Luckenbach
Fredericksburg, Texas
There’s a reason they say “Everybody is somebody in Luckenbach.” With a population of only 3, this tiny town has big character and is a mecca for Texan musicians. Located near Fredericksburg on the backroads in the country, this is one of the most authentic Texas cultural places to visit. Get kids introduced to live music at afternoon singer-songwriter gigs on the Luckenbach stage.
Originally a community trading post in 1849 that also traded with the Comanche Indians, Luckenbach was almost a ghost town until 1970 when a newspaper advertisement listed it: “Town – population 3 for sale.” It was purchased by actor Guich Koock and Texas folklorist Hondo Crouch for $30,000. The town became known worldwide with Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson’s song “Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) as U.S. Billboard’s #1 country single in 1977. The stage showcased musical greats such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Pat Green, Gary P Nunn, Robert Earl Keen, Billy Joe Shaver, and Lyle Lovett and remains as a magnet for Texan musicians.
Luckenbach presents over 300 shows and events per year, featuring Americana, Honky-Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly, Roots Rock, Alternative Country and Blues. While a bar and dance hall might not seem like a kid-friendly destination, sitting at the picnic table on a Sunday afternoon listening to live music and having a hamburger under the oak trees is a perfect place to introduce kids to live Texas music. Let’s be honest, you owe your kids to learn about authentic music not synthetic music that caters to kids.
Luckenbach offers live music daily, and the store opens at 9 am. The nighttime concerts would be too much for kids, so save that experience for older teens. Check the events page for chili cook-offs and festivals that would also be kid-friendly.
Buying a Luckenbach t-shirt from the general store and having your picture taken with the Hondo Crouch bronze is a must for most visitors. The general store is kid-friendly with a museum-like atmosphere of yesteryear, and also stocks kid-sized shirts and some toys. It takes all of about 10 minutes to see everything in Luckenbach, but plan at least an hour if you stay for lunch.
Stop by the stage and enjoy the peace under the trees and you will understand why people from around the globe make Luckenbach a must-see destination. Luckenbach has a well-worn vintage eclectic vibe that makes it the only place in the world like it.
Do you need a ticket?
Luckenbach has both outdoor stage with some picnic table seating, and an indoor dance hall. Tickets are required only for some of the shows, so check the calendar in advance. If there is not a ticketed show, then visitors can come and go for free.
The outdoor afternoon shows around 1 pm or 5 pm would be ideal for kids, as they are often smaller crowds and acoustic bands. Outdoor evening shows at 8 pm would not be ideal for kids since it will be outdoors and dark, and I would personally be worried about my kid wondering off. An indoor evening show could be appropriate depending on the band that was playing. The Bruce and Kelly Christmas show indoors at the dancehall was an evening ticketed show, but very family-friendly.
The outdoor Luckenbach Feed Lot serves up hamburgers, brisket, bratwurst, pulled pork, sausage, chicken strips, hot dogs, frito pies, grilled cheese, fries, nachos and desserts such as funnel cakes and sopapillas. There are wooden picnic tables under the trees, so stay to enjoy the outdoor lunch.
Special needs:
The grounds, store and bar are wheelchair accessible. The ground surface is dirt, smooth but sometimes uneven and would be muddy after a rain.
Know Before You Go:
- Check the website for events that will determine whether you trip would be kid-friendly. Choose afternoon singer-songwriter events since some nighttime concerts would not be ideal for kids.
- Free admission, unless entrance charge for concert or event.
- It’s pronounced “LOO-kin-bahk,” and the beginning does not sound like “luck”
How To Get There:
Luckenbach
412 Luckenbach Town Loop
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
Luckenbach School
Just down the road, you can find the original Luckenbach School opened in 1855. Originally a log schoolhouse, limestone was added in 1881. A school bell rang at 9 am for the boys to line up at the left, and girls to line up on the right to enter the one-room schoolhouse for 1st – 8th grades. Older students would help the younger with grammar and math, and after school the boys brought in firewood while the girls swept the floor. The first graders cleaned the erasers, and the school day ended at 4 pm.
While you can’t enter the schoolhouse, you can peek through the windows to see inside the one-room schoolhouse to picture the past. The Luckenbach School is one of 17 schools on the Gillespie County Country Schools Driving Trail.
Luckenbach School
3566 Luckenbach Road
Fredericksburg, 78624
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