I have driven through Hico Texas many times throughout the years. it is nothing flashy city, but you can tell there is something hidden that is interesting. I did a little checking and found out that Billy the Kid lived there and died there. Or so it seems because history has told us he died in New Mexico shot by Pat Garrett.
Tracy and I woke up early and hit the road with coffee in hand. We took the convertible because it was so sunny outside. Instead of having breakfast at home or on the road, we decided to have brunch in Hico. By the way, it is pronounced Hi Co, not like hiccup.
Heading north on Highway 281, it took us about an hour and a half to get there. It was a nice drive, hardly anyone on the road. The top was down, beautiful Texas sky, hardly a breeze. At the corner of Highway 281 and State Road 6(2nd Street) we saw the Koffee Kup Family Restaurant to the right. The place looked busy, so we decided to give it a shot. The main parking lot was full, we parked in the outside lot. This is a family owned restaurant and had a constant flow of people. Many were welcomed by name as they walked inside.
Tracy and I both had omelets with home fried potatoes. Both had a nice flavor and were fluffy. They also served homemade biscuits. The coffee cups never went below the halfway mark. We spent the time getting our bearings and decide the rest of the day. By the way, they are known for their pies and country fried steaks. We will have to come back to try their specialties.
In less than 45 minutes our bellies were full and we headed downtown. We could have walked. Downtown is on 1st street and a block east of Koffee Kup.
One thing I find interesting about these old historical areas, the streets are wide! The buildings were built before the auto industry got started. The street had to be wide enough for a horse and wagon to be able to make a 360. The city took that extra road space and made plenty of parking throughout downtown.
You can tell the city has been making great efforts to restore downtown.
Our first stop was the Billy the Kid Museum. This is not a fancy Museum with Federal or State funding. It runs off of private donations and is a self-guided tour. It is full of period furnishings including a jail cell. We spent over an hour inside. The staff were very friendly and informative when you asked questions. There is a video about Brushy Bill who died in 1950. He spent the last few years of his life proving to the public he was Billy the Kid. From what we read there is compelling evidence he was actually Billy the Kid. When we were leaving Tracy did purchase a book written by Daniel Edwards called Billy the Kid an Autobiography. It is about his interviews with the writer about his life and effort to be pardoned by the Governor of New Mexico. I am about a third of the way through with the book.
We decided to just walk around downtown and admire the historical buildings.
What I enjoyed most about downtown? It is reading about the history of the buildings. Hico originally was located about two or so miles from where it is now. When the railroad came in, the residents pulled up stakes and move to where it is today. At one time Hico was a major hub for commerce. Huge general stores, cotton gins, banks and a railroad station to transport livestock. There were many plaques describing some of the buildings. it was very informative. At the west end of Downtown there is a drinking fountain that also serves as a water trough for the horses.
The weather was changing outside so we decided to head to our next stop. This place you should not miss. When you head north on Highway 281 into Hico, you cannot miss the Wiseman House Chocolates. It is a historical house that sells handmade quality chocolates. The actual chocolate production is being done at another property. I am not a huge fan of chocolate. Tracy is a huge fan of good chocolate, especially dark chocolate. I spent the next 40 minutes following her around. It was nice watching her enjoy the different smells. She found all types of chocolate including chocolate flavored coffee. Yes she was in chocolate heaven. We bought truffles, clusters, and other items. I can tell you she will be a happy camper for a few months. She does not eat much chocolate. She is the type of person that when she wants some chocolate, she takes one or two bites and she I satisfied for some time.
We had planned to see the dinosaur footprints outside Hico and then head to Dublin Texas. But with the impending storm, we decided not to go. Dublin has the oldest Dr Pepper bottling facility. From what I understand they were still using one of the original formulas before they stopped production. The bottling company nows make their own sodas . Wa looking forward to visiting the bottling plant.
Because the weather was taking a nasty turn, we headed back south on Highway 281 towards home. We reached Hamilton just in time to be hungry.
Did a quick search for places to eat and found Giovanni’s 2.
This is not a fancy place. It is what we call a hole in the wall. The restaurant is really plain inside and out. When we walked in we were concerned we made a mistake. Don’t get me wrong, the place is spotless. I felt they needed to add some decor to make it my eye pleasing. But we decided to give it a try. Tracy and I ordered a pizza. Momma likes her cheese and when you ask for extra cheese they did not skimp. The pizza was quite tasty. The dough had good flavor and texture with the right amount of sauce. You could taste each meat and vegetable in the pizza. I would rate it as four stars for food quality and is worth going there again.
When we stepped back outside, the storm was almost upon us. Back in the car and head home to outrun the storm. We made in into our garage just in time for the storm to hit.
We were unable to see everything we wanted. But we had a great time learning about Hico and Billy the Kid. This trip is a do over. Next time I will pay closer attention to the weather reports before we leave.