A Likeable Day in Luling TX

Sunday we headed into Luling to check it out. The main street in town is Davis Street where you will see palm trees. Luling was founded when the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railroad lines intersected a main wagon road from South Texas to Austin. In late 1874, the population was 800 to 1000, including drifters who gave the place an early reputation as a tough town. An oil boom began in 1922 and 125 producing wells have been drilled within the city limits. There are three major oil fields surrounding the town.

Our initial plan was to have lunch at the City Market famous for their pit cooked barbeque but they were closed on Sunday so we decided to check out Blake's Café also located on the main street. It was a very good decision.

The building itself is interesting. It was built in 1883 and has three foot thick rock walls. They have been painted over many times but they are still there. From the 1930's to the 1960's, it was home to several furniture business. Next it became a skating rink. It has housed a Cowboy Church, a steak house, and a memorabilia store. In 2002, it became Blake's Café.

It is a large open space which holds quite a few tables. It is a popular local favorite and the waitresses and one waiter were busy but very attentive to customers.

We couldn't pass up the special for the day....a prime rib sandwich with either fries or onion rings. It was fantastic!

Looks like this was a safe at one time.

Back out on Davis Street, this gentleman was selling pecans.

Down the road, we saw The Josey House. It was built in 1881 by Joseph Josey. It is a 2 story Classical Revival style home made from uncoursed native red sandstone. he interior features 12 foot ceilings, 18 inch thick walls, eight fireplaces, and a hand carved banister on the staircase. Although it has been renovated several times over the years, it retains the look and flavor of a bygone era.

Luling is famous for it's Watermelon Thump held annually since 1954 in August. This is where it all happens.

Another unique building is the Watermelon Spitway. Bet you can't guess what happens here!

We saw this sign and found and had to check it out.

Long out of business, this was a unique rock structure with several buildings.

This little building was part of the complex but we couldn't tell what it might have been used for. It had a door with a round opening about 8 inches across in the wooden door.

The top edge of the building is set with pointed rocks.

There were lots of cars on the block where Blake's Café was located but the other end of Davis was pretty quiet on Sunday afternoon.

The Oil Museum.....we will be back another day.

We also the William Johnson Cabin located on Blanche Square. He was a farmer and Baptist minister who came to Texas in 1833 and built this shotgun-style cabin near Tenney Creek 11 miles NE of Luling in 1870. The cabin was relocated in Blanche Square and restored by the Luling Garden Club in 1972.

 

It was an interesting first visit and we found lots of things that we will be back to see this week.