Spend a laid back weekend in Lampasas, Texas

Published By Ketki

Last Updated

Lampasas in Central Texas is a little gem out this way. I have mostly visited Lampasas on our trips to Colorado Bend State Park and San Saba from Houston. You can easily spend a weekend here and check out all the major attractions including Elvis’s favorite burger at Storm’s and a swim in Hancock Springs pool. The city was settled by the Comanche, Apache, and Tonkawa tribes before the first European settlers arrived in the 19th century – so there’s plenty of history here too.

There’s also a cool story behind it’s name. The city was originally called Burleson however the name was changed to Lampasas Springs after the discovery of several mineral springs. Legends say the name was inspired by a pretty Mexican town of the same name. The Springs was gradually dropped and the city came to be known after the county name, Lampasas. 

Lampasas Texas
Lampasas, Texas is a great spot to spend a laid back weekend exploring small town charm

Today’s Lampasas might be a regular Texan town, but take a walk and you can imagine it in its heyday. A grand time when the railroad brought prosperity and lavish spas were built around the healing springs. You can still see the vestiges of this splendor in historic downtown Lampasas. 

Fun fact: Did you know, Lampasas was once known as ‘Saratoga of the South’! 

Lampasas is just over an hour away from Austin and yet you feel as if in the middle of nowhere. Go just a few miles outside of the city center and you will be rewarded by gorgeous views of the night sky. It also makes a perfect base to explore the beautiful Hill Country.

Lampasas County bluebonnet and wildflower mural in downtown Lampasas near Austin Texas
Lampasas County bluebonnet and wildflower mural in downtown Lampasas near Austin Texas

Also Read: Best day trips from Austin, Texas

Be awed by the Lampasas County Courthouse

Located in the Town Square, you will find the majestic building of the Lampasas County Courthouse. It is a famous icon of this small town. The prominent building looks beautiful in a red and white color scheme and is very picturesque. 

The Second Empire style courthouse was originally built in 1884 and since then has been carefully restored. The limestone facade and the beautiful clock tower are especially worth seeing. We recommend walking around the courthouse and admiring its intricate details. 

Lampasas County Courthouse in Lampasas Texas
Lampasas County Courthouse in Lampasas Texas

Stroll around the Historic District

The Historic District of Downtown Lampasas Springs is a great place to walk and explore. The Lampasas County Courthouse and the Courtyard Square are the obvious focal points but there are also many other historical buildings in Downtown Lampasas from the late 19th century.

Many of these are located on Key Avenue, which is Lampasas’ Main Street. On the Third and Fourth streets, you will find pretty Victorian houses. These are together called the ‘Silk Stocking Row’ because they were built by wealthy merchants living in Lampasas.  

We enjoy walking around the historic district with a camera in hand – we have always found something interesting to photograph here! You will also find shopping, antiquing, art galleries, and more downtown. The Lampasas County Keystone Museum is also located here. 

Spot the beautiful murals

We love the wave of street art and murals that are transforming the small towns of Texas. From Brenham to Amarillo, we have seen beautiful murals bring to life abandon alleys and deteriorating buildings. Lampasas Springs is no exception. 

Located within the Historic District, the murals tell the interesting story of the origin of the town. The series of 13 murals display the heritage of Lampasas Springs and are excellent photo ops for tourists. You will find a variety of thought-provoking themes being reflected in the murals including downtown, mineral springs, cowboy lifestyle, etc.

The murals are definitely top Lampasas tx things to do. We especially love the Boots mural located at Western and 4th Street. Here you can see colorful cowboy boots in various patterns. You will find the Cruisin’ Key mural at 609 South Key Avenue. A mural dedicated to local musicians is at 213 S Key Avenue. The beautiful Lampasas County Wildflowers mural is at 516 4th Street.

See historical artifacts at Lampasas County Keystone Museum

At the Lampasas County Museum, you can see various exhibits related to the history of Lampasas County. You can understand the natural history of the area, see taxidermy animals that lived here including the bison, coyotes, and more.

You can also see historical artifacts such as a shoeshine stand, bank safe, and period furniture. We also love looking at the beautiful model of the Park Hotel that once existed in Hancock Springs Park.

The museum is located inside former plumbing and sheet metal shop, which served as an early stagecoach stop in the city. It is great fun to see these historic relics from the past. It is free to visit and an amazing place to spend time while visiting Lampasas. 

Try Elvis’s favorite strawberry shake at Storm’s Drive-In

Storm’s Drive-In Restaurant in Lampasas is somewhat of a legend. None other than famous Elvis Presley is said to have eaten here regularly while he was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen. Sightings of the iconic Rock n Roll singer driving up in his Cadillac were quite common in Lampasas in 1958.

The store’s name at the time was Dairy Cue. Elvis’s favorite order is said to be an old fashioned burger and strawberry shake. Today, you can try a variety of burgers, chicken sandwiches, tasty fries, ice creams and shakes at the restaurant. We especially love their cordon bleu burger.

See the World’s Largest Spur

Located just outside Hancock Springs Park, you will also find the world’s largest spur. Located just off Highway 281, this spur is definitely one of the most unique roadside attractions in Texas. It is a must among Lampasas things to do.

To find the spur, drive to the parking lot of the Texas Real Estate Sales office. The spur was created by artist Wayland Dobbs. The steel sculpture weighs over 10,000 pounds and is 35 feet high and 20 feet wide. There are cowgirl legs and boots on top of the spur and the Texas star. 

The spur is simply gigantic and looks brilliant when lit with neon lights at night. The gift shop behind the spur has a great variety of Texas souvenirs. 

Enjoy a dip in the Lampasas Mineral springs

Lampasas Springs is home to 7 mineral springs which became famous for their healing properties in the 19th century. The city was once home to several health spas where visitors could soak in the natural sulfur springs. Today, you can do the same at Hancock Springs Park in the free flow pool. 

Established in 1883, the bathing pools here are the oldest natural springs fed pools in the entire Lone Star State. The water temperature is always 72F and feels great in the summer. The water’s color is a pretty shade of turquoise. You can also go for moonlight swims in the summer. 

You can also visit the Historic Hancock Springs Bathhouse. Walking near the historic building and seeing its remains is a fun activity. The famous Park Hotel was once located here. It was two stories high and had over 200 guest rooms. 

Play golf at Hancock Park

While visiting Hancock Springs Park, you can also play golf at the Hancock Park golf course. The 18 hole golf course is quite beautiful and is spread over an area of 140 acres. The course is built around lots of native trees and the Sulphur Creek also flows through the course. It may be short but has quite a few challenging holes. The course also has a fully stocked pro shop where you can rent gear. 

Admire the artwork in Hanna Springs Sculpture Garden

At the Hanna Springs Sculpture Garden, you can find beautiful stone sculptures. This off the beaten path attraction has many unique sculptures including that of a winged pegasus. New colorful and vibrant sculptures are being continuously added to the park. 

The permanent sculpture collection is vast and new temporary sculptures can also be seen at various times through the Art in the Park initiatives. We recommend spending at least half an hour to walk around the park and enjoy the beautiful sculptures. The sculpture garden is located in Campbell Park. 

Go swimming at Hanna Springs Pool

Hanna Springs Pool is a public swimming pool in Lampasas. Families love cooling down here on hot summer days. The pool is large, nice, and clean and is a great alternative to the Hancock Springs mineral pool if it is crowded. There is a large bathhouse on-site with showers and changing rooms. 

Enjoy wildflowers at Cooper Spring Nature Park

What to do in Lampasas tx for nature lovers? Located in downtown Lampasas, Cooper Spring Nature Park is a wonderful place to visit for outdoor lovers. This park is dedicated to preserving wildlife. The park is free to visit and is like an oasis in the middle of downtown Lampasas.

The sprawling nature park has several hiking loop trails, native grass and cacti landscape, wildflowers, lots of butterflies, and even a bird sanctuary. This is a great place to take the kids for an easy morning or evening walk. You can also often see deer in the park. 

Go wine tasting at the nearby wineries

Because of its proximity to the Texas Hill Country, there are a lot of wineries and vineyards near Lampasas. You can go to the tasting rooms and enjoy the local vines or stroll through the vineyards and have a picnic on the grounds. Some of the great vineyards to visit near Lampasas include Fiesta Winery, Pillar Bluff Vineyards, Texas Legato Winery, Pilot Knob Vineyard, etc. 

See the ducks at W. M. Brook Park

Located right along the river, W. M. Brook Park is another great place to visit while in Lampasas. The park has a great playground for the kids and some great pedestrian suspension bridges across the river. On a walk, you can see the ducks, geese, turtles, and fish swimming in the river. Visitors can enjoy a bbq picnic at the park as well as go fishing in the Lampasas river stream. 

The park also has many seasonal events and attractions. In summer the outdoor theater in the park holds concerts and other performances. During the holiday season, this small park is beautifully decorated and has beautiful Christmas lights. This is a great place to take family holiday photos without the crowds if you are in Lampasas. 

Buy the Texas-themed yard decor at Rustler’s Junction

Rustler’s Junction is one of the coolest stores to go shopping in Lampasas. It has rugged wooden furniture, home decor, Texas-themed yard signs, cowboy boots, western-style clothing, rustic styles, and more. It is the perfect place to shop for farmhouse themed decor or rustic western decor. They also have amazing artwork, wall decor, pottery, and even wooden toys. 

Go antiquing at the Trading Post

The Trading Post, located in the Town Square of Lampasas, is one of the best places to go antiquing in Lampasas County. Here you will find about 40 different vendors under one roof selling a variety of antiques. Products range from furniture, yard decor, kitchen items, vintage finds, collectibles, and more. Marigolds Antiques & More is another great antique store in Lampasas.

Eat schnitzels at Eve’s Cafe

On our first visit to Lampasas, we were surprised to find an authentic German restaurant in the town. Eve’s Cafe is located right in Town Square and is a wonderful place to have a nice, sit down German meal. The cafe is famous for its schnitzels – breaded pork loins. They have over half a dozen different types of schnitzels and they all are delicious! Wash it down with a German beer and you are set for a great day in Lampasas. 

Play arcade games at Putters ‘N’ Gutters 

Looking for something to keep the kids satisfied in Lampasas? Then visit Putters ‘N’ Gutters. This bowling alley is amazing to visit for the whole family and has something for kids of all ages. From mini-golf to bowling and arcade games, this place is great to spend a day or an evening in the town. They also have sluices where kids can go panning for fossils and gemstones. 

Take a day trip to see the bluebonnets

Lampasas Springs is very close to both Marble Falls and Burnet, which are home to pretty bluebonnets in the spring. In fact, these are the best places to see bluebonnets in Texas. You can simply drive the countryside and spot the beautiful blooms. We recommend driving at sunset or sunrise to take stunning photographs of the blooming flowers. Also, stop in the famous Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls for a delicious breakfast. 

Enjoy the Spring Ho Festival in July

July is a fantastic time to be in Lampasas Springs. This is when the weeklong Spring Ho festival occurs. You can see parades, bbq cookoffs, beauty contests, and more during this time. The festival is great fun for the whole family. The Spring Ho Dance which takes place in the Town Square is also worth attending.

Hike to Gorman Falls in Colorado Bend State Park

Beautiful Colorado Bend State Park located on the banks of the Colorado River is just a short day trip away from Lampasas. The most well-known attraction here is the breathtaking Gorman Falls. You can hike to the falls and even swim in the natural spring. Other activities at the park include camping, kayaking, biking, and birding. The state park is a top things to do near Lampasas tx.  

We hope you liked our post on Best Things to do in Lampasas, Texas. Did we miss any must-visit attractions in this quaint Texan town? Let us know in the comments.

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3 thoughts on “Spend a laid back weekend in Lampasas, Texas”

  1. The Cherry on Top – diy art & ice cream shop is located at 407 S Western Ave in a beautifully restored 1885 building. They have 24 flavors of ice cream and have walk-in paint your own pottery and fused glass.

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