"Let's Go to Luckenbach, Texas With...
With Waylon, Willie and the boys...” of course.
One of the things Joyce and I like to do is visit quirky, off the beaten path places. Today I’m going to tell you about one of those places here in the Hill Country of South Texas where “everybody is somebody”; the community of Luckenbach, another great day trip from Hidden Valley RV.
Where in the heck is Luckenbach you might be asking. This little 'wide spot on the road' is about 10 miles southwest of Fredericksburg off of US 290 on Ranch Road 1376/Luckenbach Town Loop. Want to know 'how to git here?' Just click right here for a map and directions from San Antonio.
Luckenbach was established in 1849 and named after one of the area’s first settlers, Jacob Luckenbach. But what really put this town on the map was the song, “Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)” by Waylon Jennings, released in April 1977.
Downtown Luckenbach consists of just a few buildings; the General Store/Post Office/Bar, a few storage sheds and the largest of them all, the Luckenbach Dance Hall.
When we visited the town a couple of years ago, the store was being run by Virgil, “The Store Guy,” who is a real character and looks like he just stepped out of the 1860‘s. He says he “likes to dance with the ladies”.
The store has tee shirts, hats and a multitude of other tourist things for sale. One area in the back has CD’s of pickers who have played in Luckenbach along with several of Texas entertainers. Buy a postcard and Virgil will cancel it with the Luckenbach, TX stamp.
The bartender then was a guy named Danny Terry who is originally from Mississippi and fancies himself a “picker”. My beer cost me $17.50; $3 bucks for the beer and $14.50 for Danny’s CD that is conveniently displayed on the bar.
Today the town hosts several events each year including a motorcycle rally, The Luckenbach Blues Festival and something no one should ever miss, the Annual Hug-In and Valentines Ball at the Luckenbach Dance Hall. Are you a Texan, or maybe a wanna-be? How about celebrating Texas Independence in Luckenbach at the annual Celebration on Saturday, March 6th. There is something for everyone in Luckenbach.
Speaking about the dance hall, there is something going on here just about every day. During the week they have the Picker Circle where new and upcoming song writers are featured. Many events are free. They usually have a dance every weekend mostly featuring bands from Texas but you just never know who might show up to do some pickin’.
So, like Waylon and Willie say...
“...This successful life we're livin'
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newberry's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas, ain't nobody feelin' no pain.
And don’t forget, “everybody is somebody” in Luckenbach.
Submitted by Barry Crocker
2/16/2011