ATTRACTIONS
MUSIC, BARBECUE AND LUCKENBACH TEXAS L
uckenbach Texas calls music lovers from all around the world to the Hill Country with its live music, attractions and history.
Known for its “everybody’s somebody” attitude and live entertainment, Luckenbach Texas has grown to be one of the Hill Country’s most soughtafter destinations, with music fans making their pilgrimage to the spot made famous in the 1977 hit by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Bikers, music lovers, hippies and fun-seekers of all kinds congregate under the live oaks to soak in the atmosphere. With its store, dance hall and picnic tables, Luckenbach — with a sign that jokes “Population 3” — is its own destination. Open daily at 10 a.m., the store offers visitors an old-fashioned experience and merchandise ranging from the nostalgic to those bearing the iconic oval logo of the town. The “feed lot” adjacent to the dance hall caters to hungry visitors with barbecue, burgers, sandwiches and more. Luckenbach Texas also hosts national and regional music acts during regular concerts. Those who prefer quieter times can join a regular pickers’ circle and mingle through music with locals.
HISTORY Some visitors may not realize the history of the place that goes back far beyond the 1970s. Luckenbach began in 1852 when Jacob Luckenbach and his brothers, William and August, moved to the area from Fredericksburg and began farming. William Luckenbach opened a post office under the name of South Grape Creek in 1854 and it operated for 11 years. In 1886, August Engel Jr. reopened a post office for the community, along with a general store in the Engel homestead. It was named Luckenbach by Minna Engel, who had just married Carl Albert Luckenbach. (Nearby Albert is named after him.)
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Engel and his descendants later moved the post office and general store down the street, adding a blacksmith shop, dance hall and cotton gin. In the 1970s, the Engel family sold the town to Hondo Crouch, Kathy Morgan and Guich Koock. The years that followed saw Luckenbach gain national attention as the “metropolis of mirth,” thanks largely to Crouch’s far-reaching humor and connections. The place gained huge notoriety with the Waylon and Willie song, along with a live recording by Jerry Jeff Walker, “Viva Terlingua.” From 1995 through 1999, Willie Nelson held his storied Fourth of July picnic at Luckenbach. Today, one can find local and traveling musicians on stage or at a Picker’s Circle, a weekend dance in the hall or one of many special events the town has scheduled. Check www.luckenbachtexas.com for current performer and event information.
LUCKENBACH TEXAS 412 Luckenbach Town Loop Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Phone: 830-997-3224 www.luckenbachtexas.com
Spring&Summer2021
