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Rich in history, it's home to many Czech milestones and much more
By Alyssa Meinke
Fayetteville, just a 20-minute drive east of La Grange on Texas 159 in eastern Fayette County, is so rich in history that 345 properties there are on the National Register of Historic Places. The community has a past rooted in Native American settlements, followed in the early 1800s by settlers drawn by Stephen F. Austin’s land grants, who were followed by many Czech immigrants. The town went by several names, including Lick Skillet – a lighthearted reference to community festival latecomers who arrived after the food was gone — so all they could do was “lick the skillet.” It was officially named Fayetteville in 1844, after the North Carolina hometown of prominent local Republic of Texas citizen Philip J. Shaver. The community was home to many Czech milestones, including the state’s first Czech Protestant church and Texas’ first Czech band, the Baca Family Band, formed in 1892. The town of 250 still celebrates Lickskillet Days (don’t be late!) in October, ArtWalk in May, and Antiques on the Square in March and September.
WHAT TO DO
Start with a town square walking tour: Begin at the Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum, 119 W. Washington St., to see exhibits and get a tour brochure. It is open Sunday-Friday by appointment, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. most Saturdays, 979-249-6249. Check out the wood-frame Precinct 2 Courthouse, built in 1880 in the square; the Grand Fayette Hotel, built in 1900, with its wine bar/restaurant and store, 201 W. Fayette St.; and the Red & White Inn and Gallery, built in 1835.
Stop and sip at Blue Mule Winery’s tasting room and see its vineyard, 8127 FM 1291, noon-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, noon-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. If you prefer whiskey, try the handcrafted spirits at Rek Hill Distillery, 2737 E. Texas 159, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday.
View art displays or attend lectures on art, history or technology at Arts for Rural Texas, 114 N. Live Oak St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Get information on upcoming events at artsforruraltexas.org.
Lake Fayette, also known as the Fayette County Reservoir, northwest of town, is a 2,000-acre hot spot for bass fishing, boating and swimming. Oak Thicket Park, 4819 W. Texas 159, has 87 acres for water activities, hiking, biking or camping; day passes $7 a person, $4 for 65 and older, free for kids 12 and younger. Although partially under construction, Park Prairie Park, 1250 Park Prairie Road, features a boat ramp that remains open; visit Oak Thicket Park for day passes, $7 a person, $4 for 65 and older, free for kids 12 and younger.
GRAB A BITE
Dining options ranked in Tripadvisor’s top restaurants are:
Orsak’s café, offering country cooking, including chicken fried steak, 121 W Fayette St., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Joe’s Place, 120 N. Live Oak St., touts its all-American menu of steaks, seafood, burgers and more, 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
Other dining options include The 159 Junction, 3024 E. Texas 159, which also offers live music, and Pivo’s Ice House, 1564 FM 1291.
STOP AND SHOP
Several shops around the historic courthouse are owned by local entrepreneurs. They include:
The Vintage Rose Market, 124 N. Live Oak St., sells antiques, home decor and clothing; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.
Yesterday’s Past specializes in antiques, 112 N. Live Oak St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
Get a fresh floral bouquet and home goods at Bloom & Co., 126B N. Live Oak St., 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Other shopping options include The Spoiled Quilter, 405 E. Main St.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Country Glam Antiques and Treasures, 115 W. Fayette St., and Fayetteville Vintage Gallery, 202 N. Live Oak St.
TIPS FROM LOCALS
Take home fresh food from Yonder Way Farm. It offers grass-fed beef, pasteurized chicken and pork, eggs, bread, coffee, dairy and cooking oils. Place an order online at yonderwayfarm.com and arrange to pick it up by calling owners Jason and Lynsey Kramer at 979-530-4444.
The Fayetteville area is brimming with bluebonnets in the spring. Some of the best places to see them are along FM 955 southwest of Fayetteville. You can also visit the “viral” bluebonnet field 6 miles southwest of Fayetteville on U.S. 71, just east of Kitchen Lane. On a good spring afternoon, as many as 100 people may be taking family pictures there.
Get more information from fayettevilletxmuseum.org and greaterfayettevillechamber.org.
This is a 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.
What keeps them coming back each year — and what they are looking forward to at the 2023 in-person meeting?
We recently talked with four Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative members who have been regular attendees of the Annual Meeting for years. We wanted to know what keeps them coming back each year — and what they are looking forward to at the 2023 in-person meeting.
NANCY LITTLEFIELD
Resident of: Paige
Bluebonnet member for: 16 years, although Littlefield’s family members have been Bluebonnet members since 1939, the year the cooperative was founded.
Number of Annual Meetings attended: 22, including meetings attended with her family.
Favorite part of the Annual Meeting: In addition to the door prizes, Littlefield enjoys the music before the Annual Meeting begins. Her favorite was a fiddler at the 2017 Annual Meeting who had learned his skills on YouTube. Littlefield has won a few prizes at Annual Meetings, including the hammock she is sitting on, above.
HELEN WEISER
Resident of: Giddings
Bluebonnet member for: 16 years; Weiser’s family has owned land in Giddings since the 1940s, she said, making her a multigenerational member of the cooperative.
Number of Annual Meetings attended: 15
Favorite part of the Annual Meeting: “I just enjoy the information that is shared,” Weiser said. “I like to know where Bluebonnet is spending money to help communities and the service it provides.”
JIMMY AND YOLANDA DAVILA
Residents of: Luling
Bluebonnet members for: 13 years
Number of Annual Meetings attended: 10; Jimmy and Yolanda (here with dog Chloe) usually go to the meeting with their neighbor, Mitchell Short.
Favorite part of the Annual Meeting: The Davilas like learning about the cooperative and the activity in Bluebonnet’s service area. “After hearing about growth at the 2019 Annual Meeting, I felt informed and prepared for the changes when I began to see the construction around the Luling and Lockhart area,” Jimmy said. Yolanda said she likes the prizes, too.
DOUGLAS AND DIANE LEUTZ
Residents of: Lexington
Bluebonnet members for: 9 years
Number of Annual Meetings attended: 5; Douglas and Diane Leutz have attended every Annual Meeting since 2017; Douglas is a second-generation Bluebonnet member whose family were members for more than 40 years; he became a member in 2014.
Favorite part of the Annual Meeting: Douglas has been attending events at The Silos on 77 (formerly the Sons of Hermann Hall) his entire life, he said. He enjoys the parties there, especially on a Tuesday afternoon in May. “It is nice to be able to go and enjoy the memories I have there and see everyone at Bluebonnet,” he said. Diane said her favorite thing is a chance to win a truck.
Sarah Beal photos
