Enjoy the barbecue, the oil museum, the lavender farm and, of course, the Watermelon Thump

By Harlye Bonorden 

The scent of sweet watermelon and smoky barbecue floats in the air of Luling, mixed with the subtle but unmistakable “smell of money” – oil – which gave the town a rich heritage and is still pumping in the region.  

Luling has more than 5,000 residents and 170 businesses, and is centered at the intersections of U.S. highways 90 and 183 and Texas 80. The community straddles the Caldwell and Guadalupe county line. Luling was established in 1874 with the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad, when trains carried cotton, pecans and cattle, which were hauled from Mexico to Kansas. Those rough and tumble days and rowdy cowboys gave Luling the nickname “The Toughest Town in Texas.”

In 1922, the discovery of the Luling oilfield led to a population and business boom by the 1930s. Though the oil slump of the 1980s impacted growth, Luling’s crops and livestock remain economic mainstays. 

Wondering if that’s a water tower or a giant floating watermelon on East Pierce Street? The community is still known far and wide for its celebration of the big beloved fruit at its annual Watermelon Thump festivities. The events began in 1954 and still attract big crowds the last Thursday-Sunday of every June. Go to newsite.watermelonthump.com for information.

WHAT TO DO

Luling Oil Museum, 421 E. Davis St., houses 100-year-old historic oil drilling tools and equipment, artifacts and documents that trace Luling’s history; admission $2 for an adult, $1 for children 12 and younger; open 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. After the museum, cruise the town’s major roads to see brightly painted oil pumpjacks that add color to history.

Luling Lavender Fields, home to nearly 2,000 budding plants and lots of lavender products, is near the intersection of Interstate 10 and U.S. 183, 5 Arrow Lane, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., daily. 

The Luling Foundation’s Agriculture Demonstration Farm, 523 S. Mulberry Ave., on 1,123 acres, 1 mile west of downtown; the foundation was started in 1927 by Luling’s oil king, Edgar B. Davis, for agricultural diversity education. The 96th annual Farm Field Day is May 18. Call 830-875-2438 to schedule a tour, 8 a.m.-noon or 1-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Zedler Mill Museum and Park, 1170 S. Laurel Ave., a tranquil setting to learn about the mill and cotton gin’s history; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, free admission. The park is also the takeout spot for the 6-mile Luling Zedler Mill Paddling Trail along the San Marcos River. 

Palmetto State Park, just 9 miles south of Luling, 78 Park Road 11 S., Gonzales; visitors can hike, swim, fish or camp; 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m., daily. Day passes $3 a person, free for children 12 and younger.

GRAB A BITE

City Market, 633 E. Davis St., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; a stop on the Texas barbecue trail and regularly featured in Texas Monthly’s list of the best barbecue restaurants. Try the ribs, sausage and beef brisket.

Other dining options ranked in Tripadvisor’s top restaurants in Luling are: 

Blake’s Cafe, 621 E. Davis St., 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Tuesday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. 

Mom’s Front Porch, 401 E. Davis St., 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday; 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. 

Meme’s Mexican Restaurant, 942 E. Pierce St., 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Saturday. 

STOP AND SHOP

Luling has several boutiques and gift shops run by local entrepreneurs. Here are four located on East Davis Street, the town’s main street.  

Luling Original Farmer’s Market, 708-798 E. Davis St., a variety of vendors sell produce, landscaping products, plants and other seasonal goods; 9 a.m.-7 p.m., daily.

For quilters, Holly Dee Quilts, 509 E. Davis St., sells fabric, thread, books and notions; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Owner Denise Green hosts a variety of weekly quilting classes for all skill levels; information and schedule online at hollydquilts.com. 

KK’s Antiques & Collectibles, 527 E. Davis St., also sells art, plus vintage candy and soda; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. 
Luling Emporium, 609 E. Davis St., sells antiques, furniture, gifts and collectibles; 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.  

OTHER SHOPPING STOPS

Craving Beaver Nuggets? Visit Buc-ee’s, 10070 W. I-10, for gifts, food and everything in between; open 24/7/365. A 75,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s under construction at the location will become the largest in the U.S. and is slated to open in 2024.

Luling Icehouse Pottery, 1115 E. Davis St., sells and displays clay-crafted pottery, and hosts pottery classes for children and adults; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Thursday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

TIPS FROM LOCALS

If you don’t know how much meat to order by the pound at popular City Market, speak to the staff in sandwich terms. “Tell them ‘I want enough sliced brisket for 3 sandwiches’ and they know how much you need,” said Ashley Flores, Luling Chamber of Commerce executive director. Plus, don’t forget the bread, pickles, onion and peppers in the back room.

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

Things to do in the Lee County seat 

By Alyssa Meinke

The heart of Giddings, home of the high school Buffaloes sports teams, is at the intersection of busy U.S. highways 290 and 77 in Lee County. The town is 55 miles east of Austin and 107 miles west of Houston. It was founded in 1871, after brothers J.D. and DeWitt Giddings financed the Houston & Texas Central Railway, which transported cotton from Houston to Dallas and fueled an economic engine for the region. Giddings was incorporated in 1913, with 2,000 residents, and a 1980s oil boom brought growth. Today Giddings has more than 5,000 residents.

WHAT TO DO

Altman Plants, 1180 Private Road 2906, 3½ miles west of downtown off U.S. 290, is the largest commercial nursery in Texas. You can stop and browse through the assortment of discounted plants for sale to the public from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. While you’re there, admire its more than 50 acres of massive greenhouses.

Check out one of the state’s largest privately collected arrowhead displays at the Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center, 276 N. Orange St., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. 
Also worth a stop is the historic 1879 Schubert-Fletcher Home housing the Lee County Museum, 183 E. Hempstead St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Although construction partially blocks the view, stop to admire the architecture of the Lee County Courthouse, built in 1899, 200 S. Main St., and the many murals around the city, particularly the historic Depression-era mural inside the post office, called “Cowboys Receiving the Mail,” 279 E. Austin St., which is also U.S. 290. Get more information at co.lee.tx.us and giddingstx.com.

Looking for live music or a screen to watch sports? Check out Giddings Brewhaus, 199 N. Burleson St., from 3-11 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. Home of the “Zoch Bock,” Brewhaus serves craft beers, wines and food, from pizza and hot wings to German specialties like schnitzel. 
Before you strike out for home, hit one of the 16 lanes at Leesure Lanes bowling alley, 2249 W. U.S. 290, from 6 p.m.-midnight, Fridays and Saturdays. 

GRAB A BITE

Reba’s Pizza & Deli, 208 E. Austin St., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, is a good spot to stop for lunch. It serves homestyle soups, wraps, salads, quiche, specialty pizza and more. Save room for homemade fudge or a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream. 

Other dining options ranked in Trip Advisor’s top restaurants in Giddings are: 

Los Patrones Mexican Grill, 2880 E. Austin St., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. 

Taqueria Chihuahua, 1865 E. Austin St., 5:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
City Meat Market, 101 W. Austin St., 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Saturdays.

STOP AND SHOP

Giddings has several boutiques and gift shops run by local entrepreneurs. Here are three located close together: 

Ashley’s Attic, 687 E. Austin St., is a one-stop eclectic shop for gifts, clothes, accessories and Kendra Scott jewelry; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m.  Sundays. 

Gourmet Divas, at 721 E. Austin St., is a local favorite for cookware, bakeware, spices and kitchen gadgets; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Divas hosts cooking classes periodically; get information at facebook.com/gourmetdivastx. 

The Grapevine, 790 E. Austin St., sells gifts, apparel, footwear, home and seasonal decor, plus bags and purses, including those by Consuela; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. 

Some other shopping options:

For quilters, All Around the Block Quilt Shop, 979 N. Leon St., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, is a haven for fabric and sewing supplies.

For antiques, stop by Whistle Stop Antiques, 1122 E. Austin St., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, or Roadhouse Antiques, 791 E. Austin St., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 
Rejuvenation Thrift Store, 179 S. Main St., 9:30 a.m-1 pm. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; benefits local residents in need.

TIPS FROM LOCALS

If a train is chugging through town, traffic can back up on either side of the tracks on U.S. 290. If you’re headed west, take a left turn on East Hempstead Street and drive parallel to U.S. 290 to avoid traffic in town.     

Take an Instagrammable cruise through town by following the map from the Giddings Chamber of Commerce’s driving tour; get information here. 

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