new life on the ground.  After one successful venture in glamping, they came to this piece of property looking to buy a jeep, but it turned into so much more. “For me, I was like, ‘Wow, I never knew this part of Texas existed!’ Born and raised Texan. Never knew it,” said Jess.

“So, this place has been special to me since the minute we got here. The previous owner just told us to drive up the hill and drive around the ranch, and it was just nothing but one spectacular view after another,” explained Billy. “Fifteen minutes into it, I very jokingly said, ‘I want to buy the ranch,’ and the next day we offered to buy the ranch, and about three weeks later we had a deal on it, and about two months later, we owned it.”

“I knew when I first met him, he was going to be a lifetime of adventure,” said Jess.

“You’re looking at Old Mexico to the south, directly behind you is the Lajitas Hills. And then off to the west is you’re totally looking into the state park. So, it’s just incredible,” said Billy.

Construction began and when Billy came across the caves, he knew exactly what to do with them.  “The holes in the rock were already here. One of them was basically being used as a storage bunker and the other one is a garage,” he explained.

Complete with a shower, bed, a fridge, a fantastic view and even Wi-Fi, this cave is the kind of place where anyone would be happy to hibernate. “What we really did here was we wanted to bring the outside in,” said Jess.

“It was distorted as least as possible, so that we could really just kind of capture when you walk in, you’re not walking into a room, you’re literally walking into the earth,” explained Billy. “It’s either very comforting to you or it’s not your thing. We respect both, but for us, it’s just a very comforting place to be.”

“So, this is our crystal cave. We named it that. As you can see, the crystal is all through the top here over there,” explained Jess.

These caves date back nearly 100 years when mercury mining was still going strong here.  “The entire 1,000 acres here has multiple old cinnabar mines on it. They were mined early 1900s all the way up through mid-1900s, ’50s and ’60s, somewhere in there they were closed down, but these are actually mining starts where they dug in about 100 feet, didn’t find any cinnabar, so they abandoned the holes,” said Billy.

“So, what they would do is they would come in and they would chisel out just enough to put the stick in there, and then it’d blow it, and then they would just take the pieces right on out of here,” said Jess.

“Hand drilled holes, packed with dynamite, blow off a chunk of rock, hole it all out by hand, mules. Several of the mines still have a narrow-gauge rail car. The tracks are still there, so they would haul it out on rail tracks. Just a crazy lifestyle,” explained Billy.

As you can imagine, building this in a place where the closest major retailers are two and half hours away, isn’t easy. “On one hand, it is the most friendly area to ever build anything in, and on one hand it is the hardest area to ever build anything in,” said Billy. “It’s the hardest place because you can’t get any materials. There’s one plumber in South Brewster County, there’s one electrician in South Brewster County. You may wait a year for the electrician to do anything for you. The plumber’s $300 an hour.”

What makes the stay in these caves so incredible is what makes this entire area so fantastic. The night sky. “The really crazy thing is the amount of stars that you can see at night. A lot of people, that’s really the whole reason why you come out here, right? Is the night sky. It’s the darkest sky in the lower 48,” said Jess.

“We believe in the power of the place and it’s certainly not us. And it’s not anything that we’ve built or anything like that. We have some cool stuff here, don’t get me wrong, but really and truthfully, if you come out here, it’s about the views. It’s about the stars,” said Billy.

“You lay in bed, you wake up in the middle of the night, and that Milky Way is just in your face. It’s pretty incredible,” said Jess.

Coming to Big Bend is one of my favorite stops in the Lone Star State and if you happen to be coming this way, caving in and booking a stay at The Summit is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List. “If you are a true Texan, you were born in Texas, you vacation in Texas and you die in Texas, why in the world would you not want to see all Texas has to offer?” asked Billy.

“You do it so people can come out here and make the memories,” said Jess.

“Take it in, breathe it, live it, relax with it. It’s just so fantastic to be out here.”

The Texas Bucket List – The Menger Hotel in San Antonio

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San Antonio – The stories of old San Antonio go back centuries and on some of the most hallowed ground in the whole state, you’ll find the Menger Hotel. This hotel has been a popular place for nearly 200 years.

Garvin O’Neal is the general manager of the hotel that is located right next to the Alamo. He has worked in many prestigious properties across the Lone Star State, but the hospitality industry wasn’t his original plan. “I was in chemical engineering,” said Garvin. “I got a D in calculus my freshman year, so I said, maybe this ain’t for me.”  Garvin also does an amazing Robert De Niro impression and has even been confused for the famous actor!

After his long career, Garvin received a call from the Moody family who own the Menger Hotel to take over. Garvin answered, “I’m in… I love this hotel for years. Stayed in this hotel lots and got the Menger. Yeah, it’s a great hotel.” When asked what resonates the most with him about this hotel, he said the sense of history it has.

The Menger Hotel opened in 1859, just 23 years after the fall of the Alamo. It was built by William and Mary Menger who originally built it as a brewery with a boarding house. Ultimately, the Mengers used their profits from that to build one of the finest full-service hotels west of the Mississippi.

The hotel was redesigned around 1909, but the original 1859 lobby has the same bones. Soon after the hotel opening, the restaurant was added. The hotel then underwent more construction to add the east wing because of the large success of the place.

While walking through the hotel, you will still find some of the original furniture the Mengers had a hand in putting in. According to Garvin, “The Mengers went to Europe between the fifties and the seventies to buy great pieces of antique furniture like [the] Steinway. And as you look through the lobby, you see some pieces that are original to the Menger Hotel in the first phase and were purchased by William and Mary on their trips to Europe.”

Many people have stayed at the Menger over the years, including celebrities like Roy Rogers, Babe Ruth, and presidents Grant, Lee, McKinley, Eisenhower, and Clinton. Additionally, several Texas history authors, such as Sidney Lanier and O’Henry, have spent weeks at a time at the Menger.

The Colonial Room is one of the most famous areas where people have gathered over the years because of its reputation for serving a tasty treat. This restaurant has become known for its homemade mango ice cream, and let me tell you, it is fantastic!

There is another aspect to the Menger Hotel that is a popular topic – the spooky stories. “I think when it comes to paranormal, it’s the power of suggestions. So people come in thinking, ‘wow, this place is haunted.’ Then you walk the hallways over there and it is wooden floors and they creak, right? They creak and you’re like, ‘wow, that’s weird,” said O’Neal.

One of the most famous spots for hauntings is the King Ranch suite. In this very room and even exact bed, Richard King, the founder of King Ranch, passed away in 1885. Garvin said “it’s also the most requested room in the hotel because people want to go and have Richard King visit. He’s the most popular ghost, apparently, in the hotel.”

Garvin chalks up the creepy noises and creaks to the hotel’s old age. Although, he did mention he has had one creepy encounter of his own.  “I’ve had one fleeting moment of something very bizarre. I sensed somebody being next to me up there. But I haven’t let it get to my head.”

There is also the Menger Bar which deserves a story of its own! But this time, we only checked in on one of the most storied places to stay in our great state of Texas.

If you’re looking to see and experience Texas history, a stay at the Menger Hotel is a great spot on The Texas Bucket List. Like Garvin says, “If you want to get a sense of culture and go back in time to the late 1800s and get a feel of San Antonio from that perspective, then you probably need to stay at the Menger.”

The Texas Bucket List – Cypress Valley Treehouses in Spicewood

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Spicewood – When it comes to lodging in the Lone Star State, we’ve seen all sorts of interesting ways to spend the night under the big bright stars of Texas. From see through plastic bubbles, teepee’s, top of the line desolate destinations, to yurts you can call your own. While all these locations were unique there’s one thing they didn’t have. A view from the trees.

“Now you know what I mean when I say this is adult comfort in a tree,” said Amy Beilharz, the owner of Cypress Valley, a central Texas hideaway in Spicewood that specializes in shelters that happen to be suspended in century old cypress trees.

“Our whole goal is to get people out in nature, find really unique places that we can share with people and then provide them something like a tree house that’s so enticing,” explained Amy. Living in the trees?  Who could have come up with such an idea?! “I’m from California originally. And I moved to Austin in 1984,” stated Amy.

Amy purchased this property back in 1997 and wanted it to share its unique central Texas topography with the world. “We kept trying to find a way to share it, because it’s like a little state park, but we didn’t want to destroy it in sharing it,” explained Amy.

So in 2005, she opened a zip line adventure course and according to Amy, it was the first in the continental United States. “It was just a zip line. And then the first year we would do the last tour of the day because our guides would be so tired, we got so popular so fast and we’d do the last tour. And everybody kept asking if they could spend the night in the trees. So that winter we built a treehouse,” said Amy.

Today, the tree houses have taken over her property with 5 different spots to stay on site. “We just decided to refocus our energies on providing people a deeper experience in nature,” stated Amy.

Considering Amy used to work in the technology sector in Austin, she gets a kick out of her more recent venture. “My prior life, I was in high tech and building and designing phones, data communications. And at that time I was looking for ways, this is in the eighties, looking for reasons people would want to use these things, right? And now at Cypress Valley, I’m pretty much giving people a way to stop and get off the screen and enjoy each other,” Amy explained.

The seclusion helps. To get to a few of the more private treehouses, a trek across a suspension bridge is required. “We tell people to pack light. You’re going to go over a suspension bridge that moves a little. It’s part of the adventure. You don’t have a hallway and an elevator. This is not your typical hotel,” said Amy as we walked across this suspension bridge.

Once safely across, you see why these treehouses are so sought-after. “That’s actually an interesting dilemma and we’ve worked with it because everybody does want a treehouse in their heart. They have that childhood dream still. Right? So we want to keep it playful while at the same time you want adult creature comfort,” explained Amy.

“When you’re in a tree house, you’re experiencing the tree, right? You’re not just in a hotel box with a pretty landscape. You’re really out in nature,” said Amy.

The solitude and silence of being up in the trees makes you feel peacefully alone yet brings out the childlike instinct of doing something so cool and out of the ordinary. “We don’t play very often. We entertain ourselves. We stay busy, but we don’t have that real joyful playfulness that we did as a kid and a tree house just lets you do that. It’s like you’re already breaking all the rules, you’re up in a tree and it just opens that party back up,” said Amy.

If a family experience is what you’re looking for, the Nest tree house has a bit more space. That is home to the Swiss Family treehouse that is filled with all of the amenities needed to entertain the whole family!

And of course, if getting married in the middle of the woods is the wedding of your dreams, you can do that here too.

This experience is all about being one with the trees and having a tree all to yourself.  A unique feeling that only a few kids got to experience with their own treehouse but now everyone can get that feeling of having your own private hideaway. “ I think people are calmer and kinder the more time they spend in nature. And I really enjoy the fact that we’ve got something so seductive that people will want to come do it. They don’t have to be a nature lover to want to come do it. I think it gives adults a free pass to actually start to find that part of themselves again,” expressed Amy.

The Texas Bucket List – Indian Lodge in Fort Davis

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Fort Davis – Over the years on The Texas Bucket List, our trips to the Davis Mountains have always been a highlight in our adventures. The McDonald Observatory is one of my favorite stops we’ve ever featured on the show but the desolate destination makes this trip a little tougher than most.

Now if you really want to soak in the sites here, you’ll have to find a place to stay and if you plan well enough in advance, the Indian Lodge situated in Keesey Canyon is a pretty cool place to do just that. “This entire area, not just the lodge, not just the park, but Fort Davis, Alpine, Marfa, these are destination places for people to come visit,” stated Jeff Williams, the Park Superintendent at the Indian Lodge State Park.

Situated in the Davis Mountains State Park, the Indian Lodge is the only full-service hotel run by Texas Parks and Wildlife and it is very popular. “With any state park in Texas, you can make reservations up to five months in advance, and currently we are booked five months in advance,” said Jeff.

Built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the resort originally had 19 rooms but now there are 39 places for Texans to get a good night’s rest. “The architecture of the lodge is called Pueblo Revival, and it was built as a tourist motor court. This was an effort to get car touring in this part of Texas,” said Jeff. “What it is now is a historic site, and we work our best to preserve it. But when they built it, you have to put yourself in mind of the teepee, the teepee hotels, or Route 66, because that’s the vibe they were going for here is that off-the-beaten-path unusual tourist draw thing for the culture that went crazy for traveling around the United States right before and after World War II,” explained Jeff.

While taking us on a tour of his office, which used to be the dinner room of the lodge, Jeff gave us an architectural breakdown of the lodge. The building is made from adobe bricks, the majority of the materials used were harvested from throughout Texas to create a beautifully detailed lodge. “Because of the fact that it was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, I think it’s important that everybody, at least, know a little something about that history, and that generation that went to work to provide for their families. It’s important that we honor that history, and preserve it, and pass that history along,” explained Jeff.

The surreal beauty of the white adobe walls sitting in the middle of a west Texas canyon is stunning and if you head up Skyline Drive next to the lodge, you can marvel at one of the most beautiful sunsets in the whole state. “I’ve become a collector of sunsets since I’ve moved out here. I have some pretty awesome sunset pictures,” said Jeff.

But when the stars come out at night, they truly are big and bright. “You don’t have to go to the observatory to observe the night skies, most of the time they are beautiful just with the naked eye from right here in the park,” said Jeff.

Popular with people who want to get away or have an amazing family adventure, chances are you’ll want to visit Indian Lodge more than once. “We came one year, and my folks turned right around and came the next year. They didn’t bring my brother and me with them that second time,” joked Jeff.

So if you’re looking for fun with family or just a romantic and relaxing trip to west Texas, pass on the teepee and lay your head at the Indian Lodge in the Davis Mountains, a magnificent stop on The Texas Bucket List. “You don’t get to see this kind of terrain, and these mountain features. You don’t get to see them everywhere in Texas. And if you have the opportunity, you ought to come see this beautiful part of the state,” expressed Jeff.

The Texas Bucket List – Yurtopia in Wimberley

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Wimberley – The tranquil terrain of the Texas Hill Country seems to accentuate itself on the winding roads of Wimberly. The Blanco River slowly runs over its limestone riverbed and all you can think about is finding the perfect spot to enjoy such a beautiful sight. Fortunately, we found one, simply called Yurtopia.

Brian Konradi and his wife Ann-Tyler are the caretakers of this paradise surrounded by the hills of central Texas, but their lodging isn’t your typical Texas-style shelter. After looking at the topography of the land and their options, the Konradi’s thought of yurts. Now you may be asking, what in the world is a yurt?  “Most people already have an idea of what a yurt is but sometimes their girlfriend or their husband or somebody has seen it on Instagram and say ‘I’m supposed to call you to book you for our anniversary, I don’t know what a yurt is but my girlfriend told me to do this.’,” joked Ann-Tyler. It turns out these tents are pretty darn romantic.

Each yurt has a name, like the Lola Ger. Lola was Brian’s grandmother’s nickname, and Ger is Mongolian for yurt. After we stepped into the yurt, it was incredible how spacious and beautifully handcrafted it really is.  “They’re all made in Mongolia, they’re made of natural materials using the Mongolian techniques and hand painted by a family in Mongolia,” explained Brian.

These dome tents are a popular form of protection from the elements for people in central Asia, mostly Mongolia of course. “All of the walls can collapse down, the rafters come out, there are no nails or screws in these rafters or the walls. The walls are all made from camel hide joints. They’re all hand hewn, you can actually see where they steamed them and bent them along the edges,” explained Brian. The entire structure of the yurt is held up by two posts called the bagon, and there is both a male and female bagon. How do you tell the difference? Well, the female bagon has a “fertility” rope that flows through it.

A lifetime of experiences traveling in Russia and along the Trans-Siberian Railway lead Brian and Ann-Tyler to putting yurts right here in the Lone Star State.  “I did a trip with a friend who was on a Habitat for Humanity trip, and we stayed in yurts there. Families that just set up summertime yurts for travelers in Kyrgyzstan and it was really amazing,” said Brian.

The couple is originally from Texas, Brian from Dallas and Ann-Tyler is from the Wimberley/Austin area, but when they got married in 1994, they went on a whim to Russia. “We moved to Moscow, found odd jobs and traveled all around that area,” said Brian.

Brian studied Russian in college and when Russia opened after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they saw it as an exciting opportunity. Their worldly experience played a role in constructing the crazy looking canvas structures that seem to fit in perfect with the peaceful Texas setting.  “We like the marriage or blend of Texas and the Texas Hill Country with this kind of international aspect of what’s come together with what we’ve built here at Yurtopia,” said Brian.

Now there’s two types of yurts here, the RiverBluff section is down by the river and is made more for the group experience. You can grab that chair and umbrella and just relax in the river, or also known as “river sitting”. “River sitting is one of our favorite things, and kind of our pastime,” said Brian. And for the more private affair, there are three yurt complexes, where you are completely to yourself, with everything you could possibly need all in one super private place. “You can come in your little sanctuary and hang out for the weekend or a couple of days during the week and never see your neighbors,” explained Ann-Tyler.

Now this little piece of heaven in the hills of Wimberly is adult-only, because keeping the utopia in Yurtopia is what this place is all about. “So we don’t have enough yurts, we can’t build too many more yurts before we’ve really done too much to what the property can handle,” explained Brian.

After a long peaceful sleep at Yurtopia, it’s safe to say that it’s truly an extraordinary stop on The Texas Bucket List, one yurt sure to enjoy. “Definitely think the Mongolians were onto something when they designed the yurt, there’s something unique and special about it and people really do wake up and say they felt like they slept differently than they have in a long time,” said Brian.

The Texas Bucket List – Basecamp Terlingua in Terlingua

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Terlingua – The Big Bend is one of the most remote and remarkable regions of the Lone Star State.  Natural, God-given beauty surrounds this desolate destination that draws in people from all over the globe.  When you arrive to this part of the world, it’s good to set up a basecamp and a good place to do that……Basecamp Terlingua.

“Not your average tee pee, and a pretty cool place to hang out, I think” Tony Drewry said.

Tony Drewry is in charge of this 40 acre refuge with all sorts of strange structures. He is the gatekeeper to one of the most picturesque places to stay in these parts.

“This is a lot more work than it probably looks like,” Tony said. “You know, here we are, sitting in the desert by tee pees drinking beer.”

A slower pace of life is what they live by here because there’s really no need to rush.  Enjoying your surroundings and solitude is the main reason to trek to Terlingua. At Basecamp, the accommodations seem native and rustic, but they’re really nice.

“Everything you need,” Tony said. “A king size bed, we’ve got some really heavy comforters for the winter months, we’ve got an electric blanket, we’ve got some supplemental heat. This skirt around the side actually keeps the dust from blowing in and things like that, because it is raised up at the bottom. Then this is also pulls out into a queen size bed, so you can sleep four in here. We get a lot of families that come through. Got a little nook for the books, got a coffee station, fridge. I mean, running water.”

Now if this view still isn’t up close and in your face enough, Basecamp has another option that’ll make you feel like you’re living in a bubble.

“I don’t know, bubble rooms, bubble house,” Tony said. “I don’t know what you want to call it.”

These unique bubble rooms are the only ones of their kind in the country, and they couldn’t be in a better setting.

“Pretty cool to be able to do a tour from the outside in,” Tony said. “Yeah, and it’s marine grade plastic. I mean, it’s tough. You can kind of punch on it.”

Made in France, Basecamp has two of the structures for rent that give you an eye-opening way to experience the outdoors.

“You lay there, you look at the stars, you watch the sunrise right over the mountains,” Tony said. “That’s the Chisos, you know, over in Big Bend National Park, and you can see it. Watch the sunrise in the morning. Man, it’s … You don’t even have to get out of bed. It’s pretty cool.”

Getting into the air bubble is sort of like getting into a spaceship.

“Step in here,” Tony said. “This is the airlock. We’ve got a little mini fridge, got some local books.”

Just like any other hotel room, you’ll find it all here.  

“Then we’ve got a full bathroom in here,” Tony said. “A toilet, a shower, and the sink. I’ve taken a shower in here. It’s actually quite an experience. You got a nice little skylight there. Kind of your own little slice of the mountains there, and a really great place to wake up.”

As the sun sets on Terlingua and the night sky takes over the majestic beauty of the Chisos mountains, Basecamp lights up. However, it only lights up enough to see where you’re staying because the stars are the stars here.

“I’ve had a lot of friends come out here and stargazing, you know, hanging out for the weekend, and he’s like, ‘Man, it sure is cloudy tonight,’” Tony said. “And I’m like, ‘No, that’s the Milky Way, man.’”

A stay at Basecamp Terlingua is well worth getting a good night sleep on The Texas Bucket List.

“I mean, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this,” Tony said. “I really … It’s almost … You know, you wake up every day and you’re just like, ‘Man, we’re so lucky.’”

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 – Fanthorp Inn in Anderson

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ANDERSON, Texas — Getting a great dose of Texas history is easy to do in Grimes County and it all centers around an old inn that started checking travelers back in 1834.

The Fanthorp Inn in Anderson was established by Henry Fanthorp. Benjamin Baumgartner took us on a tour of the building that served so many roles in a very important time in Texas history.

First and foremost, the mind-blowing facts about this building that helped form a fine state.

“This building has existed in four countries yet has never moved,” Benjamin said. “Mexico, Texas, United States and the Confederate States.”

When English immigrant Henry Fanthorp constructed his log cabin home, he had no idea it would serve as a post office and a voting place.  Nor did he know that people like Sam Houston, Zachory Taylor and Ulysses S. Grant would slumber under his roof.

Located on La Bahia Road, Fanthorp Inn was a place for all sorts of people to stop during their travels across Texas.

“Because of its position of where it is, it has been the hub of information, or it was the hub of information,” Benjamin said. “The news of annexation, the news of war again with Mexico, news of the civil war, these are things that all would have come through here at some point. This is where people would be discussing what’s going on, how it’s going, news hopefully of loved ones coming back or hopefully you’re hearing from what’s going on there.”

And hotels were a heck of lot different back then.

“They’re surprised to see the living conditions of it thinking it would be so rustic or something that ‘Oh, I wouldn’t be comfortable here,’ but thinking again from the perspective of it is this or sleeping in the open, maybe under a wagon you kind of have a new understanding for what comfort would be back then,” Benjamin said.

Keeping it true to what it was like around 1850 is what the Fanthorp Inn is fulfilling.  Display what the dining room would be like, the parlor prior to privacy and life before just about every modern convenience you can think of.

“A chance to go through and see a new perspective and an appreciation for the life that we have now,” Benjamin said.

Treasa Thompson helps brings this place to life with her lovely mules.

“We used to fit nine people in this coach. Nine people comfortably,” Treasa said. “You would have three on each seat. When you put nine people in there now, you better hope three of them are kids.”

Once a month, you can get the full experience of pulling up to the Fanthorp in an old stagecoach.

“It makes it a reality,” Treasa said. “It puts you in an absolute scenario where it happened.”

Pulling a cart with 4 mules can be particularly precarious.

“Twice the amount of things that could go wrong,” Treasa said.

But Treasa knows how to sweet talk her team.

“Of course I’m a woman, I’m biased,” Treasa said. “I think that women deal with mules easier than men. We just have different tactics.”

That might come down to having a mother’s patience.

“They’re better than my two-legged kids,” Treasa said. “They mind better anyway.”

Treasa takes the stagecoach down the main drag of Anderson, a ride that is a bit smoother than the one taken all those years ago.

“When you rock, you hit a bump and you just rock,” Treasa said. “It’s not a bounce so it’s awesome.”

The wagon makes its way through town, circling the Grimes Country Courthouse and carefully cruises back to the Fanthorp.

“All those giggles right down there? That’s what’s enjoyable,” Treasa said. “You know they’re having a good time. If they can have fun and learn a little at the same time, that’s the best way to do it.”

Experiencing a stagecoach ride along a road riddled with the stories of Texas makes for an incredible journey, but with a final destination like the Fanthorp Inn, you’ll get your fill of Lone Star State folklore and fulfill a fine stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“Come out and get a little bit of history,” Treasa said. “Have a little bit of fun. Meet my kids and take a little ride with me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Texas Bucket List – Gage Hotel in Marathon

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MARATHON, Texas — This week we head out to the Texas mountain trail region to find a hotel in a very desolate place. As luck would have it we found one with one heck of a history.

There’s nothing like the beauty and majesty of west Texas.  Expansive landscapes, more stars than most see in a lifetime, and the stories of the old west make traveling to this part of our state a must stop on any bucket list.

One town in the Trans-Pecos has been sitting out in the heart of the Chihuahuan desert and in the shadows of the Glass Mountains since 1882, a little place locals call Marathon. J.P. Bryan prefers to call it Marathon but an outsider he is not.  Since 1978, Mr. Bryan has played a big role in the revival of this little town thanks to his love of Texas history.

“It shows something that I think became a local colloquialism and people repeated it,” Bryan said. “If you hear someone say Marathon you know they have lived here all their lives where as if they Marathon you sort of establish yourself as sort of an outsider.”

You see it was all those years ago driving between Houston and his ranch near big bend that J.P. noticed a for sale sign in the window of the town’s old hotel.  He decided to enquire and that started a life changing conversation.

“Guy answered the phone,” Bryan said. “We went through the normal introduction. I said, ‘I just want to ask you. Is that building, that hotel, still for sale.’ ‘It’s still for sale and you’re the first guy to call.’”

The Gage Hotel had seen better days.  Built in 1927, the hotel was in rough shape when Mr. Bryan acquired the old in and that didn’t sink in until after his big purchase.

“Horrified, it was terrible,” Bryan said. “I just started perspiring. I thought, ‘My gosh this is biggest mistake I ever made in my life.’”

Built by famed architect Henry Trost who also constructed Hotel Paisano down the road in Marfa, there’s wasn’t a doubt what needed to be done.  After years of research and restoration, the hotel reopened in 1981 to not much fan fair.

“They say you built it and they’ll come,” Bryan said. “In this case, you restore it and they’ll come. Well we did and nobody came.”

Just like living life in this desolate location, perseverance has paid off.  It may have taken about a decade but the Gage Hotel finally started to get the notoriety needed to attract out of towners.  That’s been good for old hotel but it’s been a God send to the small town of Marathon.

“It’s been enormously gratifying to see what’s happened here because if you look at it now, we just didn’t save this building we saved the community,” Bryans said.

Wanting to make Marathon more than just overnight stay, J.P. and his wife started to restore and renovate businesses and buildings all over town.

“I just like restoring things,” Bryan said. “I get a lot pleasure out of it. Seeing something that fundamentally could be wonderful if someone would just give it some time and attention.”

Adding a store, a dog friendly 26 acres gardens and several other businesses is part of the process of making Marathon marvelous again.

“There aren’t a lot of supporters of this little community,” Bryan said. “Maybe we can make a difference in this small town that we obviously have an affection for the area and our ranch. It’s kind of our way to give back.”

Here’s it more than a place to stay, it’s a place to explore.  A chance to soak in a Texas lifestyle in a southwest sort of way that includes fancy drinks, fine meals and far reaching views.

“It’s incredible displays at night beautiful vistas during the day, fabulous sunsets,” Bryan said. “It really should inspire any of those, unless they’re the most jaded people on the planet.”

The historic hotel continues to inspire its owner thanks to the effect it has on the people who come here.  While rest and relaxation are the main reasons weary travelers make their way here, sometimes something extra is gained, sort of like soul searching without realizing you were even looking in the first place.

“People come here with all these ideas frequently thinking they’re going to change the country and what they finding out here is that the country changed them,” Bryan said.

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