Hill Country Travel Blog
STONEWALL, TEXAS: PEACHES, WINE, AND LBJ
Named after a colorful general, and birthplace to a president of the United States…this small Hill Country town of 550 people has quite a lot of history standing behind it! On top of all that, Stonewall, Texas also occupies a central location on US Highway 290, also known as the Texas Wine Trail. And, as you’ll soon see, grapes aren’t the only fruit for which Stonewall is well known. Here’s a quick look at how Stonewall became the Hill Country gem it is today.
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SEGUIN, TEXAS: REAL TEXAS
The robust and thriving Hill Country town of Seguin (pronounced seh-GEEN) is one of the larger towns in the region, with a current population of around 30,000. Located about 40 miles northeast of central San Antonio, Seguin is also considered a “border town” of the Hill Country, right on its eastern edge. It’s also one of the oldest towns in the Lone Star State, established shortly after the dust settled from the Texas Revolution. Seguin’s history bolsters the town’s claim of being “Real Texas,” and its citizens take great pride in its heritage and influential role in the building of the great state.
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SABINAL, TEXAS: RIVER COUNTRY GATEWAY
The town of Sabinal lies in Uvalde County in the southern Texas Hill Country. Its proximity to the Sabinal, Leona, Nueces, and Frio rivers has earned it the title of the “Gateway to the River Region.” Therefore, it’s no surprise tourism focused on swimming, tubing, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing on those bodies of water is important to Sabinal’s well being. While that’s true today, let’s take a look at the events that brought this pretty Hill Country town to where it is currently.
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LAKEHILLS, TEXAS: HILL COUNTRY PLAYGROUND ON THE LAKE
Many Hill Country communities have common historical threads. Indigenous tribes made it their home for centuries, taking advantage of the resources of the regions of the Medina River Valley and Edwards Plateau. By the mid-1840s, European immigration was in full swing, and German, French, and Belgian people moved to the area to take advantage of its rich farming and ranching land. Many of those farms and ranches are maintained by the descendants of the original settlers.
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KERRVILLE, TEXAS: THE HEART OF THE HILL COUNTRY
Nestled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Kerrville is one of the largest towns in the region west of the I-35 corridor, with a population right around 24,000. This welcoming town is located on the banks of the Guadalupe River, and boasts healthy industrial and corporate environments, as well as a vibrant creative community.
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JOHNSON CITY, TEXAS: COLORFUL PRESIDENTIAL LEGACY
Johnson City, Texas is the county seat of Blanco Country, and is located roughly halfway between Austin and San Antonio, in the northeastern section of the Texas Hill Country. The 30-mile stretch of Highway 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg to the west is called the “Texas Wine Trail,” considered one of the best wine-growing regions in the United States, second only to California’s Napa Valley. Wine tourism is huge here, as is the historical kind; Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, was born and raised here, spent his retirement here, and is buried on his ranch here.
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HYE, TEXAS: PEACHES, WINE, AND LBJ
All the tiny town jokes would probably apply to Hye, Texas, a community in western Blanco County with a current population of about 150 souls. You know the ones: wide spot in the road, blink and you miss it, you are now entering AND leaving Hye. To dismiss this Hill Country village with these little witticisms would be doing a great disservice to Hye, however. Its history, and current place of distinction along the Texas Wine Trail, earns the tiny town of Hye more attention.
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HONDO, TEXAS: GOD'S COUNTRY
As you approach the Hill Country town of Hondo, you’ll see a green-and-white sign alongside Highway 90 welcoming you. There’s one of those signs on both the east and west approach to Hondo, proclaiming, “This is God’s Country—Please Don’t Drive Through It Like Hell.” Since 1930, versions of this sign have stood, humorously reminding travelers to respect the reduced speed limit when driving through their community. Even though the signs have ruffled a few feathers, they still stand, reflecting a proud community that also has a sense of humor.
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