A quick drive from Austin, Houston, or San Antonio, La Grange offers tourists a wide array of historical and cultural activities. La Grange and Fayette County were home to thousands of Czech immigrants in the late 1800s, and their many of their heirs have remained in the area. While Texas is generally known for its flat, arid views, La Grange surprises with rolling hills, gentle wildlife, and hometown charm. Whether you are interested in antique cars, quilts, outdoor adventures, or mead tasting, La Grange has got something for you. 0La Grange is 1 hour from Austin.
Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites
History hounds will be impressed with Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites, which sit on a bluff above the Colorado River in La Grange. Monument Hill is a memorial to those who died during the Dawson Massacre of Mier Expedition, housing the bodies of the fallen in a crypt on site. Despite the somber nature of the memorial though, the beauty of the location shines through. Free guided tours of Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery, the ruins of which commemorate the contributions of German and other European immigrants, are available year-round. In December, a trail along the bluff and the Kreische House are decorated for the holidays and look especially stunning at night, and on the Saturday closest to September 18, the park honors those who fell in the Dawson Massacre with reenactments and various traditional salutes.
414 State Loop 92, La Grange, TX 78945-5733, Phone: 979-968-5658
Texas Quilt Museum
Quilting has long been a part of America’s history, and La Grange’s Texas Quilt Museum provides a perfect showcase for the beautiful art form. The museum has three galleries that span over 10,000 square feet in two historical buildings that date back to the 1890s, and the repurposing process kept much of the structural integrity of both buildings intact, including the original hardwood floors, brick walls and towering ceilings. Both antique and contemporary quilts are on display in the space, and they come from all over the world. This award-winning museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, and no visit is ever the same, as the museum changes its exhibits several times a year.
140 W Colorado Street, La Grange, Texas 78945, Phone: 979-968-3104
Fayette County Courthouse
Built in 1891, the Fayette County Courthouse boasts Romanesque Revival structural style and locally sourced blue sandstone, red Pecos sandstone, burnet granite, and Belton white limestone. The impressive 100’ clocktower and brass bell are remnants of previous versions of the courthouse, one of them built by German immigrant H. L. Kreische, whose homestead and brewery are highlighted elsewhere in this article. Both the inside and the outside of the courthouse have seen minor alterations and renovations over the last 120+ years, but the edifice has stood the test of time, its half-moon shaped courtroom witnessing justice being served in Fayette County since the paved roads were just dirt and transportation was horse-drawn.
151 N Washington St., La Grange, TX 78945, Phone: 979-968-3548
Texas Heroes Museum at the Old Fayette County Jail
Another historical location in La Grange, the Old Jail houses the Texas Heroes Museum, which “honors Texans who sacrificed to secure and defend freedom and liberty from the time of the Texas Revolution to present day,” according to the museum’s mission. The jail originally opened in 1883 and operated until 1985. Like the nearby courthouse, the jail was built from local blue sandstone, but its exterior “drunk boxes” were built from cement. These spaces held prisoners who were too incapacitated to climb the steps into the main jail, and one is still standing on site for visitors to check out. Don’t let this fact scare you, though. There are only four steps!
171 S Main St., La Grange, Texas 78945, Phone: 361-210-7318
Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center
Fayette County, where La Grange is located, is known as the “Cradle of Czech Immigration” and serves as home for the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center. Incorporated in 1997, the TCHCC built its current site in 2008 and has watched many buildings be donated and moved to what is now the Czech Village that surrounds the 10,000-square-foot building. Brought in from all over Texas and even the United States, donations include the Kalich Texas-Czech farmhouse, which now holds the Czech Music Museum of Texas, and the Hoelscher Haus, which houses the Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum, and many more. The Center is truly a sight to behold…and a jig to dance.
250 West Fair Grounds Road, La Grange, Tx, 78945, Phone: 888-785-4500
Reba’s Pizzeria & Deli
Joe Schroeder isn’t a Texas native, but folks who have eaten at his New York style pizzeria in La Grange don’t hold it against him. What started off as a tiny space with two tables has grown into three Reba’s Pizzeria & Deli locations that serve up fresh pizza, obviously, as well as salads, flatbread sandwiches, quiche, lasagna, wings, and more. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Reba’s in La Grange is a culinary treat brought to visitors through service and family values. Each of Schroeder’s four children have contributed to the restaurant’s growth, as has long-time friend and partner Luis, who is a familiar face in the La Grange location. Be sure to say hello if you see him while you’re enjoying a slice!
Reba’s Pizzeria & Deli, 539 E Colorado St, La Grange, TX 78945, Phone: 979-968-3100
Latte Cafe
Located just off Main St. in historic downtown La Grange, Latte Cafe serves up coffee, pastries, and entrees with love. Latte Café is open for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks Monday through Saturday and caters events of all kinds. The café is run by a family full of coffee lovers and has been serving the community for almost 15 years. Owner Laurie Pereyda says she and her family are “zealous about the flavor of coffee and the delectable taste of food,” and she hopes each guest feels like another member of the family. If you stop in for a sip, be sure to ask about Café Latte’s incredible custom cakes!
219 W Travis St., La Grange, TX 78945, Phone: 979-968-9545
Weikel’s Bakery
If you’ve spent the day learning about La Grange’s Czech culture and influences, there’s no place better to grab a bite than award-winning Weikel’s Bakery, which offers authentic Czech foods, most notably Kolaches (a doughy pastry that holds meat, cheese, or fruit). Jo Ann, owner Jim Weikel’s wife, uses a kolache recipe developed, perfected, and handed down through the women in her family for generations, and Weikel’s now ships its treats all over the country. Weikel’s has appeared in Road Food, Gourmet Magazine and on Martha Stewart Radio and was rated one of the top five bakeries in the country.
2247 W Hwy 71 Business, La Grange, TX 78945, Phone: 979-968-9413
N.W. Faison House and Museum
Recognized nationally for its contribution to social history, the N.W. Faison House and Museum is a great place to visit for curious travelers and individuals who want to learn more about La Grange’s history. This home is enjoyable for visitors of all ages and has many great hosts who can walk people through the home’s background and tell captivating stories from La Grange’s history. After all, this 150-year-old home belonged to Nathaniel Faison, a wealthy landowner, pioneer, and benefactor of freed African Americans. It remains to be one of the few examples of architecture from the pioneer days and is also a great example of what family life was like during Texas’ Gilded Age. See the home’s original furniture, household items, and various items of artwork on display at the museum.
822 S Jefferson Street, La Grange, Texas 78945, Phone: 713-628-9065
The Jersey Barnyard
In South Central Texas lies a four-generation farm that invites visitors year-round to visit and explore their 100-year-old grounds. This farm is called The Jersey Barnyard, and it is owned and operated by the Frerich family, who are passionate about dairy farming as well as teaching their visitors what agriculture and farming are really all about. From within their grounds, surrounded by lovely oak trees, families can meet the farm animals, tuck into some delicious ice cream, enjoy the sun of a relaxing porch, and take a tour of the farm operations from the back of a hay wagon. The Jersey Barnyard also hosts a farmer’s market every weekend, which offers grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and even raw jersey milk from 100% grass-fed cows.
3117 State Highway 159, La Grange, Texas 78945; Phone: 979-249-3406
