Home Care In Kingsland, TX

Grand Central Cafe in Kingsland is now Hooper’s. The restaurant’s new owners are embracing its horror film credits with the name change.

Fans of the 1974 cult classic “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” will recognize it as the main setting and home of Leatherface, the movie’s terrifying antagonist. Years later, the house was moved to Kingsland from Round Rock and, in 2012, became Grand Central Cafe.

It’s namesake, the late, acclaimed horror director Tobe Hooper, a Texas native, kicked off the “Chain Saw Massacre” franchise and also directed the 1982 hit “Poltergeist.”

“We think it’s a brilliant name for what the house is,” said Simon Madera, one of the new owners. “Tobe Hooper made that house famous, and it would be ridiculous for us to not pay homage to him as a director.”

Madera purchased the restaurant and nearby Antlers Inn with wife Hobie Sasser and good friends Courtney and Mike Rhodes.

Renovations and utility upgrades are underway, but the business at 1010 King Court is open. The owners merged the restaurant with the once-separate Club Car Bar into one business. A temporary pop-up menu is available and drinks are still being served from the bar during construction. Indoor seating is available.

Madera will be the hands-on operator of Hooper’s and The Antlers Inn. He is an avid restauranteur responsible for the Taco Flats restaurant chain. Business partner Mike Rhodes has a background in high-end architecture and construction.

“We feel great about it,” Madera said. “We feel really good about the direction we’ve taken, the name we’ve chosen, and the layers of food we’re adding.”

Currently, the restaurant is serving food from the Taco Flats menu out of a trailer on site, but a Hooper’s-specific lineup is in the works and will be implemented once the interior kitchens are finished.

No specifics on the nature of the new menu have been released, but Madera alluded to approachable Southern cuisine in an interview with DailyTrib.com.

Former Club Car Bar owners Sandy and Brad Jones are still managing the bar portion of Hooper’s while renovations take place. Much of the staff from Grand Central Cafe and the bar are still on board.

“We’re looking to build a strong local team that can handle the workload and execute the quality that we are accustomed to,” Madera said.

Another aspect of Hooper’s is the coffee shop and bakery, formerly Kingsland Coffee, which is attached to The Antlers Inn, just a short walk from the main restaurant. The coffee shop is in operation, serving fresh-baked pastries daily.

The new owners project a full opening by March with various stages unveiled as work is completed and plans come to fruition.

Hooper’s is open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and Sunday and 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday.

Access to a formerly private section of the Llano River has been opened to the public by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The Kingsland Slab RV Camp is now part of the department's River Access and Conservation Areas Program. It is one of three new access points opening to the public in the state through this program. The other two are on the Brazos and San Marcos rivers.

“Texas has over 40,000 miles of perennial rivers and creeks, and with 95 percent of the land held in private ownership, it can be a real challenge finding safe legal access for paddling and fishing,” said River Access coordinator John Botros. “These three newest leased access areas are great locations for bank, wade, and kayak fishing and paddling opportunities for the public.”

Five public access points are now available on the main stem of the Llano River. The Kingsland site has 750 feet of river frontage for bank or wade fishing. RV camping is available with electric, water, and sewer hookups. The campground is located on River Oaks Drive, one mile from the RR 1431 West and Slab Road intersection.

“The Kingsland Slab is an excellent place to catch white bass when they are running upriver in the early spring,” reads a Texas Parks and Wildlife news release. “When rains provide flow and water temperatures reach 55 to 60 (degrees), white bass gather in the upper ends of Lake LBJ and begin migrating into the Llano River. White bass spawn over gravel or rock in 2 to 8 feet of flowing water.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife establishes lease agreements with landowners to increase river access for both anglers and paddlers. Since 2012, more than 20 public river access leases have been established with cooperating landowners. These agreements for leased access areas enable or enhance paddling and river fishing on more than 211 miles of 10 different rivers across Texas. A map, area descriptions, and special conditions on public use for each site can be found on the River Access and Conservation Areas webpage.

River Access and Conservation Areas are funded by a combination of sources, including donations from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, sales of the Texas Rivers Conservation License Plate, and grant awards through the U.S. Farm Bill and Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Other Llano River public access points under the jurisdiction of Texas Parks and Wildlife are:

For more information on other river access initiatives, including the Texas Paddling Trails Program, visit the TPWD River Fishing page.

Junction Prime offers locally sourced steak and high-quality seafood at 1020 Altman St. in Kingsland. The restaurant opened for business on Oct. 14 as the latest addition to the Railyard District’s hospitality hotspots.

The steakhouse features an upscale menu built around prime cuts from MTX Beef, a Mason County-based cattle operation. Seafood, cocktails, and wine fill out the selections. Walk-ins are welcome, but a reservation system is also in place. For now, the restaurant is open from 4-10 p.m. on Thursdays and 4-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Junction Prime has been in the works over the past year, a project put forth by the same business partners who recently opened Hooper’s (formerly Grand Central Cafe) and bought the historic Antlers Inn. The three businesses are now connected by a large community space that stretches from Junction Prime on Altman Street to Hooper’s and Antlers Inn on King Court.

Keep up with Junction Prime on its Facebook page, or contact [email protected] or 325-295-6352 for more information.

The Marble Falls Mustangs (1-6, 0-3 district) lost 46-22 to the Taylor Ducks (4-4, 1-2) in a District 13-4A home game on Oct. 20 after trailing 10-7 at halftime.

It was a tale of two halves for the Mustangs, and head coach Brian Herman had mixed emotions on the defeat.

“I felt really good about where we were headed,” he said. “It seems to be a same song, next verse, where we get late in the game and we don’t seem to have enough and teams start to separate from us.”

The Mustangs defense started out hot, forcing a three-and-out courtesy of tough coverage and strong play inside by the linebackers. The offense was unable to return the favor, failing to convert on a fake punt on fourth down at midfield.

Taylor senior running back Jackson Meller breathed new life into the Ducks offense with several shifty runs, putting his squad into scoring position. Mustangs junior safety Kole Becker responded to the run attack, forcing a fumble on the 1-yard-line to keep the contest scoreless.

The Ducks once again found themselves in scoring position after another unsuccessful Mustangs drive, but the Marble Falls defense held again, forcing a turnover on downs on fourth-and-2.

Mustangs senior Jaime Castillo followed the defensive stop with an electrifying 89-yard rushing touchdown up the middle of the field to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

Taylor answered on its ensuing drive with a 31-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Miguel Morales after several pass plays by senior quarterback Joshua Mikulencak put the ball in range.

Castillo continued his dominant running on the next Marble Falls drive with several big rushes inside to push the ball to midfield. The senior back ran out of gas on a fourth-and-short play, giving the Ducks the ball with a hair under three minutes left in the half. The Ducks capitalized with a 3-yard touchdown by senior running back Marcus Jackson and took a 10-7 lead.

To open the second half, Marble Falls junior quarterback Colton Minor found sophomore Joaquin Aguilar streaking down the middle of the field on a 43-yard touchdown pass. The unorthodox play call gave the Mustangs a 14-10 lead early in the third.

The Ducks jumped back in front quickly when Mikulencak found senior wide receiver Jordan Pickereill on a 23-yard pass across the middle of the field, gaining a touchdown advantage. After forcing a Mustang punt, Taylor added its lead with a high-arcing, 80-yard touchdown pass from Mikulencak to Meller, pushing the score to 24-14 late in the third.

A pivotal 4-yard run on fourth down at midfield by Marble Falls’ Castillo on the next drive created some much-needed momentum for the Mustangs on the final play of the quarter. But the Mustangs’ offense ran out of juice later in the drive, leading to a long punt by senior Isaac “Larry” Larranaga to put the ball inside the 10-yard line.

Unphased by the poor field position, Mikulencak found his brother, senior wide receiver Jake Mikulencak, on a 65-yard touchdown to push the Ducks’ lead to 31-14 midway through the fourth quarter.

Penalties by the Mustangs on the ensuing drive hampered the squad’s chances to respond to the Taylor score. A muffed punt by Larranaga led to excellent field position for the Ducks on the Marble Falls 25-yard line. Senior running back Kytrevius Sanford scored a touchdown on the next play to further his team’s advantage.

A big kick return by Marble Falls’ Aguilar put the ball on the Ducks’ 39-yard line with less than five minutes left in the contest. Four plays later, Minor found junior wide receiver Jett Martich on a touchdown pass. Castillo punched the ball in on a two-point conversion to make it 38-22 with four minutes left.

The Mikulencak brothers connected one final time on a 66-yard touchdown pass for the Ducks late in the fourth quarter. A two-point conversion pushed the game out of reach for the Mustangs.

“(The Ducks) average 40 points a game,” Herman said. “They’re explosive, they’re electric, they’re dynamic. They’ve got playmakers all over the field. That’s what I was afraid of.”

The Mustangs are still seeking their first District 13-4A win of the year in their final road game of the season against the Lampasas Badgers (6-1, 2-0 district) at Badger Field, 190 E. Avenue B in Lampasas. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

“We’ve got to fight for pride at this point,” Herman said. “Mathematically, I don’t see a chance for anything at this point. We’ve got two of the best teams in the district for the final two games, so we’ll have to assess our health and see who’s ready to go.”

Great rivers and lakes snake up and around the county, transforming the hillside into a bountiful area enriched with history and adventure. Kingsland remains a place filled with stories, historical railroads, and beautiful sites visitors come to explore. Looking for things to do in Kingsland TX? Kingsland welcomes its visitors by introducing them to a plethora of activities such as boating, camping, and a serene environment only Kingsland can provide.

Go for a Swim

Llano Slab, also called “The Slab,” is located along the Llano River, one of the great rivers that runs through Kingsland. This is an absolute must when looking for things to do in Kingsland TX, with its crystal clear waters flowing over giant granite slabs (the origin of its name). Llano Slab beckons visitors and locals alike to refresh and cool off, or simply to lounge and relax on the stones.

Rent a Boat

Looking for a way to explore the many lakes and rivers in Kingsland? Splash Boat Rentals is one way to beat the Texas heat, located east of Kingsland near the Colorado River. Splash Boat Rentals provides its customers a variety of watercrafts such as jet skis, ski boats, and paddle boards to name a few.

Or Rent a Cool Car

Other modes of transportation don’t stop here. Polaris Slingshot Rentals offers a fun way to explore by providing a three-wheeled motorcycle to cruise around the streets of Kingsland.

Camp & Swim

Long’s Fish and Digs is the perfect combination of camping and adventure. This little camp site along the Llano River is open all year round. Long’s Fish and Digs remains a favorite spot for locals, with lakes dispersed throughout, providing the perfect place to fish, swim, or explore for the day.

Explore Nearby Burnet

Don’t hesitate to explore Burnet, just a mere county over from Kingsland. As close as it is to Kingsland, Burnet has its own distinct beauty and endless sites to wander through, like the Longhorn Caverns or Inks Lake State Park. Burnet encapsulates both a historical and whimsical essence with its sites, antique stores, and The Falkenstein Castle. Click here for things to do in Burnet TX.

Where to Eat in Kingsland TX

Located in the railroad district near the Colorado River lies Hooper’s. Once a filming location of an American slasher film in the 1970s, the house has since been transformed into an elegant restaurant, an emblem of High Hill hospitality cuisine.

Boat Town Burger Bar is a joint along the Llano River that offers mouth-watering burgers and appetizers worthy of a taste. It’s an excellent way to spend the day while savoring the views and the food.

Need a place to unwind while absorbing lakeside views and enjoying a steaming cup of coffee? Stop by Lazy Heron Coffee House, locally-owned and operated by a lovely family whose goal is to provide “high quality hand-crafted beverages” with a peaceful lake atmosphere.

Where to Stay in Kingsland TX

Back in the 1900s, the Antlers Inn originally began as a hotspot for railroad travelers to stay. The Inn closed down and reopened in the late 1990s, fully transformed into the historic landmark hotel that it is now. Over the years, it has held a part of Kingsland’s history, maintaining its atmospheric Victorian-style estate. The Antlers Inn uniquely offers guests different lodging options to choose from, such as standard hotel rooms located inside the building, cabin cottages, or train cars that are fully furnished. Whether you simply tour the grounds or decide to book a stay, the Antlers Inn is a fantastic place to feel like a time traveler or rather a train traveler.

If you’re looking for something more quaint and private, check out this tiny home rental in Kingsland. It comes with a rooftop and a beautiful interior that makes for a wonderful stay!

Things to Do in Kingsland TX: Final Thoughts

Kingsland’s overall essence matches its surrounding landscape beautifully. Whether you decide to book a stay at the Antlers Inn and savor the history or to simply dine on the river, enjoy conversation, and simultaneously watch the water gently lap against the stones, Kingsland’s entrancing atmosphere welcomes everyone.

You can drink Leatherface lemonade and a bloody massacre while you're there.

KINGSLAND, Texas — No need to wait until Halloween to be spooked.

You can dine in the original home featured in the 1970s film Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

It's the white, Victorian home that introduced the world to Leatherface and brought fear to all who dared to enter.

“After watching the movie, you kind of look around and wonder if something is going to jump out at you,” a visitor said.

The home in the original classic horror film is in Kingsland and it's open for the public to explore first hand. It's called Grand Central Café. You can also eat and sleep at the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre gas station in Bastrop.

WATCH: Eat and sleep at the original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' gas station

“Sometimes you hear little footsteps upstairs,” said Sabrina Wills, who is a server and shift leader at Grand Central Café.

From the famous dining room to the stairs, “where the lady falls down and out the window. We got grandpa's room upstairs. There may be things that go bump in the night up there as well.”

PHOTOS: Original Texas Chainsaw house in Kingsland

PHOTOS: Original Texas Chainsaw house in Kingsland

1 / 5

KVUE

Fans and locals alike can relive the eerie experience over a nice meal.

“Our burgers come stabbed with knives in the middle,” said Wills.

And they may get a surprise visitor from Leatherface himself.

“I can imagine getting chased around by someone with a chainsaw,” said Phil Grace, who visited Grand Central Café.

After your spine-chilling meal, you can check out the signed photographs from some of the actors and buy a souvenir or head to the bar and grab a Leatherface lemonade or "bloody massacre." All of these spooky features attract people from all over.

RELATED: You can eat and sleep at the original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' gas station

“We've had Italy, France, Sweden,” said Wills.

Horror movie fans come to check out this home that may have more than just scary past. Some employees think it could be a little haunted too.

“You may be standing here and get a waft or the chills and its like ‘oof,’" said Wills.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The home was originally located in Round Rock, but moved to Kingsland in 1998 in six different pieces.

Here's a tour of the inside of the restaurant.

PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: