A Weekend in Texas Hill Country: Wine Tasting and Topaz Hunting

Attention avid road trippers! Next time you need to get out of the city, consider the tiny town of Mason, TX, located in Texas Hill Country. Five hours from Houston, the scenic drive is punctuated by an occasional winery and makes the perfect weekend road trip. My husband and I recently traveled to “the Gem of Hill Country” for a weekend of rest, relaxation and of course, rocks. Hill Country is geologically significant, being home to a granite formation called the Llano Uplift, a huge dome of pre-Cambrian rock. The town of Mason is the only place in Texas where you can find the state gemstone, the Texas Topaz. As you can imagine my geologist–er, husband—was thrilled! Mason is a beautiful, historic town full of friendly people who were eager to share their tips for topaz hunting, their favorite places to eat, and lots of trivia about the place that they call home.

History

Mason, TX is on what is known as the Texas Forts Trail, where the battle for the frontier was fought. Fort Mason was built in 1851, one of several army forts that stretched from the Rio Grande to the Red River. Of the officers stationed at Fort Mason, twenty eventually became generals who served in the Civil War; twelve for the Confederacy and eight for the Union. Notable names on this list include Robert E. Lee, John Bell Hood, and William J. Hardee. Fort Mason would be Robert E. Lee’s  last command post with the U.S. Army; called to Washington from Mason Lee refused the command of the U.S. Army and joined the Confederacy. Fort Mason was surrendered to the Union by the Confederacy in 1861. Many years later, when the fort was dismantled, townsfolk used the materials in the fort to build their homes.

Geology

Rock hounds will love the Llano Uplift, as well as the abundance of quartz and granite in the area. We came home with a huge bucket of rocks! The most fun with rocks is in the topaz hunting, which is specific to Mason County. The kind folks at Garner Seaquist Ranch allow the public to go topaz hunting on their property. For $15 per person you can spend the day sifting rock and seeking out your own gemstones. Kids 7-12 years can hunt for $5 per day and kids under 7 are free.

We went out early in the morning and stayed through the afternoon. We ran into town for lunch (the property owners gave us the ok on that; $15 covers the whole day) and returned for another couple of hours in the afternoon. We didn’t find anything but a man digging near us found two large topaz, including a rare blue. Yes, we were jealous!

The author sifts for topaz.

Accommodations

There are many hotels and charming bed and breakfasts in Hill Country, but my pick in Mason is the adorable Covered Wagon Guest House, at 825 Wren (map). The spacious guest room is attached to the main house, but offers complete privacy. The name comes from the bed: you sleep in a covered wagon! A comfortable queen sized bed with cotton sheets and fluffy pillows makes for a peaceful night’s sleep. The Covered Wagon is fully appointed: a brand new kitchen with stove, oven and microwave; TV with cable, DVR and DVD player; iPod-compatible alarm clock; free Wi-Fi; pet friendly. The guest room is a short walk from the town square, as well as from Sandstone Cellars Winery & Wine bar.

I slept like a rock (get it?) every night.

There is nothing like country air for sleeping. Even our dog slept better!

Things to Do

We had plenty of fun from start to finish on this road trip. On our way out of Houston—and on our way back—we stopped at Saddlehorn Winery, located at 958 FM 1948. It’s a beautiful space with a nice selection of wine.

We had so much fun tasting at Saddlehorn on our way out to Mason that we stopped on our way back!

In Mason we found no shortage of entertainment. Our main goal was to just spend time together and Mason offers a quiet, small-town atmosphere that is conducive to an intimate weekend for two. When we weren’t lounging in our beautiful room, enjoying the peace and quiet with a glass of wine, we were out and about, sampling the local food, scenery and the historic sites.

• Willow Creek Café: On the main square, the extensive menu offers a wide selection of café favorites. Don’t miss their homemade pies! 106 Fort McKavitt St. (map). Open breakfast, lunch & dinner.
• The Square Plate: This lunch-only spot is open from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The Square Plate is located at 212 Fort McKavitt St. (map). I’m not sure I can accurate describe the unbelievable deliciousness of the Schnitzel with homemade spaetzle, but I will tell you I ate every single bite. And their German Potato Salad? Out of this world!
• Sandstone Cellars Winery & Wine Bar: Mason is a dry town, which means restaurants don’t serve alcohol, although many allow “BYOB”. Sandstone Cellars—a quick walk from the Covered Wagon—is where you can sit and order a glass of wine and enjoy some local color. Sandstone Cellars is located at 211 San Antonio St. (map) (also Hwy. 87). Open Thursday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Odeon Theater: The Odeon Theater is an old-time movie theater where you can view films from Friday through Monday. The theater is a non-profit, and tickets are an amazing $4! Old Yeller was penned by Mason native Fred Gipson, and The Odeon is where the film of the same name saw its world premier. The Odeon is located on 122 South Moody St. (map).
• Mason Square Museum: Get the skinny on Mason’s history and geology in this small but thorough museum. The Mason Square Museum is located at 103 McKavitt St. (map).

Image credit: Scenic Hill Country (CMBJ); all other photos from the author’s private collection.