The Agriculture Annex of the Real County Historical Museum was originally a blacksmith shop in Leakey. This historical connection sits alongside the town’s commercial role in Frio Canyon and the annual July Jubilee. When planning your trip, it helps to first distinguish whether you are interested in local history, river activities or regional orientation.

River, Canyon and Orientation

The Frio runs for almost 20 miles through Frio Canyon, connecting Leakey with Concan. In downtown Leakey, the Frio Canyon Chamber of Commerce operates an information center. Leakey is also the commercial hub of Frio Canyon; several independent cafés, retail shops and other businesses are part of the town’s character. Two different scales come together here: the river describes a regional connection between Leakey and Concan, while the information center and businesses highlight Leakey’s role as a place to get oriented in the region. This distinction is useful when planning a stay in Leakey while also keeping the wider Frio Canyon region in mind.

History in Different Aspects

The museum, cemetery and courthouse are all part of the historical picture, but they tell different kinds of stories. The Agriculture Annex of the Real County Historical Museum was originally a blacksmith shop in Leakey. John Leakey, the town’s founder, and his wife Nancy are buried at Leakey Cemetery, which is also the burial place of many of the region’s early settlers. The cemetery’s history thus extends from the town’s founder to other early residents of the region. The Real County Courthouse adds architecture to these historical connections: the building is in the Classical Revival style and has a fortress-like façade. Those interested in Leakey’s history will encounter the story of a workshop, the people of the early settlement and a distinctive architectural example.

Tubing and the July Jubilee

Visitors come to Leakey for tubing on the Rio Frio. The July Jubilee takes place in Leakey in summer and is an annual event sponsored by the Frio Canyon Chamber of Commerce. Tubing focuses on the activity on the river; for the Jubilee, the event dates shape a summer stay. If you are planning your trip around the July Jubilee, check the event dates before setting your travel dates.

Road Route: The Twisted Sisters

The Twisted Sisters are a 100-mile loop along TX 335, TX 336 and TX 337; the route passes through canyons and climbs over steep, rugged hills. Compared with tubing on the Rio Frio, the focus is different: for the Twisted Sisters, the route’s length, named roads and profile are the points of reference; for tubing, it is the activity on the river. This makes it possible to distinguish the two by their character.

Find a Hotel Based on Your Reason for Traveling

Your specific travel dates are a useful starting point when searching for a hotel in Leakey.

Discover more destinations: Rio Frio.

Go to the regional travel overview: Real County.