Luckenbach Texas – A State Of Mind – A Texas State Of Mind
These days Luckenbach Texas is, to paraphrase John Steinbeck, a state of mind – A Texas State of mind, where you can kick back relax and get away from the hustle bustle of everday life – like a step back in time.
This tiny hill country hamlet where ”Everybody’s Somebody” was established as a Trading Post in 1849 making it one of the oldest settlements in Gillespie County. The Post Office/General Store/Beer Joint, was first opened in 1886 by August Entel, an itinerant preacher from Germany, who’s daughter Minna chose the name Luckenback in honor of the finance, Albert Luckenbach.
The Trading Post catered to pioneer farmers and Comanche Indians alike. A steam-powered cottongin was built on the banks of Grape Creek in 1879, and operated with varying degrees of success until it finally closed in 1929. By 1885, the community boasted a blacksmith shop and a consolidated school. There was even a local legend – Jacob Brodbeck, who is documented to have flown a heavier-than-air craft decades before the Wright Brothers.
In 1970-Luchenbach, which remained in the hands of the Engel family the whole time, fell into eclipse. Benno Engel retired as postmaster and placed an ad in the local paper: “TOWN FOR SALE”- lock, stock and dancehall. At this point, Luckenbach’s second life gegan. Luceknbach was purchased by a colletion of only-in-Texas characters-Hondo Crouch and his cohorts, Guich Koock and Kathy Morgan, who had what might charitable be described as over-active imaginations. Hondo imagined it was an old west fairy-tale-like principality and gave everybody title. He formed a make-believe town and proclaimed himselp Mayor. He made Marge the Sheriff and appointed ambassadors to foreign countries. The trio began to use the nearly-abandoned buildings as a backdropfor anythin that smacke of mirth and diversion: “Hug-Ins”, a Luckenbach World’s Fair, Ladies State Chili Bust, the Mud Dauber Festival – and daily sessions of song-picking, domino plying and beer drinking beneath the 500-year-old oak trees. Today, over thirty years later, these events are still celeberated and the pickers are still pickin’ out under the big oak trees.
In the Nineties, Luckenbach became something of a cottage industry, a trademark-registered slice of old-time Texas. After some $75,000 in new wiring, septic system and long-overdue improvements, the old dance hall and general store two-stepped into the 21st century. For several years, Willie Nelson returned to Luckenback annually for this 4th of July Picnic with thousands of his closest friends.
The legendary dance hall still hosts weekly dances by some of the best Texas musicians. Come and partake of the timeless ambiance, the cold beer, and the increasingly rare sense of being in the center of the universe, a place where everybody is truly somebody. Many of the Luckenbach faithful celebrate the music, magic and memories of times they’ve spent in Luckenbach by returning for special occasions. Somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty private parties (weddings, receptions, birthday & corporate parties) are booked each year, keeping the dance hall alive almost every weekend.
Today, Luckenbach reflects an eclectic mix of its early history, the larger than life persona of Hondo and an unrivaled legacy of great music that makes us all feel like somebody.
Don’t forget to contact us for your personal tour around the Central Texas Hill Country.
Enjoy the music!
Darryl and Anita Dismuke
Avalar Austin Real Estate
512-610-5000
830-637-9192
830-637-0006
