Lockhart is home to Smitty’s Market, but that’s just the beginning of what this Texas town offers
(Credit: Samantha Saenz)
Lockhart is synonymous with barbecue, so much so that it’s been dubbed the Barbecue Capital of Texas. As a result, every year, people make a pilgrimage to indulge in the holy trinity of meat perfection, otherwise known as Black’s, Smitty’s, and Kreuz.
This small Texas town of 12,000, located just 30 minutes south of Austin in Caldwell County, has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a cowboy town along the Chisholm Trail. Lockhart is even starting to expand past its reputation as The Lone Star State’s ultimate barbecue destination–though that reputation is still firmly in place.
The “city with a vision” has become a home for breweries, musicians looking to escape Austin’s skyrocketing prices, and big city-esque establishments. You should expect to linger longer when you explore downtown because there’s much more than barbecue waiting to be discovered.
I was told by a local that if you open your heart to San Saba, the little town will wrap its ever-loving arms around you in a tight embrace. For the 48 hours I spent there, that’s precisely what I experienced. I knew no stranger, and no stranger knew me. As I headed back to Austin, I knew I’d just had one of the best Texas weekends of my life.
