The video above follows a road trip through Hico, Texas, a small town of just over a thousand people located about 80 miles southwest of Fort Worth along Route 281. It's the kind of place you might blow right past if you didn't know what was waiting on Main Street — but that would be a mistake, especially if you're into live music, good food, and quiet historic towns that haven't been polished into something they're not. David Bridwell stopped through Hico while driving the scenic route from Austin up to Fort Worth between gigs, and the town turned out to have a lot more going on than you'd expect from its size.
A Small Texas Town With Real History
Hico got its start in the late 1800s as a railroad trading town dealing in cotton and other goods. When the main highway eventually bypassed it, the town got isolated — but that isolation is part of what kept it intact. The historic buildings along Main Street still have old painted advertisements on their sides, and the whole area is walkable since the highway doesn't cut directly through. The town's tagline is "where everybody is somebody," and it has that feel. Today, ranching and tourism drive the local economy, and it's become a popular weekend getaway for people coming from Austin, Marble Falls, or Fort Worth. There's hiking, fishing, and camping nearby, and the downtown area has spots like Wiseman House Chocolates and Hico Popcorn Works for snacking between stops. There's also a Billy the Kid Museum — a local resident once claimed to actually be Billy the Kid, and there's a statue in town to go along with the story.
Where Can You Find Live Music in Hico, Texas?
For a town this small, Hico has a surprising number of spots where you can catch live music. Here's what's along and around Main Street:
- The Historic Midland Hotel and Shophouse — A restored historic hotel right on Main Street that hosts live music and has a real old-Texas feel to it
- Gonna Be — A local spot along the Main Street strip that features live music performances
- Eis — A unique stop in downtown Hico with live music; the spelling is E-I-S
- Green Canoe Outfitters — An outfitter shop that doubles as a live music spot, blending outdoor culture with Texas tunes
- Wild Saddle Saloon — A saloon with live music that fits the honky-tonk side of the Hico experience
- Hico Hall — Located a short drive from the main downtown stretch, this is a larger event space that books bigger touring acts passing through the area
Worth the Detour on Route 281
If you're driving between Austin and Fort Worth and you take Route 281 instead of the interstate, Hico is an easy and worthwhile stop. The Tex-Mex at Jersey Lily is a solid pick for a meal, the main drag is compact enough to walk in an afternoon, and you've got a real shot at catching some live music on any given weekend. It's not trying to be anything other than what it is — a quiet, well-preserved small Texas town with good food, a little bit of weird history, and more music than the population would suggest.