Enjoy the history, festivals, shops and restaurants in the heart of Burleson County

By Alyssa Meinke

Caldwell, in the heart of Burleson County, has a history steeped in the trade and shipping that followed the path of El Camino Real. That famed route, established in the 1700s by Spanish colonialists, connected Texas with Mexico City. 

When Caldwell‘s founders established the town in about 1840, they named it after Matthew Caldwell, a Texas army soldier and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The community sits at the junction of State Highways 21 and 36, about 27 miles west of College Station. Its 4,109 residents, many of them descendants of Czech immigrants, still see Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroad trains carry freight through their town, as they have for 111 years. For its first few years, Caldwell was the Milam County seat. It became the seat of Burleson County in 1846, when that county was established.

Today, Caldwell hosts several annual festivals that draw crowds from across the region. The Kolache Festival, held on the second Saturday of every September on the downtown square, attracts up to 30,000 visitors who eat thousands of the popular Czech pastries. It is the community’s most popular event. The weeklong Burleson County Fair is also held each September, and the Margarita Fest happens in May.

WHAT TO DO

Start with a visit to one of the town’s eight parks, playgrounds, sports courts and sports fields. Besides typical park amenities, the largest, Davidson Creek Park, 560 Davidson Creek Park, offers plenty of places for activities, including fishing ponds, a splash pad, horseshoe and washer pits, batting cages, a basketball court, disc golf course, and walking and jogging trails. Entry is free. The splash pad is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, and the park is open year-round. See a list of other parks in Caldwell at caldwelltx.gov/parks-and-recreation. 

Learn about the town’s history and explore historical documents at the Caldwell Historical Museum, 103 Texas 21, open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Learn more about Czech history and culture at the Burleson County Czech Heritage Museum, 200 E. Fawn St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. The nine-hole golf course at Copperas Hollow Country Club, 995 Country Club Drive, charges greens fees ranging from $15-$36 a person. It is open every day except Monday from 8 a.m. until dark.

Take a tour of Royalty Pecan Farms, 10600 Texas 21, a family-owned pecan orchard established in 1985. The next tour is scheduled for Sept. 2, and tickets go on sale in August. Admission is free for children 5 and younger and $14.99 for everyone else. A ticket includes 4 ounces of raw pecans and a bottle of water. 

GRAB A BITE 

Dining options in Caldwell ranked in Tripadvisor’s top three restaurants are:

The Garden Spot Cafe, 1301 W. Texas 21, which serves a variety of American dishes, including breakfast, sandwiches, salads and daily specials, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Indulge in fresh seafood infused with Cajun and Creole flavors at Texas Seafood and Steak House, 300 Presidential Corridor W., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 

Masfajitas, 305 Texas 36, offers Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 

Other dining options include Four Tines Restaurant at the Surrey Inn, 403 E. Texas 21, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday; Homestead Cafe, 198 Texas 36, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday; and Nonnie’s Bakery, 1601 Texas 21, open 6 a.m.-noon Sunday-Thursday, 6 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 

STOP AND SHOP

Caldwell has several boutiques and gift shops run by local entrepreneurs, including: 

The Humble Life, 100 S. Echols St., sells homemade soaps and body care products, artisan goods, and it has a smoothie bar, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Find gifts, paintings by local artists and drink mixes while you enjoy baked goods, breakfast or lunch specials, coffee or wine at Lissa’s Restyled Sip & Shop, 205 S. Main St., 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Other shopping options include Rocking 5H Boutique, 201 S. Main St.; Back Porch Antiques, 123 W. Buck St.; Mimosa Mercantile, 212 S. Echols St.; and Nono Rose Western Wear, 201 S. Main St.  

TIPS FROM LOCALS 

Plan your visit at a time when Jake’s Bakery, 160 N. Texas 36, is open, advises Susan Mott, Burleson County Chamber of Commerce director. There, Christine Campbell, the president of the Czech Heritage Museum, and her husband, Robert, bake authentic Czech kolaches to honor their heritage.

Get more information from caldwelltx.gov/explore and burlesoncountytx.com.

Sources: City of Caldwell (www.caldwelltx.gov), Texas Almanac, Texas State Library, Texas State Historical Association. 

This is part of a series of guides on spending a day in one of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s service area communities.

 — Harlye Bonorden contributed to this story

Line workers, barbecue team contend in annual competition at Nolte Island Park near Seguin

By Sidni Carruthers

Under the hot Texas sun, fueled by unwavering dedication, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative line workers, barbecue pitmasters and staff judges joined hundreds of colleagues from across the state in mid-July at Nolte Island Park near Seguin for the 27th Texas Lineman’s Rodeo. Before the temperature started to soar, over 200 line workers from electric cooperatives and utilities across the state got an early-morning start showcasing their skills and commitment to safety.

Nine journeymen and eight apprentice line workers from Bluebonnet competed at the July 15 event, and eight staffers were competition judges. Four line workers-turned-pitmasters competed for barbecue cook-off honors. 

The Bluebonnet teams’ day ended on a high note when the senior journeyman team of Michael Guajardo, Brandon Johnson and Kenneth Roush won first place in their division. 

Bluebonnet’s barbecue team of  Tra Muston, Kyle Kasper, Tim Grimm and Logan Lancaster competed against other pitmasters for best brisket, ribs and chicken. “We really enjoy coming out and competing. Everyone on the cooking team likes to come together and work toward a goal,’’ Kasper said. 

Daniel Fritsche, one of Bluebonnet's rodeo team coaches and an assistant superintendent of field operations in Bastrop, spoke with pride of the line workers’ efforts. “All of our competitors worked hard to get here. These guys not only practice for this day, but they also live it. They are out working for Bluebonnet members and then they commit to doing this as well. It takes a lot of dedication,’’ Fritsche said. “The senior team did a great job showing the apprentices how it is done. The skills they practice are good for competition, and also our ability to provide safe, reliable service to our members.’’

The 2023 rodeo team members were Brayden Bauer, Brad Young, Matt Mole, J.D. Boecker, Parker Redwine, Andrew Murphy, Nick Baker, Cooper Lucherk, Chris Rivera, Kendal Fiebrich, Troy Moore, Derek Morgan, Ty Duesterheft, Joe Lockhart, Michael Guajardo, Brandon Johnson, Kenneth Roush, and coaches Fritsche and Danny Bolding, a crew supervisor in Red Rock.

To stay safe and beat the heat, competition started at sunrise. “I reminded the guys to stay hydrated and take breaks between events. We have been training in this heat all summer, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t tough,” Fritsche said.

During competition, line workers raced against the clock to climb and work on unelectrified power poles, and to practice safely rescuing an injured co-worker from atop a pole using a heavy mannequin. Competitors also faced off in several ‘‘mystery events” that were revealed just two days before the competition. Line workers showcased their skills in wiring a transformer and changing out overhead power line equipment.

“I had a great time at the rodeo. I see what it takes to work hard and compete with other linemen. Overall it was a great experience and I learned a lot,” said Lucherk, an apprentice. Bluebonnet competitors were cheered on by their families, Bluebonnet members and other cooperative employees. 

Founded in 1996 and hosted by the Texas Lineman’s Rodeo Association, the rodeo events are designed to mirror challenges encountered daily by utility crews who work, sometimes in dangerous conditions, to provide reliable power to more than 28 million Texas residents. 

Two high school seniors represented Bluebonnet at the government youth tour

Some of the nation's most famous sites and symbols were among memorable stops for Johnique “J.T.” Thomas and Tara Williams, high school seniors who represented Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative on the 2023 government youth tour in Washington, D.C. 

   The two spent 10 days in the nation’s capital in June. Thomas, a student at Manor Early College High School, and Williams, a student at Colorado River Collegiate Academy in Bastrop, joined hundreds of teenagers from across the nation for the annual trip. 

   At Arlington National Cemetery, Thomas participated in the wreath-laying ceremony that pays tribute to the sacrifices of unknown U.S. soldiers. One of Williams’ favorite stops was the Library of Congress. Their Government-in-Action Youth Tour included visits to the U.S. Supreme Court Building, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives' chambers, the Lincoln Memorial, Mount Vernon and many other iconic locations.

‘‘I was surprised how accessible the people who run our government are,’’ Thomas said. ‘‘They had welcome signs on their doors saying, ‘Please come in.’ ’’

   Applications for the 2024 youth tour will become available on bluebonnet.coop in November.