Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

Five Stops and a Burger for Spring Break on The Texas Bucket List

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Nobody works harder than Texans, so it’s only fitting that residents in the Lone Star State embark on Texas sized adventures during their time off.  So pack your bags, fill up your gas tank, and buckle up because we’re headed out on a vacation fit for true Texans.  (CLICK ON TITLE TO SEE THE FULL VIDEO STORY FROM THE TEXAS BUCKET LIST!)

Isla Grand

The white sand beaches of South Padre Island are some of the most popular along the Texas coast, so it should come as no surprise that we make a stop at this Texas jewel. Spring break serves as the perfect time to soak in some rays while relaxing among the waves, and staying in this hotel ensures you don’t miss a single moment of beach time. Isla Grand has graced the shoreline of South Padre Island since the 1950’s, that’s longer than the rest, and was redone in 2008 after being hit by hurricane Dolly. Isla Grand offers beach front views that will take your breath away in an area that’s a perfect spring break destination.

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This Week on The Texas Bucket List – Old RVs, Burgers and Crawfish, and The Fulton Mansion.

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This week on The Texas Bucket List we travel through time when we stop at the RV Museum, unhinge our jaws to eat a colossal crawfish burger, and learn about the retirement home that started the coastal retirement trend in Texas back in 1877.

Our fist stop may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Amarillo, but after seeing some rare RV’s full of era appropriate appliances, nick-knacks, and furniture you’ll never forget the RV Museum. The father son duo who started collecting back in the 1970’s have some pretty rare items including the oldest RV in the world on display in their 8,000 square foot metal building.

In Anahuac we sink our teeth into a crawfish burger made with a full pound of beef. The pound patty is paired with onions and jalapenos grilled in butter, deep fried bacon, fried crawfish, and cheese all stacked between a buttered bun. The taste is so phenomenal you won’t mind leaving a pound heavier.

We finish our trip in Rockport-Fulton at the first retirement house built on the coast in 1877, the Fulton Mansion. The home has withstood the test of time and coastal hurricane forces, and was built with some pretty high tech innovation for the day. Stepping into the stunning mansion is a great way to connect with coastal cattle baron history.

So don’t go kicking the bucket. This week’s episode  is one you don’t want to miss!

Season 8 of The Texas Bucket List kicks off February 11th

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Howdy y’all and welcome back to another season of The Texas Bucket List!

Get ready to take aim and fire as we start our 8th season off with a bang!  On our Spring season premiere, we’ll feature a unique stop Uvalde where you can drive and shoot a Sherman tank!  But that’s not all, find out everything DriveTranks.com has to offer and why they do it.

After that you’ll want to load up your taste buds in preparation for our delicious Burger of the Week segment!  To start off the season, we check out a popular spot in central Texas, the Alamo Springs Cafe!

And hang onto your sweet tooth as we head to Beaumont to try a cake that’s part of the culture of East Texas!

This season we will also debut our 100th episode!  Be sure to stay tuned for a special announcement to see where we’ll celebrate and how you can be there!

So join us each and every week as we travel across the Lone Star State adding new places to The Texas Bucket List!

Panda Burgers takes The Texas Bucket List Burger of the Season

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During our Fall 2016 season we searched all over to find the best burgers in the Lone Star State, and boy did we find some real meaty Texas treasures. While every burger we’ve featured is worth the stop on The Texas Bucket List these five topped the list. (Click the links in red bellow to watch videos about each of our top five burgers.)

Burger #5 – When you combine a love for Texas family with Texas meat the product is sure to be good. That’s just what makes the maverick burger at Mae’s Meat Market in Eastland oh so sensational, and our fifth place burger of the season.

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Burger #4 – Texas women have a reputation for being both sweet and fiery, so it’s only fitting that our spicy fourth place burger comes from a building that once housed a tunnel to a cathouse lounge in San Angelo. Miss Hattie’s Bordello Burger is sure to leave your taste buds tingling.

The Texas Bucket List – Burger of the Season – Mae’s Meat Market and Miss Hattie’s Restaurant and Cathouse Lounge

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Burger #3 – It’s no secret that Texans love chili powered. We’ve even named a dish after it! But nothing quite pays homage to the flavor punch packing powder quite like the chili burger at the Phoenix Saloon in New Braunfels. With a patty infused with all the flavors you would expect to find in a bowl of Texas chili it’s no wonder this burger finds itself in the number three spot on our list.

The Texas Bucket List – Burger of the Season – Phoenix Saloon 

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Burger #2 – With a name like Poppin’ Johnny the second place burger on our list has is bound to be good. The Poppin’ Johnny comes from a food truck in Abilene appropriately named RocknRollerz, because one bite into the Poppin’ Johnny and you’ll be rocking and rolling in meaty, fried onion, cream cheese, bacon, and grilled jalapeño heaven.

The Texas Bucket List – Burger of the Season – RocknRollerz

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Burger #1 – After taking a financial leap of faith to start a restaurant called Panda Burgers in El Paso, Allen finds his one of a kind mouth watering sensation of a burger at the top of our list. The super panda comes with trimmings you won’t find at most burger joints. Two seven oz. patties, a quesadilla, carne asada, tereso, grilled onions, and avocado get sandwiched between a bun to make our giant artistically crafted burger of the season.

The Texas Bucket List – Burger of the Season – Panda Burgers

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The Texas Bucket List – Hemi Hideout in Brookshire

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BROOKSHIRE, Texas – Just west of Houston, in the small community of Brookshire, you’ll find a long tree-lined drive leading to a Texas-sized barn looking building. As soon you pull up to this place, it comes to light that this building is a radiant, retro, repository. Known as the Hemi Hideout, what started as a place to park some cars has turned into so much more.

John Hovas is the reason the Hemi Hideout is here and it all started when his father bought him a car – but not just any car.

“In 1970, my dad bought me a Dodge Super Bee. It was like the yellow one back here in the background, and this is why this is a Dodge and Plymouth venue,” said Hovas. “I’m trying to hang on to the past and reminisce the old days.”

Hovas’s time with his Super Bee flew by.

“I had that car for probably 2 or 3 years, and then got married, had children, and that car had to go,” Hovas said. “Everybody wishes they had the cars that they had originally, but who has the money or the wherewithal to do that? So I had to straighten up and walk a tight line at an early age.”

After a career of successful entrepreneurial ventures, Hovas wanted to relive his glory days, so he got his old car back plus a few more and built a small man cave in Waller country.

Construction took over two years and now Hovas is the proud owner of the biggest timber-framed building in Texas.  But it’s not just home to his car collection, it’s also home to a large collection of rare, colorful, and crazy signs.

“So, there’s probably 1200 signs in here right now, and it can easily hold three times as many,” said Hovas. “The more you put, the cooler it looks. The more cluttered, so to speak, the more intriguing, and you think you miss something and you want to go back over it again, and we hear that comment all the time here.”

With over 21,000 square feet of space in this cathedral to neon and Americana, you’ll find some of the most unique and rare signs in all of the United States. But for Hovas, it’s more than just flashy flares and radiant rays, it’s the story that these old advertisements tell.

“Men, women, old, young, everybody seems to love it because of all the beauty and the bling going on. But, when you start talking about the history behind it, it really grabs everybody’s attention,” Hovas said.

Having such a unique and luminous location brings in all sorts of life events – some of which you might not expect.

“We’ve had several weddings, we’ve had funerals in here too. I mean, I didn’t never dream in a million years, but car guys, it makes for a great, soft, nice touch if you’re a car guy,” said Hovas. “A farewell party in here, and they’re both fantastic.”

Despite having light bill from $2500 to $4500 that’s higher than a house payment, Hovas doesn’t charge people to gaze at the glare in his garage.  But if you do feel like you need to contribute to the cause, you’ll be doing more than just lighting the lights.

“We ask for a five dollar donation, and we match it dollar for dollar and all the funds go to local charities here, and we’ve done some remarkable things in Brookshire and Sealy area that we’re proud of,” Hovas said. “So if you don’t want to donate, you don’t have to.”

And if you take a fancy to some flashing neon lights, you’re allowed to bring them home – for a price. But for Hovas, this building is more than just trip down memory lane. It’s a culmination of everything he’s ever worked hard for, it’s a chance to bring joy and light up the eyes and hearts of the generations who got to see these signs in their glory years or to those who may have never seen the light.

“This will be the ride of my life, no doubt about that. I’ve done quite a few things that I’m proud of in my life, but this will be the ride of my life, and it’s still going on,” said Hovas.

 

The Texas Bucket List Earns Two Lone Star Emmy Nominations

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We’re honored and humbled to announce that The Texas Bucket List has earned two 2016 Lone Star Emmy Nominations!

This year we’re nominated for Magazine Program – Series and Texas Heritage – News Single Story/Series/Feature.

This marks the 5th and 6th Lone Star Emmy nominations that The Texas Bucket List has received since our debut across Texas in 2013.

The Lone Star Emmy Awards will be announced October 15th and we’ll keep you posted!

TO TEXAS!

 

 

Thank You To Our 2016/2017 Sponsors!

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The Texas Bucket List is on the air today because of the commitment of some of the finest businesses the Lone Star State has to offer.

Our title sponsor, Spirit of Texas Bank, has been a part of The Texas Bucket List since our debut in September of 2013.  Spirit of Texas Bank provides full-service banking at any of its locations around the state. Born, bred, and raised in the heart of Texas, Spirit of Texas Bank truly is Texans helping Texans.

Slovacek’s Sausage has been making the most savory sausage in Texas since 1957 and they too have been a part of The Texas Bucket List since the beginning.  Slovacek’s is based in Snook, Texas but you can stop by their amazing store in West, Texas on Interstate 35 at exit 353.  There you’ll find fresh baked kolaches, a dog park, cold pivo, and everything you need for a road trip across Texas.

In 2014, Germania Insurance added their support to The Texas Bucket List.  With 120 years of history here in the Lone Star State, Germania Insurance offers fair and honest insurance protection.  Germania Insurance truly is the insurance Texan’s trust.

RVsource is also a returning sponsor for the upcoming season!  Based out of Bryan-College Station, RVsource offers a wide variety of travel trailers, rentals and parts along with a Texas sized RV service station for travelers all across the Lone Star State.  Rvsource, your complete source for everything RV!

We-Rent-It comes to the show as our newest sponsor.  Also raised up in this great state, We-Rent-It provides its customers with quality equipment and exceptional service at all it’s 5 locations.  You can find We-Rent-It in Bastrop, Bryan, Buda, Pleasanton, and Schertz.  Your leading source for rental equipment and contractor supplies in Texas!

Thank you to all of our sponsors for your support of The Texas Bucket List as we embark on our seventh season!  With out the support of these great Texas businesses, we couldn’t share the joy, wonder, beauty, and excitement of Texas with you and everyone across this great state!

 

The Texas Bucket List – Driskill Hotel

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We stop at a place of rest in Austin known as the Driskill Hotel. With its magnificent architecture, tasteful designs and elegant accommodations, the Driskill is a Texas luxury legend. Stop for a chat and drinks with the barman, who’s seen everyone from rock stars to politicians in these lofty halls. Well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List!

This week on The Texas Bucket List – Judge Roy Bean, Chris Madrid’s, and TX Whiskey

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This week on The Texas Bucket List we learn about a Lone Star legend, have a burger that’s legenDAIRY, and sip on some whiskey working on building its own legacy.

First stop is the Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center to learn about a lawman a little loose with his morals governing the town of Langtry. His colorful personality and antics has kept his memory alive and well in the generations of Texans.

Next, we pull into San Antonio to stop in at Chris Madrid’s for a taste of a super-secret burger. The Cheddar Cheezy Burger is every bit as cheesy as it sounds and ooey-gooey delicious!

We cruise into downtown Bryan at the Grand Stafford to listen to Shotgun Rider perform “Alone Tonight” strumming the beat on their acoustic guitars.

We finish the day with a draught of some fine whiskey at Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company in Fort Worth. From aging the barrels to nosing the final product, the TX Whiskey you buy has been born, bred, and raised in Texas. You can even have your own custom stopper made to cap off your own bottle.

Season 6 of The Texas Bucket List Kicks off this Weekend!!

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Here we go again!  It’s time to check off even more great things to see, do, and experience in the Lone Star State!  This weekend we’ll kick off the 6th SEASON of The Texas Bucket List!  That’s right!  The 66th episode of The Texas Bucket List will air all over our great state on February 6th & 7th.

We can’t thank all of y’all enough for your support.  It’s so incredibly humbling to go across this great state and meet so many fans of the show and fans of Texas, of course!

We’ve got some incredible burgers for you this year and some of my favorite stops we’ve featured on the show.  It’s such a great honor for me to be able to share with you the incredible treasures of Texas.

Of course none of this would be possible without the support of our awesome sponsors, all of whom have roots that run deep in the Lone Star State.  Spirit of Texas Bank has been our Title Sponsor since day one, I can’t thank them enough for believing in the show when it was just getting started.  It’s a true endorsement in their belief that small Texas businesses can succeed. Slovacek’s Sausage is another incredible sponsor who’s been filling our stomachs with sizzling sausage and helping us bring you The Texas Bucket List since our first episode.  Germania Insurance has been part of our family for four seasons and we’re proud to be protected with insurance from a company that’s been a part of the Lone Star State since 1896.  RVsource and TX Burger joined the show this past fall and it has been an incredible blast having these Texas businesses that are so dedicated to their customers, their products, and our great state!

So be sure to tune in this weekend and THANK YOU to YOU and our INCREDIBLE SPONSORS!