The natural side of Blanco County is especially impressive along the Pedernales River: Pedernales Falls State Park stretches along the river, east of Johnson City. In Blanco and Johnson City, you’ll also find museums, historic architecture, and sites connected to the Johnson family’s history. This brings very different discoveries together in one county: river scenery and waterfalls on one side, architectural history and collections on the other.
Along the Pedernales River: Views and Activities
Pedernales Falls State Park covers 5,212 acres along the Pedernales River. The 0.5-mile Twin Falls Nature Trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking the waterfalls. The trail thus directs your attention to a specific destination in the landscape; the park also offers hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, horseback riding, swimming, tubing, and fishing. If you’d like to include a variety of interests in your day, you’ll find both a designated scenic trail and a broader range of activities here.
A distance figure also helps when comparing it with a trail through history: the Twin Falls Nature Trail is 0.5 miles long, while the Johnson Settlement Trail is about one mile, or 1.6 kilometers. The latter can be walked as a loop from the visitor center; the viewpoint overlooking the waterfalls is the destination of the Twin Falls Trail. These figures describe different trails and points of interest, not a shared route.
Johnson City and the History of the Johnson Settlement
The Johnson City unit of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park includes the Visitor Center, the Boyhood Home, and the Johnson Settlement. The Boyhood Home is a Folk Victorian house built in 1901 and restored to its mid-1920s appearance. After restoration was completed, it opened to the public in 1973. The dates mark different stages in its history: first its construction, later the restoration of an earlier appearance, and finally its opening at that time.
The Johnson Settlement reveals another side of the area. Its buildings include a cabin, a barn and a smokehouse built by James Polk Johnson, and a barn added by John Bruckner in 1884. The Johnson Settlement Trail lets you experience both this history and the trail itself: it is about one mile, or 1.6 kilometers, long and can be walked as a loop from the visitor center. Together with the shorter Twin Falls Nature Trail, it offers a clear comparison between two different destinations and walking distances.
Collections and Buildings in Blanco County
The Buggy Barn Museum in Blanco focuses on the history of buggies, carriages, and wagons. The collection includes more than 250 unique vehicles from the 19th and 20th centuries, including pieces from twelve countries. This makes it possible to explore the subject through vehicle types as well as its historical and geographical variety. Visitors can tour the museum on their own; guided tours are available for schools and other groups.
A single building offers a different focus: the Old Blanco County Courthouse is a Texas Historic Landmark and is considered an outstanding example of Second Empire architecture. In Johnson City, the Science Mill also combines a historic building with a distinct visitor experience. It is housed in a converted 1880 feed mill that opened to the public on February 14, 2015, and features more than 50 interactive exhibit stations. Blanco County thus offers different ways to explore history and culture: a diverse collection of historic vehicles, a landmark courthouse, and an interactive exhibit in a former mill.
A June Event
The Blanco Lavender Festival, organized by the Blanco Chamber of Commerce, takes place annually on the second weekend in June. The program includes a lavender market on the grounds of the Historic Old Blanco County Courthouse, live music in Bindseil Park, Texas specialties, regional wines, and local beer. The market, music, and food offer different ways to enjoy the festival, while its regular timing can help with trip planning. If you plan to attend, check the specific event dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Blanco, Johnson City, Johnson County, Floyd County, Wise, Dallam County, Wichita, Stonewall County.
Back to the main travel overview: Texas.
