Home Care In Johnson City, TX

Over the last decade, people from around the world have been making the trek to the tiny New Mexico village of Cloudcroft for one big reason: to sample the smoked meat at Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue. The creation of Lockhart native James "Mad Jack" Jackson, Mad Jack's stands as a must-stop destination for barbecue fanatics nationwide, but after years away from home, Jackson is readying his return to the Lone Star State.

Jackson, who still travels to Lockhart every six to eight weeks to load up on firewood for the pits, spent the last year searching for the perfect place to open Mad Jack's Hill Country Barbecue, his first-ever Texas smokehouse. He finally revealed images of the new location earlier this month but left the address a mystery until closing on the site. Well, as of Tuesday morning, November 25, Mad Jack's is officially coming to Johnson City, setting up shop in an old farmhouse on US 281 North.

"I just kind of saw it out of the corner of my eyes as we were going across the Pedernales River, and on the way back I said 'let's go stop and look at that place,'" Jackson said to MySA. "And so anyway, we stopped and looked at it, and it really got me kind of excited. I love the location, right on 281 and right on the river. There's a big chunk of land, it's got enough land where maybe in the future we could build a home on it."

The property was formerly a family-owned homestead whose owners were friends with President Lyndon B. Johnson, Jackson said. They had been gifted presidential memorabilia over the years, such as teacups from Air Force One, books signed by LBJ, and a hat from the president; the latter the family gifted to Jackson with his purchase.

Mad Jack's is now committing $2 million toward renovating the property into a barbecue destination fit to attract fans from across the Lone Star State. Still, it was not the first location Jackson and his team looked at. They checked out properties in Corpus Christi, where his daughter is a nurse practitioner, Gonzales, Schulenburg, Blanco and even made an offer on Kendalia Halle — the historic dance hall that abruptly closed last year before going for sale— before falling short.

Jackson added that his daughter has been wanting to move into the Hill Country, near Fredericksburg, so the new Mad Jack's will give him a chance to be closer to her and his grandkids.

"I have one that's just 1 year old, and the other one is 3," Jackson said. "I'll tell you, one thing that pushed me to really think, I was making these trips to the grandkids and realizing how much I've missed them and how much distance I put between me and them and my kids also. Me being so far away from my kids has really been probably my only regret."

Jackson will plan to split his time between Cloudcroft and Johnson City once Mad Jack's opens its new location, but he told MySA he'll be spending the majority of time in the Hill Country to be closer to family.

Mad Jack's Hill Country Barbecue is aiming to open on April 1, 2026, bringing with it the atmosphere, service and food that have made it one of the best Texas-style barbecue joints outside of Texas since 2015. Guests will be able to dine on Lockhart-style brisket, smoked turkey, meaty ribs, the best mac and cheese you'll ever have, incredible cornbread and even some green chile creations to bring a taste of New Mexico back to Texas.

If all goes according to plan, Jackson hopes to see Mad Jack's in Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ Joints list come 2029.

"That's on my list of things due before I retire," Jackson said to MySA. "I think a lot of people probably think I've lost my mind, go start a brand new business, especially a restaurant-style business, but I'm just not ready sitting on the porch yet. I love the challenge of it all."

Find it: 624 N. US 281, Johnson City, TX 78636

A new wine-inspired luxury residential community has finally begun construction in the Texas Hill Country after it was first announced in January of 2024.

The forthcoming 208-acre development includes a world-class vino operation close to home — like in your backyard close.

Puerta del Lobo, a prestigious Mexican winery and lifestyle destination, officially broke ground on the upscale community project in Johnson City, about 25 miles outside of Fredericksburg, according to an October news release.

The winery and its holding company, CB Wine Tourism Developments, won the title of "Mexican Winery of the Year 2025" from the Mexican Association of Sommeliers this year. The project will span across 54 minimum three-acre lots in the Hill Country along U.S. 290, a corridor referred to as the Texas Wine Trail.

This is the brand's first project in the U.S., and it includes plans for a working winery, among other top-notch amenities. Each home will come with its own vineyard, surrounded by event spaces, green spaces, a central clubhouse, pickleball courts, golf simulators, a wedding venue, commercial areas and an "exclusive" boutique hotel, according to Puerta del Lobo's website.

There will also be three chef-led restaurants serving up Texan, traditional Mexican and European food. Information found on the development's website shows that Puerta del Lobo homeowners will have the option of crafting their own personal wine with the support of a master winemaker.

"Our vision for Puerta del Lobo is to create a place that feels authentic to the Hill Country setting, while offering a destination that elevates local culture, celebrates wine, and builds community," said Luis Miguel Correa, CEO of Puerta del Lobo.

Puerta del Lobo has not returned MySA's request for comment. According to the San Antonio Business Journal, home prices will start at $2.9 million for the $30 million development.

Developers say the project is expected to bring several long-term hospitality jobs to the region.