Luckenbach sits between Johnson City and Fredericksburg, just a short little detour off the highway, but it seems a million miles away from present day. A place where time has stopped, or at least slowed down a lot. People relax with a beer under big trees to music, while kids run around and climb trees and chase lightning bugs through the grass. Big festivals happen several times a year, filling up the parking lots, but never changing the feeling you get when you visit.
We spent a fun evening just hanging out in Luckenbach with our friends on a Wednesday evening. The community, which began as a trading post in 1849 never made it to “town” status, but did get a post office in 1886. The Engel family owned the land until the 1970’s when it and the almost “Ghost Town” was purchased by Hondo Crouch, who envisioned it just as it is, a place where people can come together and hang out by Grape Creek, listen to music, and just have fun!
It’s very family-oriented fun, too, and we’ve never been that there weren’t kids running everywhere.
The Old Post Office/Trading Post is now a souvenir shop. My shadow is covering up the Hondo Crouch marker. Crouch was a writer and humorist, and started many fun and obscure festivals in Luckenback, like the Mud-Dabber Festival and the Luckenbach’s World’s Fair. His daughter Cris runs Hondo’s on Main in Frederickburg.
Another marker tells the history of Luckenbach. Weekends are usually busier, especially during the summer. Check out their events page for band lineups, and cover charges, if any.
Popular signs in the Trading Post. You’ll notice driving in that the signs for Luckenbach are either missing altogether, or bolted in. They go missing quite often.
We sat down to listen to the band, and this resident rooster hopped up to join with them! I absolutely love this picture!
“Everybody’s Somebody in Luckenbach”!
There’s no hurry here. You can buy beer, and the Lone Star Cafe Food Truck is open daily with tacos and Aimee’s Apple Pies. The Feedlot is open Thursday – Sunday, serving burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken baskets and cherry limeades, among other things.
The kids usually head down to the creek area, where they climb trees and play while the adults enjoy the band.
Swimming isn’t allowed in the creek, but it happens….
Luckenbach is about as laid back as it gets. If you have an RV you can stay in the parking lot overnight for about $10. I think we might have slept in our car one night, which isn’t recommended but does happen. You are 14 miles from Fredericksburg along dark roads filled with deer, so make plans for getting back safely.
We spent the evening talking while the kids played trash can beer pong after the sun went down.
Know Before You Go
Happily, there are real restrooms at the entrance.
Kids and dogs are always welcome.
Luckenbach
412 Luckenbach Town Loop, Fredericksburg
Click HERE to visit their website.
Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!
Michelle
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