Flying With Faber: Georgetown, Texas

A City with a Beautiful Past and a Simple Vibrant Present

By Stuart J. FaberUp until a month ago, I had never heard of Georgetown, Texas. I’ve been to Texas a few times.  I’ve explored Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Galveston, San Antonio, and Austin. Recently, a business obligation brought me to Georgetown. The business trip evolved into a love affair with a city.Georgetown, a city with a population of approximately 50,000, lies just about due north of Austin. On the northeastern edge of Texas Hill Country, portions of the city are located on a fault line of the Balcones Escarpment, which is characterized by black fertile soils and glistening rivers.What impressed me most with this community is that it is an immaculate, well-tailored city where the residents pride themselves in preserving their historic structures, where the downtown presides as the centerpiece of community activities, and where outdoor pursuits such as hiking, cycling, picnicking, fishing, swimming and hunting to a great extent preempt a significant amount of TV watching and endless frittering away on electronic games. As a matter of fact, along the river, which runs through the town, kids gather for fishing at an old fashioned fishing hole and swimming in an old fashioned swimming hole. Both kids and adults embrace Georgetown’s natural gifts for much of their recreation.Unlike many of America’s amorphous cities where it’s impossible to tell where one town ends and another begins, Georgetown is surrounded by farmland and prairie on all perimeters. This distinct outline and definition reminds me of cities of the mid-twentieth century when we would take off from our home airport, fly to the edge of town, then over some countryside and soon, the outline of the next town would appear––usually with a water tower, the name of the city emblazoned on all sides. In my view, this geography provides the residents with a sense of their own community definition. A city with distinct borders surrounds residents with feelings of warmth and security much as the walls of home––with huge picture windows framing the countryside.In far too many American cities, Main Streets, downtown and town squares have either been boarded up or have been displaced by malls constructed by out-of-town corporations that have no historical, social or moral connection with the cities they have invaded. Georgetown’s growth, on the other hand, has largely been under local stewardship––folks who grew up in the city and whose children will probably raise their own families in the city.HistoryPrior to the Civil War, a pioneer named George Washington Glasscock donated 10 acres to develop a town site on condition the town was named after him. The village arose around cotton and grain products. After the Civil War, reconstruction brought prosperity with railroad, cattle, and a university. The Old Chisholm Trail, one of the most famous cattle trails, runs through the town. Soon cotton gins and other industries arose. A surge of building with Victorian storefronts and houses sprouted from the ground, most of which still stand today. Both community leaders and regular folk are dedicated to maintaining the local simplicity and charm. Growth embraces the city – it does not overwhelm it.AirportsGeorgetown Municipal Airport (KGTU) is a pleasant field to visit. At 789 feet above sea level, the airport is just three miles north of town. The set of intersecting asphalt runways is well maintained. Runway 18/36 is 5,000 feet long and runway 11/29 is 4,099 feet in length. All runways have GPS approaches. Longhorn Jet Center, 512/868-3598 is the FBO.If you want to rent a car, I suggest that you fly into Austin Executive Airport (KEDC), about 20 miles south of Georgetown. Runway 13/31 is 6,025 feet long. Runway 16/34, which is in fair condition, is 1,550 feet long. GPS approaches are available. Hendricksen Jet Center, 512/247-7678 can arrange for Avis or Enterprise rental cars.If you enjoy flying into large, international airports, Austin Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS), at an elevation of 542 feet, is about a 30-mile drive from Georgetown.  Runway 17R/35L is more than 12,000 feet long. Runway 17L/35R is 9,000 feet long. All runways have ILS and GPS approaches. I prefer Atlantic Aviation, 512/382-8810. Fuel is slightly less expensive than at the other FBO. HotelsThe hotels aren’t fancy, but they are clean and friendly. I recommend the Holiday Inn Express, 431 N. Interstate 35, 512/591-7890, La Quinta Inn, 333 N. Interstate 35, 512/869-2541, or the Best Western Plus, 600 San Gabriel Village Boulevard, 512/868-8555. You can also stay at a Texas-style heritage house. The Ranch House 95 Redbird Trail, 512/863-2331 is nestled among rolling hills and 110-year-old oak trees. DiningMonument Cafe, 500 S. Austin Avenue, 512/930-9586, www.themonumentcafe.com and I struck up an instant bond. Although it has only been open since 1995, the restaurant has an old-time neighborhood feel to it. It was designed to be reminiscent of small town Texas cafes of the early twentieth century. Everything is cooked from fresh, mostly local ingredients. They hand-cut the French fries. The orange juice is squeezed to order. The chef serves Kobe beef from Heartbrand and Certified Angus from Texas. Even the eggs are local free range.I love chicken fried steak, and the one I had at Monument was among the best ever. It was delivered with a side of real mashed potatoes, and everything was covered with a tsunami of gorgeous white gravy. I rarely order pies in a restaurant because I bakethem myself. The restaurant’s coconut cream pie kept flirting with me, and I succumbed. It was as good as I’ve ever had.I heartedly recommend the breakfast items, plus the burgers and milkshakes. Service is cordial and efficient. We were treated as if we were regulars.Wildfire Restaurant, 812 S. Austin Avenue, 512/869-3473 is a bustling saloon-restaurant where many of its selections are cooked on an open oak fire grill. Start with bacon-wrapped scallops or try the wonderful French onion soup. They prepare a great USDA prime 23-ounce porterhouse steak accompanied with a huge baked potato or steak fries. If you haven’t tried grilledgoose breast, you’re in for a great culinary adventure. Game eaters will love the grilled elk steak.I love real Tex-Mex, and there is no better place to sample this cuisine than in Texas. Dos Salas, 1104 S. Main Street, 512/930-2343 serves the authentic stuff on Texas-size plates. You can select from burritos and tamales to Mexican style barbeque. The steak ranchero is a 10-ounce rib eye with grilled bell peppers, onions, plus salsa, and cheddar cheese. The restaurant serves a variety of fish dishes, fajitas, plus an excellent fish taco.THE CITY IS A LIVING MUSEUM AND NATURAL PLAYGROUNDThroughout the city are magnificent buildings, which were built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. For example, the County Courthouse is an excellent example of high Victorian commercial architecture. In 1976, laws were passed to preserve this and other historic buildings. You can stroll through the courthouse and observe the courtroom where the first trial of a KKK murder suspect was held in America.The Talbott Building was built around 1904 and has a wooden storefront, a recessed double door entry, and a decorative metal cornice. The old County Jail was built in 1888.There is a total of approximately 70 buildings, such as the 1892 Firehouse, an 1885 general store, and a 1904 railroad warehouse.  Most of these buildings are open for guests to visit and enjoy.The San Gabriel Wine Trail includes six wineries in and around the Georgetown area. Georgetown Winery makes more than 20 varietals from crops produced in Texas. Grape Creek Vineyards overlooks the bustling Georgetown square where a tasting room and patio awaits you.For hikers and nature enthusiasts, the San Gabriel River Trail and Goodwater Loop is a 28-mile trail that passes through dense oak, ash and juniper forestland, bottomland hardwoods, and prairie grasslands. The trail extends to the Lake Georgetown area and completely encircles the lake.Lake Georgetown is a 1,200-acre lake that offers boating, skiing, fishing, four camping areas, and 16 miles of hiking trails.SHOPPINGAlong the downtown streets, are many one-of-a kind stores. The Escape is owned by a couple who have traveled the earth to find handmade gifts and home furnishings that you’ll rarely see anywhere else.  Special items made by local craftsmen and artists are stocked within the store.Sweet Tooth Candy and Cafe stocks more than 500 types of candies, old fashioned water bottles and 49 different root beers, and 17 types of cream sodas.All Things Kids is a unique toy store with mind building toys of every description.What I loved most about Georgetown were the simple things that nature and history has generously gifted to both residents and visitors. I meandered along the streets of downtown and past the square. I people-watched and often engaged strangers in conversation. Never once did I encounter an unfriendly response. I mingled with the crowds (if you could call them crowds) and enjoyed the town center much as folks did a half-century ago.I visited the bucolic parks, smelled the pleasant fragrances of the grass, the trees, and the river. I observed families playing, relaxing, and enjoying old-fashioned picnics. Everyone seemed to blend together and with their surroundings.I strolled along the river and watched the kids jumping into the swimming hole and fishing with their makeshift tackle–much as I did myself when I was a kid. Today, many big city kids have never experienced these types of natural treasures. Their lives do not extend beyond their cell phones and social media. I’ll take natural media any time.Cities where one can engage in these simple, free pastimes are becoming a thing of the past.  Georgetown is preserving the past into the present and into the future. I guess it’s becoming more and more complicated to maintain the simple life.