Any idea why Brady has always been a little "rougher around the edges" it seems? Also what is the story with all the big houses in town that have mother in law suites? Many are falling apart but you can tell it had a lot of rich folks once.

Mason has been updated a bit and there aren't any houses that seem to be restored, or very few. Yet prices aren't outrageous yet. You can certainly get a much bigger place for cheap in Brady though.

Thoughts on these towns?

Also, don't know as much about San saba or Eden, although both also seem to be a bit nicer than Brady as well.

aggieSO said:

---

Any idea why Brady has always been a little "rougher around the edges" it seems? Also what is the story with all the big houses in town that have mother in law suites? Many are falling apart but you can tell it had a lot of rich folks once.

Mason has been updated a bit and there aren't any houses that seem to be restored, or very few. Yet prices aren't outrageous yet. You can certainly get a much bigger place for cheap in Brady though.

Thoughts on these towns?

Also, don't know as much about San saba or Eden, although both also seem to be a bit nicer than Brady as well.

---

Growing up in Wall and frequenting that area because of family and sports, I would have considered San Saba and Mason moreso the nicer towns because there was some charm of the downtowns and wildflowers. Mason had Coopers BBQ.

Brady just "was." Don't remember anything good or bad about it but it was always a pass through not a destination unless it was a game or something. Mostly same for Eden but I always thought it was a bit run down.

That being said I go through SS, Brady, and Eden a few times a year to see my folks. I haven't been to Mason in 20 years.

Brady has the goat cookoff which was always a hoot!

Menard has the VFW and Mason has the Puncher Dome

All special in the their own way…

Brady has always been a rough little town. It grew big because of the rail head. Cattle used to be driven up there (cattle drives not trucks). Lots of white trash similar to Brownwood. Mason has the advantage of being close to Fredericksburg and a bit closer to Austin and San Antonio too. Housing has been scarce and expensive in Mason but there's quite a few homes for sale right now and prices have come down some. I would say mason schools are generally better than Brady Llano and San Saba. You can definitely get more for your money in Brady but you'll have to drive farther to doctors and airports and such.

Thoughts on Llano, Johnson City and Lampasas compared to those towns?

These are my impressions. I'm sure (I hope) somebody will correct me.
Llano seems very similar to Mason with maybe a slightly rougher edge but also seems to be getting developed faster due to being closer to Austin?

Johnson city is a mini Fredericksburg / Wimberley/blanco it seems. But smaller. The locals who lived there 15 years ago might not be so happy with how things have gone?

Lampsas is kind of removed and sort of different scenery, not as much hill country. I used to drive through a lot on my way to Stephenville and it seemed like a pretty nice town to me. Don't think it will be developed or taken over by Austin or anything anytime soon.

Lampasas is the sleeper of the 3 and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it has the best "sense of community" which really appeals to me personally. Also more food options I think

This seems spot on to me, similar to my impression, and yes the white trash element seems to be what I had in mind.

On one hand all the development and Austin and California remove the bad elements, the white trash, from these towns, but it sort of leaves it void of character IMO, and also erodes the sense of community I think. It is getting hard to find the perfect balance I think.

aggieSO said:

---

These are my impressions. I'm sure (I hope) somebody will correct me.
Llano seems very similar to Mason with maybe a slightly rougher edge but also seems to be getting developed faster due to being closer to Austin?

Johnson city is a mini Fredericksburg / Wimberley/blanco it seems. But smaller. The locals who lived there 15 years ago might not be so happy with how things have gone?

Lampsas is kind of removed and sort of different scenery, not as much hill country. I used to drive through a lot on my way to Stephenville and it seemed like a pretty nice town to me. Don't think it will be developed or taken over by Austin or anything anytime soon.

Lampasas is the sleeper of the 3 and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it has the best "sense of community" which really appeals to me personally. Also more food options I think

---

I've been thinking about Lampasas as well for the reasons you mention. Johnson City always seemed like a nice town to me as well. It is probably growing, but not sure how fast.

Lampasas is a good smallish town. Being close to Fort Hood, there are quite a few military/retired military in the area. (Quite a few German and Asian accents)

Our schools are generally good. Our middle school that used to be the high school is falling apart. We will have a bond election soon to address that. We have had trouble attracting and retaining good teachers lately because of low pay.

With 183A extending to Seward Junction now, it's a lot easier to get to North Austin, and yes, there are quite a few Lampasans that work in Austin/Georgetown/Round Rock

Our downtown area is not great. It's hard to attract tourists when businesses close at noon on Saturday and close completely on Sunday. Burnet's Downtown is much better.

Like any small town, it is very cliquish and the good ol' boy network is very strong. If you weren't born here, you will forever be an outsider unless you know whose butt to kiss.

There is a popular rumor that we have a strong swinger's network, so maybe we could get POS to come coach our baseball team.

My comment on Llano: Horseshoe Bay is in their ISD, so they get significant income from that.

Good info Dog! That's a pretty decent commute to Austin/Georgetown from Lampasas!

Let me throw another one out there. Blanco, TX anyone?

I really wish there was a nice small town within an hour or so of College Station, but I haven't found it yet.

Cameron?

Blanco is a mini Fredericksburg or Wimberley IMO. The restaurants are fancy and appealing to I'm not sure who…. More egg salads than chicken fried steak lol.

Seems to be getting hard to find a cheap diner, but the bowling alley fits that bill. The bowling alley is a reflection of the old small town Texas I think.

It is not Fredericksburg yet but it's not far behind either. That's what being close to San Antonio and Austin does I suppose.

OTOH it IS really nice.

Brenham?
More of a Fredericksburg / Wimberley / blanco but it is certainly "nice"

Also, Salado.

Dogdoc said:

---

Cameron?

---

1) In-laws live there
2) Not the nicest small town I have seen by any means

aggieSO said:

---

Blanco is a mini Fredericksburg or Wimberley IMO. The restaurants are fancy and appealing to I'm not sure who…. More egg salads than chicken fried steak lol.

Seems to be getting hard to find a cheap diner, but the bowling alley fits that bill. The bowling alley is a reflection of the old small town Texas I think.

It is not Fredericksburg yet but it's not far behind either. That's what being close to San Antonio and Austin does I suppose.

OTOH it IS really nice.

---

Sounds like one I need to take a closer look at! Which would you pick between Blanco and Johnson City and why?

Dogdoc said:

---

Cameron?

---

Might as well throw Hearne and Marlin in the mix

And Navasota