The video above takes you on a drive through New Waverly TX, a small town of about a thousand people sitting right off Interstate 45, roughly 55 miles north of Houston. It's tucked between Conroe and Huntsville, and the drive in sets the tone immediately — tree-lined roads, heavy green canopy, and that unmistakable feeling of being well outside the city. The Sam Houston National Forest is right nearby, and the Lone Star Hiking Trail runs a full 100 miles through the surrounding area, including a stretch called the Little Lake Creek Wilderness. David Bridwell stopped through New Waverly on his way to a gig in Conroe and spent some time walking the small downtown strip, grabbing tacos, and scoping out what the area has to offer musically.
What Live Music Can You Find Near New Waverly TX?
New Waverly itself is a quiet town, but you don't have to drive far to find live music. A couple of wineries within just a few miles of town regularly book performers, and Conroe is only a short drive south with a solid lineup of venues on any given night. Here's what's in the area:
- Golden Oak Micro Cellar Winery — A small winery about three miles from New Waverly that has featured live music events
- Tosca Winery — Located roughly four miles from town, another spot that brings in live music alongside their wine offerings
- The Firm Meadery (Conroe) — A meadery in Conroe where David Bridwell played a gig on this trip; they serve a range of meads, and the Triple Berry Mead is apparently the customer favorite
- The Corner Club (Conroe) — A Conroe venue where Casual Heathens were performing on this particular night
- Red Brick Tavern (Conroe) — Another Conroe spot that had Mississippi Smile playing live
- 202 Main (Conroe) — A venue featuring original songwriter performances; Mary Charlotte Young was playing here with original material
So while New Waverly won't have a packed honky tonk on a Friday night, the surrounding area — especially Conroe — has enough going on to make it worth the trip.
Small Town Stops Worth Checking Out
Walking around New Waverly's little downtown strip, there are a few things worth noting. Honey's Coffee is a local coffee shop in town. St. Joseph's Catholic Church dates back to the late 1800s and was originally built around a community of Polish immigrants — it's one of the more historically interesting spots you'll find in a town this size. Anita's Mexican Restaurant was the lunch stop on this visit, and the tacos did the job. There's also a visible water tower, high school signage, and a few antique spots that give the town its character. It's the kind of place where everything is within a short walk and people actually know each other.
If you're heading up I-45 toward Huntsville or just looking for a change of scenery from Houston, New Waverly is an easy detour with a genuinely relaxed small-town feel and some surprisingly good options for wine and live music just minutes away.