Thorndale is an old Texas town that cropped up along the railroad lines in the late 1800’s. It is located in the heart of Central Texas and is very close to Austin. If the rural, small town life is what you’re looking for, then definitely check out Thorndale real estate.
Here are a few of Movoto’s favorite things about this charming Central Texas town.
Thorndale was established in 1878, shortly after the International-Great Northern Railroad was built through the area. The town was named by a railroad employee who picked the name Thorndale because of the thorny vegetation in the region:-mesquite thorn, prickly pear, and sagebrush. Pretty soon, a post office, a store, and a hotel opened, and by 1884 Thorndale had a church, a school, and 130 residents. The town is very much the same today as when it was founded, and that is the appeal to many who call Thorndale “home”. The local economy is hugely dependent on agriculture today, just as it was over 100 years ago. The 1,300 residents of Thorndale enjoy all the charms of living in a small town: a darling main street, Christmas parades and tree lightings, ribbon cuttings, BBQ cookoffs, trail rides, meet the candidate forums, and the circus coming to town. The schools are small, too; the town has one elementary, one middle, and one high school.
Thorndale residents love their quiet little town, but also enjoy the proximity to Austin and all that the state capitol has to offer. You can visit the Capitol Building, Bullock Museum, and Governor’s Mansion. Austin is also the live music capitol of the world with 250 music venues and a vibrant arts scene. The city has ballet, world-class museums, fantastic shopping, and beautiful outdoor spaces like Town Lake, all of which are just a short 1-hour drive away.
A local named Mr. Caruthers lived east of this new town in Williamson County. But it seems that he didn’t want to leave the Milam County land he lived on, so he purchased more land in
Milam County, then approached the owners of Thorndale in Williamson County to purchase all the buildings in the town. He did, and moved them across the Williamson/Milam county line to make the new town of Thorndale. Mr. Caruthers later donated one acre of land for the first public school.
Another interesting fact: In the 1940’s, Thorndale was known for the number of beer establishments in its city.
The people who settled Thorndale came from the southern states and countries in Europe, particularly Germany and Czechoslovakia. In the 1840’s, thousands of immigrants came to the Republic of Texas, and many settled in the Thorndale because of its rich, fertile soil. Immigrants typically landed at the Galveston Port and traveled by ox cart up to Central Texas. These communities flourished, and still proudly promote their successful blend of German and Czech heritage with traditional Texas hospitality.
Groups like the The German-Texan Heritage Society and The Czech Heritage Society of Texas were founded by descendants to preserve and promote the rich culture of the families that immigrated to Texas. Both societies offer information on Texan history and genealogy seminars and research tools, guest speakers, and several published history booksl. Both offer popular German and Czech language classes for both adults and children.
Most importantly, these heritage societies sponsor spectacular cultural festivals, with plenty of beer, bratwurst, and kolaches to feed an army. Nearly all the German towns in the area host their own down-home version of Oktoberfest. Perhaps the most famous festival is the 10-day “salute to sausage” called Wurstfest, held annually in New Braunfels. Sprechen sie fun?
Thorndale is ideally located in Central Texas and as such, there are many spectacular day trips you can take.
The town of Fredericksburg is a very popular destination due to its authenticity as a German town. Its charming Main Street is filled with antique stores, authentic German restaurants, Tex-Mex eateries, and comfy bed-and-breakfasts. You can view explosions of color at Wildseed Farms, the country’s largest wildflower farm.
You can get a glimpse of the area’s German heritage by visiting Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites. Learn the history of Monument Hill and the 1840’s Texas heroes who died to keep Texas free. Visit the brewery, home of German immigrant H. L. Kreische, to see what life was like before the Civil War.
Other towns like Waco (home to Baylor University and the Dr. Pepper museum), Salado, Georgetown, and San Marcos are also fun outings. Adventurers flock to the limestone caves and subterranean caverns of the geological wonder that is Longhorn Cavern State Park. You can swim under a waterfall at Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve or innertube down the Blanco River.
Texas is known for its state park system, and nearby Lost Pines Bastrop State Park has opportunities for backpacking, camping, picnicking, hiking, and wildlife viewing. You can hike on a 12-mile scenic trail through forest to Buescher State Park, another beautiful forested area. Nearby Lake Bastrop is gorgeous and offers boating, fishing, swimming, and water skiing. There are other beautiful Texas parks within a 50-mile radius, too, including Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway and McKinney Falls State Park
Microbreweries are abundant in this area, and the region’s natural limestone, superb for grape growers, is why there are 46 spectacularly beautiful wineries dotting the hills of Central Texas.. Five million annual visitors enjoy discovering the personality, and style of winemaking at each of these unique and lovely vineyards.
The bluebonnet flower is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, and in the spring, you will see thousands of visitors stopped on the Central Texas roadsides to snap those gorgeous family pictures.
You will love the rural charm and beautiful Texas rolling hills that Thorndale has to offer.
