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Welcome to Stonewall Texas – the Hill Country of Texas! If you’ve been to Fredericksburg, you’ve passed through Stonewall Texas without even knowing it! This town might be tiny but there’s a lot of fun things to do. Frolick through the vineyards at the local wineries, eat peaches freshly picked from the local peach orchards, learn how to can vegetables, explore LBJ State Park, and more in Stonewall Texas.
SEE ALSO: Things To Do In Austin, Texas
Here’s my guide to planning your perfect weekend trip to Stonewall Texas!Table of Contents
Top Things To Do In Stonewall Texas
Wine Tasting at Pedernales Cellars
Pedernales Cellars is one of two wineries that are in Stonewall Texas that specializes in Spanish and Rhone style wines. Located on 140+ scenic acres, Pedernales Cellars is received several awards for their wines including Double Gold for their 2012 Viognier Reserve at Lyon International Wine Competition in France! Be sure to visit their tasting room for a wine tasting – cheese boards are available on the weekends.
2916 Upper Albert Rd, Stonewall, TX, pedernalescellars.com
Other vineyards in the area:
- Woodrose Winery
- Becker Vineyards
Crowson Wines
If you’re lucky to meet the owner, Henry, during your visit, he’s super friendly and funny. My first pour on this trip was at Crowson Wines and I loved that pour so much that I went back for the bottle.
102 N Ave G, Johnson City, TX, crowsonwines.com
Ab Astris Winery
Family-owned, boutique winery dedicated to producing handcrafted vintages in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Located next to the LBJ State Park, you can enjoy a glass of 100% Texas wine under the oka grove while looking out at their twelve-acre Estate vineyard.
Hours: Friday 12-5pm, Saturday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-5pm
320 Klein Rd, Stonewall Texas, abastriswinery.com
William Chris Vineyards
William Chris has always been one of my favorite Texas wine brands and I was very impressed by their beautiful vineyard and tasting room.
Hours: Monday to Wednesday from 10-5pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10-6pm, and Sunday from 11-5pm
Reservations required
10352, US-290, Hye, TX, williamchriswines.com
Signor Vineyards
Signor Vineyards has been on my list to visit so I was very happy to visit the vineyard on this most recent trip! The restaurant and vineyard is absolutely beautiful and I loved my experience here.
362 Livesay Ln, Fredericksburg, TX, signorvineyards.com
Sip sparking wine at Grape Creek Vineyards
It’s hard to miss Grape Greek Vineyards while driving down US 290 with all the beautiful rows of grapevines. You’ll feel transported to Tuscany with Grape Creek Vineyard’s 100-acre Texas hill country estate, winery, and Tuscan Villa tasting rooms while trying their 90+ point wines. They also have live music events throughout the summer – check out their calendar here.
10587 E U.S, US-290, Fredericksburg, TX, grapecreek.com
Eat fresh peaches at Gold Orchards
There are two local peach orchards in Stonewall TX: Gold Orchards and Burg’s Corner. I got to visit Gold Orchards and visit their peach orchard to see them not only pick peaches by hand but they also let me pick some! Gold Orchard is not a pick-your-own orchard but you can buy their freshly picked peaches at their store.
Gold Orchards was started in 1940 and the peaches have been hand grown and hand picked ever since. Harvest season is mid-May through August. You can buy peaches by the bushel along with freshly baked pies like cherry, pumpkin, apple, and peach pie by the slice or whole. Gold Orchards also makes bread, preserves, jams, jellies, butters, and more. Don’t miss the soft serve peach soft serve during the peach season!
14329 US-290, Stonewall, TX, texaspeaches.com/gold/
Peach Jamboree
Speaking of peaches, Stonewall Texas is known for its annual Peach Jamboree this year’s 60th Annual Stonewall Peach JAMboree is on June 17th, 18th, and 19th, 2021. Visit the website for more information.
Take photos at Wildseed Farm
Wildseed Farms is the largest working wildflower farm in the nation and it’s located in Fredericksburg Texas! The farm has over 1,000 acres in Texas and over 200 acres of wildflower fields. You’ll be blown away by all the colors of the wildflowers! You can also
100 Legacy Dr, Fredericksburg, TX, wildseedfarms.com
Learn canning with Perfectly Preserved
I got to learn how to make my own pickled asparagus and green beans with Arin of Perfectly Preserved! We learned how to put the vegetables into the jars along with the spices while sipping on wine and snacking. After a quick boil, we got to take the jars of pickled vegetables home! Classes include dill pickles, pickled asparagus, pickled beets, pickled green beans, pickled jalapeños, salsas, and preserves. Classes are available from April through September.
411 Ranch Rd 1623, Stonewall, TX, perfectlypreservedtx.com
Explore LBJ National State Park
“All the World is Welcome Here” – Lyndon Baines Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park was located right next to each other but visit the State Park Visitor Center for a permit and map. Nestled along the Pedernales River, both parks document the origins, ancestry, and life of the 36th President of the United States. As the nation’s president from 1963 to 1969, LBJ loved Texas and flew 74 times during his presidency. Don’t miss these park highlights:
- Suer-Beckmann Living History Farm
- Texas State Bison Herd
- Texas Longhorns
- Danz Cabins – earliest German cabins
- Swimming pool
- Tennis courts – free to the public
- Baseball field – free to the public
- Pedernales River – fish for free from the banks
- Texas White House
1048 Ranch Rd 1, Stonewall, TX 78671, nps.gov/lyjo/index.htm
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Best restaurants in Stonewall Texas
Stout’s Trattoria
You’ll feel like you’re dining in Tuscany with a gorgeous view of Grape Creek Vineyards in the background. This vineyard restaurant serves cheese and charcuterie platters, chef-inspired entrees, appetizers, fresh salads, and stone-baked pizzas. I loved the rendezvous pizza with a glass of sparkling Grape Creek Vineyards rosé!
WHAT TO ORDER: Rendezvous pizza, Mediterranean salad with salmon, and the chef-inspired burger of the week.
10587 E US Highway 290, Fredericksburg, TX, grapecreek.com/item/3-trattoria
Hye Market
Hye Market is a local spot that serves only lunch from Wednesday to Sunday – hummus, salads, pizza, sandwiches, and sides. Some of the produce used by Chef Matt is from their own farms and they make their own dressings, butter, and smoke their own meats. Hye Market is the very first Texas restaurant to serve only Texas wines and is WG certified.
The restaurant is located in the historical Hye Post Office that still operates! In the early 1900s, Hiram Brown built a mercantile store and post office in Hye and thanks to him the area flourished. You can read and experience the history of Hye at Hye Market!
WHAT TO ORDER: Miss Karen, pork belly sandwich, potato salad, and a berry tart with ice cream.
10261 W. Hwy 290, Hye, TX, hyemarket.com
Bryan’s on 290
Located down on 290 from Stonewall Motor Lodge is Bryan’s on 290 with indoor and outdoor dining. Every Tuesday, Bryan’s does a 5-course meal for only $40!
WHAT TO ORDER: Brussels sprouts and cast iron salmon with garlic mashed potatoes
300 E Main St, Johnson City, bryanson290.com
Chase’s Place Cocktails + Kitchen
If you’re looking for a spot to cozy up for cocktails, go to Chase’s Place. There’s a beautiful garden in the back with a chicken coop.
WHAT TO ORDER: Caesar salad with steak and a side of truffle fries
313 E San Antonio St, Fredericksburg, TX, chasesplacecocktails.com
Best hotels in Stonewall Texas
Stonewall Motor Lodge
On my most recent trip to Stonewall and Fredericksburg, I stayed at Stonewall Motor Lodge. This classic 1960s roadside motel is located at the heart of the famous Hwy 290 Wine Trail. Stonewall Motor Lodge was the destination for journalists, reporters, photographers, Secret Service, celebrities, and politicians during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s term and originally housed the room for the Associated Press.
Amenities
- 12 rooms, 4 cabins, and 4 RV sites
- Each room comes with a mini-fridge and Keurig
- The Barn
- Observation deck
- Wifi
14818 US-290, Stonewall, TX, stonewallmotorlodge.com
Diamond Ranch
I wanted to stay in Stonewall for a couple of days to leisurely explore the wineries, eat the local food, and soak in the Texas Hill Country so I stayed at the Diamond Y Ranch. For groups of two, stay at their Dog Trot Cabins and for groups of three or more, stay at the Homestead (pictured above).
A little history of the property, this is supposedly the largest portion of the original homestead of Christian Vogel who immigrated to Gillespie County from Germany. The original house was built if logs and limestone in about 1867 and then modernized in 1993. The Dog Trot Log Cabin was added in 2000 and the Diamond Y Saloon is a family-friendly game room. Diamond Y Ranch is a working Ranch of 600 acres with cattle, sheep, donkeys, and calves!
3503 Ranch Road 2721 Fredericksburg, TX
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