The Landmark Inn State Historic Site encompasses five acres beneath tall trees on the banks of the Medina River. The Landmark Inn in Castroville conveys the history of migration, industry, and historic preservation in Texas; public tours and living history programs are also offered. Here, river landscapes and cultural history come together in one place.
Landmark Inn: Hours and Overnight Stays
The Landmark Inn State Historic Site is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Check the opening hours before your arrival. For overnight stays, the Landmark Inn offers eight rooms and four different suite combinations.
Historic Buildings and Parks in Castroville
Downtown Castroville is designated a National Historic District and has largely preserved its architectural character from the town’s founding in the 1840s. The Castroville Historic District has a self-guided tour covering more than 50 sites; the district is part of the Texas Hill Country Trail Region. Castroville has 96 so-called settlement or pioneer houses, as well as other buildings dating from 1844 to 1920. The Steinbach Haus serves as Castroville’s visitor center. Castroville’s public parks offer, among other amenities, nature trails, a municipal pool, an RV park, and other green spaces.
River, Ford, and Seasonal Nature
Medina County Road 477, also known as Old River Road, is accessible during the day and passes a historic ford. In the 18th century, the Spanish used this crossing to transport building materials and supplies to the missions in Frio River Canyon.
The ford on Cagnon Road at the Medina River is accessible during the day; you can walk along the riverbank and often wade through the water, though water conditions vary. Wildflowers bloom along Ponder Road in summer. Pipevine swallowtails, red admirals, and buckeyes are among the butterflies found along the roadside. The nature experiences differ in focus: Cagnon Road features riverbanks and changing water conditions, while Ponder Road offers summer blooms and the butterflies found there.
History in Different Places
The Medina Dam is also part of the area’s engineering history: completed in 1912, it was then considered the largest dam in Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States.
D’Hanis was established in 1847 as the fourth colony founded by Empresario Henri Castro in Medina County. The pioneers were predominantly immigrants from Alsace; D’Hanis illustrates a European colonial settlement in Texas from the period between 1850 and 1880. The arched sandstone ruins of St. Dominic Church recall the old settlement. The church was built in 1853, expanded in 1869, and abandoned in 1914.
A museum in Hondo’s old railroad depot displays numerous artifacts donated by families from Medina County. The contrast highlights different ways of engaging with history: in Castroville and D’Hanis, historic buildings take center stage, while in Hondo, the focus is on artifacts donated by families from Medina County.
Discover more destinations: Hondo, Castroville, Bowie, Atascosa County, Wichita, Hockley County, Zavala, Mcmullen County
Go to the main travel overview: Texas.
