Gruene and Lockhart, Texas, USA

Gruene Historic District is a former ghost town that offers a General Store, souvenir shops, and the Gristmill and Gruene Hall.  Lockhart is the “Barbecue Capital of Texas,” claimed the Texas Legislature.

I stopped at Gruene and Lockhart as I drove from San Antonio to Autin, Texas.   I stopped at Gruene Historic District first for the Gruene Hall, which was built in 1878, Texas’ oldest continually operating and most famous dance hall.  By design, not much has changed since the Hall was first built.  The dance hall hosts live country, Americana & blues musicians nightly.

Gruene Historic District

The dance hall opens at night.

View of the side of Gruene Hall and far away is Gristmill restaurant.

Gristmill River Restaurant opened its doors in 1977, concocting steaks and hamburgers from a tiny kitchen in the corner of that same broiler room.

The town is next to a river which is just behind this stay.

Walk across the stay and go behind it and down these stairs ….

is this river

Another 45 minutes drive from Gruene is a tiny city of Lockhart.  For over 20 years, Lockhart has officially been known as the Barbecue Capital of Texas by the Texas Legislature. Lockhart has attracted tourists and residents since it’s home to three of the state’s best barbecue restaurants – Black’s Barbecue, Kreuz, Chisholm Trail, and Smitty’s.

One of the three best barbecue restaurants in Texas.

Surprisingly it is not a formal restaurant.  One orders the food and waits at the counter until it is ready, like a fast food chain.

The beef rib and beef brisket costs about $19 for a pound.  With two sides, a drink, a half pound of beef rib, and another half pound of brisket costs me about $40.  The meat was tender and juicy.

The Lockhart town