Most know this town as a quaint, laid-back Hill Country berg with one of the most-famous pie joints in all of Texas. While that’s all good and true, there’s another side to this Highland Lakes town -- an adrenaline-pumping adventure hidden just below the surface.
Culture
"Dead Man's Hole"
Back in the day, things could get rough. Outside of town there’s a limestone cave known as “Dead Man’s Hole” where outlaws dumped the bodies of Union sympathizers they killed during the Civil War. Legend has it, if you peak inside you might just find a ghosty or two…
Downtown Marble Falls
If it’s art you’re looking for then look no further. Downtown is full of incredible artwork on every corner, galleries aplenty and lots of places to express your own artsy self. My favorite gallery is the Highland Arts Guild and Gallery full of the works of artists from surrounding counties.
Don’t miss visiting this gallery where Dan and his wife will show you his incredible bronze sculptures of towering horses and men so lifelike, it’s hard to believe he made them out of clay. Dan can take you through the entire process of turning works of clay into lasting metal works of art.
Food
After taking in all the art and adventure, you’re bound to need an afternoon snack, and Blue Bonnet Cafe is the perfect place to grab a slice of oh-so-creamy homemade pie. And if you stop in any day between 3-5 p.m., you will get a slice o’ pie and a drink for $4! They’ve also got the best comfort food around.
Downtown you’ll also find R-Bar & Grill, the Southwest-meets-Mexican grill where they smoke their own fajita meat and pork that’s good on ANYTHING – salads, tacos, your arm… You can get all your Texas faves from Chicken Fried Steak and giant burgers to enchiladas and nachos — and it’s all AMAZING.
Then there’s Double Horn Brewing Company, an amazing brew pub with everything you need to unwind after a long day of trippin’: hoppy beers and hand-crafted food. Everything on their menu is good, but I really recommend the Bison burger topped with bacon, bleu cheese, and buffalo sauce.
Outdoors
Jolly Rodgers Paddle Co.
Unfortunately, this attraction has closed since we aired this episode, but you can still hit the lake and you jump in at Lakeside Park or Johnson Park.
For adventure junkies, the next stop should be Hidden Falls Adventure Park, a 2,700 acre outdoor playground with trails for jeeps, dirt bikes and ATVs. If you don’t have your own, don’t worry — they’ll rent you one and set you loose. It is AMAZING.
If you’re looking for something really really CRAZY – contact the folks at Fly Texas who will take you HANG GLIDING above Lake LBJ. You’ll be comfortably pulled up to 2,000+ feet by a boat, and then cut loose so you can soar down for a landing on the water. It’s one of the most incredible things there is to do in the Lone Star State.
Keep Exploring
Marble Falls, TX
