Gruene, Texas

                                     Friday 4/5/2013

After a few days of chill in, we went exploring beyond Canyon Lake.

We headed SW to the small town of Gruene Historic District. Gruene was put on the National Register Of historic Places in 1975.

After parking in one of the towns free parking lots, we strolled down the main street. Joe pointed out the extra large wind chime in the tree across the street.

I love the deep front porch on this old home. I want my next home to have a porch like this.

A close up of the huge chime.

It was a chilly day, so coats were needed.

Gruene was first settled by German immigrant farmers.

One of the many old homes turned into a shop.

Joe checking out Mozies Restaurant.

Joe points out the sign on the restaurant window. Wonder what it means?

There must have been a cobra outing this weekend, because we saw tons of them around Gruene and other places that weekend.

The oldest  dance hall in Texas. We couldn't check out the inside because the hall was rented out by a private party. Henry Gruene built this Dance Hall & Saloon  for the community.

Henry D. Gruene established a large cotton farming operation in 1870. He built a Cotton Gin in 1878 on the Guadalupe River. The Gin was destroyed in 1922 by fire. A new electric gin was built in a new location, and served the commuinity, until the cotton crop was destroyed by a boll weevil infestation in 1925. With the infestaion and then the depression, the community started to decline. The old Gin is now  the Old Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar.

 Gruene Mansion Bed & Breakfast.

Henry Gruene  went on the cattle drive  across the Rockies to Utah then came back to Texas, got married and became a successful business man and built most of Gruene.

Side view of the mansion.

Another of the many cute shops in Gruene. We had Mallery with us on this day, and Joe said we were just scoping out the town, and we didn't have enough time to shop.  I just windowed shopped that day. 

This is the second Mercantile store built by Gruene in 1904.

Joe sampling dips in the first mercantile shop also built by Henry D Gruene in 1878.

The mercantile store also served as a Post Office, and stage stop for the community of Gruene.

The Grapevine- a wine shop.

The wine shop had a nice place to chill out on a hot summer day.

Backyard of one of the shops with lots of yard decorations.

Check out the size of these pots!

I liked this wind chime made with crystals, old keys and metal hearts.

Signs made with rope, tools, door knobs, and assortment of reused wood.

We saw a Golden-fronted Woodpecker on a window of one of the shops.

We left Gruene and drove to New Braunfels to go grocery shopping before heading home.