Impeckable Aviaries' Unofficial Guide to Johnson City and the LBJ Hill Country

Important Landmarks:

Crider's Motel

This motel is for me -- a child of the 50's -- what motels are all about. A family run buisness owned by Byron and Billie Crider, it has all the feel of a home away from home. Rooms are comfortable and come with a variety of options, including kitchenetts to allow for your own home cooking. A most impressive aspect about this motel is its garden ringing the driveway: an impressive stand of yuccas and Ocotillo cactus tells you (if you are travelling from east to west) that you are finally in the old West and have left the Piney woods and rolling hills of the east behind. You might persuade Byron to give you a couple of his LBJ stories if you are lucky.

Important note: Byron Crider passed away this year(2003) and Billie, his wife and co-manager of the motel has decided not to keep her place open. We will all miss Bryon's and Billie's symbol of their love and devotion to Johnson City and as a place of rest and respite. Over the years, the motel afforded so many travelers and passersby a truely unique experience. We also miss Bryon's insight and stories as he was one of the Historic Review Board's own members working to keep Johnson City the same. Byron was also one of our LBJ Birthday celebration panelists who shared their recollections of those with personal rememberances of knowing Lyndon Johnson. He was a great asset to our city and our celebration. He is sorely missed. I leave my description of Crider's Motel above as a tribute to a real jewel of Johnson City.

Where to Eat in Johnson City:

Look on line using any internet service such as this one: http://www.yelp.com/johnson-city-tx-us for recommendations on eating in Johnson City.

Obvioulsy a visit to the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum
in Austin is a must. The third most popular presidential library contains items of interest on display and exhibits the life and career of President Johnson. Dedicated by President Nixon, the library helps keep President Johnson in the headlines. Over the last several years, the realese of President Johnson's tapes made during his administration have been revealed to the public and press. These tapes give detailed and important insight into the Johnson Presidency that no other administration has equalled. Historians and the public at large are the beneficiaries of the behind the scenes power plays and dealing revealed by these tapes.

Blanco County -- Portal onto the Edwards Plateau and West Texas

Sights to See

Blanco County Courthouse. There is an interesting story about Johnson City as the location of the county courthouse that goes back almost a hundred years ago. I'll fill it in as soon as I get an accurate copy of the story.

LBJ Ranch, State Park and Sauer-Beckman Farm

Sounds

Pedernales River Sights and Sounds
Pedernales Falls State Park
is located just 13 miles east of Johnson. A former ranch, the park was opened to the public in the early 70's. We used to drive to the park on rough, narrow, unpaved county roads to get to the park. The park was completely undevelped at the time and had no facilities for public use. We liked the rustic nature of the park as it approached being what the Hill Country was like before the arrival of Europeans a few centuries ago. Pedernales Falls State Park
Unique characteristics of LBJ Hill Country include:
Weather - wind, extreme weather, long periods of drought and wet years of above average rainfall that brings out marsh loving plants and animals
Armadillos, Bats, Bison, big cats, beavers, birds, coyotes, and livestock--all part of the Natural History of LBJ's Hill Country
Army convoys, pickup trucks, cattle trailers, tractors, and tourists - and now vineyards and wine tasting tours.
Blanco County Fair and Rodeo
Live music- in various venues around town and the area. See especially Hot spots in Lukenbach and Kerrville.

Gillespie County - Blanco County's Big Brother

Sights and Sites

Fredericksburg, Jewel of LBJ Country

Where to Eat in Fredericksburg:

Fredericksburg is famous for its historic downtown and German cuisine. There are numerous restaurants where German food is the specialty fare of the menu; all these are worth trying. Among the eateries one should not miss includes the Altdorf, The Old German Bakery, Friedhelm's Bavarian Inn, Rathskeller, Auslander Biergarten, and Der Lindenbaum. Beers here in town are also very good, either imported or domestic and special brews from local breweries. If you've got a few days, of course, you can give them all a try. Start with breakfast at the Old German Bakery and have their amazing and delicious German pancakes. They hang over the huge plate!

Lady Bird Park

Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park is on U.S. 16 south of Fredericksburg right next to Gillespie County Airport. The park has RV hookups, a golf course, and a baseball field. Most importantly for nature lovers is a nature trail that traverses an interesting portion of Live Oak Creek along which the park is located. Many species of plants and animals are found along the riparian habitat of the creek and the rock exposed along the banks and along the trail of the park are identified in a nice little exhibit. You can see photos of this park here: Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
located 16 miles north of Fredericksburg. As the Texas Parks and Wildlfile web page notes, this park used to be private land but was purchased by the Nature Conservancy in the early 80's. Notice too, that the Park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is noted as a National Natural Landmark. It is undoubtedly an important and scenic landmark.

Llano County - Blanco County's Other Brother

Lake Buchanan

Lake Buchanan and the Llano River are two destination spots for escape and recreation.

Things to Do

For Nature lovers, there is Enchanted Rock from the north, Inks Lake State Park southeast, and Lake Buchanan north of town. Hunting, fishing, boating, kayaking, birding, golf and other outdoor activities are all within reach in the region.

Where to Stay

E-mail Impeckable Aviaries

Back to main page Page 1