The video above is a walking tour of Grandview, Texas, a small town of nearly 2,000 people sitting in Johnson County at the junction of Highway 81 and Interstate 35 West. David Bridwell stopped through on a drive between Austin and Fort Worth, taking some time to walk around and film what the town looks like today. Grandview is about two hours north of Austin and roughly thirty minutes south of Fort Worth, making it one of those easy highway stops you might blow right past if you're not paying attention.
A Quick History of Grandview
Grandview started as a land grant back in the 1850s. Supplies were hauled up from Houston, and the town got its first general store in 1850, which helped establish things early on. The name came from a comment by John Whitham, who reportedly looked out and said "what a grand view." Like a lot of small Texas towns, Grandview eventually relocated about a mile from its original spot to line up with the railroad in the later 1800s. That railroad-era layout still shapes the town's footprint today.
What Is There to Do in Grandview, Texas?
The main drag runs along a street called Kryer, and it has a small-town feel that's pretty genuine. You'll find TexMex, a donut and pizza spot, a bank, and a community center all within a short stretch. For anyone interested in live music, there's one spot worth knowing about:
- Firefly Hall and Stage — A local venue in Grandview that hosts live music from time to time, right along the town's main street area
Grandview also puts on the Antique Alley event, which spans from Grandview up to Cleburne. That event brings in arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, antiques dealers, and live music. It's one of the bigger draws for the area and a good reason to plan a visit if you time it right.
Grandview as a Stop Between Austin and Fort Worth
If you're driving I-35 between Austin and the Fort Worth area, Grandview is a natural place to pull off and stretch your legs. It's not a destination with a packed calendar of nightly shows, but the small-town community feel is real, and events like Antique Alley give it some character beyond just being a highway town. David Bridwell was passing through between gigs — playing shows in the Austin and Hill Country area and heading up toward a run of Fort Worth dates — and Grandview fit right into that route. It's the kind of place that rewards a short stop and a walk around, even if you're just passing through on your way to somewhere else.