Wimberley and The Salt lick...Brisket, Ribs and Sausage at its Best

Click on photo to enlarge

The Bride and I decided to do a little trip north of here to Wimberley...and then eat at the GREAT  BBQ/Smokehouse known as The Salt Lick up the road 12 miles at Driftwood....its only an hour plus from here...two hours if you stop and wonder....we where going to meet Son and DIL for some Brisket, Ribs and Sausage, Texas Style.....but instead of driving back we are spending the night at one of the local Inns...

I'm thinking this will be an interesting trip..(c)Horst Kelly Photographer

A little History:

Prehistoric Wimberley was home to native Americans, and evidence of their presence is found near now extinct stream beds and along the river. 16th century Spanish explorers came here looking for gold and adventure and by the 17th century Spanish church representatives arrived to stake a claim on the population and natural wealth.

Wow....

I'm following the sign

I think we're in the right place

By the mid-1800s several families were living in this area, and explorers and adventurers from the southern states came to the Hill Country. Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, James Bowie and David Crockett became legends and died in the more populous areas here. Land along waterways was sought after, and trading posts were established near stream crossings. First came the grist and flour mills, followed by schools and churches. Thus a village was formed at the little trading post at Cypress Creek. This was Wimberley.

I think we hit the "Mother Load"

.....that's my plate

Ok...also some of that...there're Pork Ribs

In the mid 19th-century, William Winters built a two-room cut limestone home on the north side hill of Cypress Creek and constructed the first grist mill on Cypress Creek.  The home and mill were eventually purchased by Pleasant Wimberley for $8,000 in gold. His family moved here and the mill was used for a flour, grist, sorghum, as a saw mill and a cotton gin. Pleasant also helped establish a church and a school here. In 1880 an application for a post office for "Wimberleyville" was made, and the postmaster general shortened the name and granted it. Thus, Wimberley became an official postal destination.

The windmill that once provided water to travelers between Blanco and Wimberley.

West of Wimberley lies Blanco, another destination for travelers. Water along the travel route between Wimberley and Blanco was precious, and legend has it the windmill still operating at Wimberley Valley Ranch furnished the only watering place between the two settlements. First travelers on horseback and by carriage, then those in early cars, stopped at this location on the "Blanco Road", now FM 2325, for water.

In May of 2000 a central portion of the Wimberley area was incorporated as the Village of Wimberley (click here to see incorporated area), comprised of approximately 10% of the Wimberley area residents and many of the centrally located businesses.  But the Village of Wimberley survived only until 2007, when that city council voted to make it a "city," not without controversy. Now it's just plain Wimberley. However, the 13,000 plus residents of the Wimberley Valley are those that make up Wimberley as most folks refer to it.



A brief word about The Salt Lick BBQ:


Driftwood Texas

Driftwood Church

Church Historical Maker

.

The Salt Lick was opened in 1969 by Augustus 'Texas Boy' Roberts, Sr. and his wife Hisako T. Roberts.^[1] It quickly grew in popularity and went from being open just a few times a year to seven days a week. Roberts and Hisako built the Salt Lick restaurant on the ranch where he was born, using locally-quarried limestone. Hisako's Hawaiian heritage inspired the sweet barbecue sauce used in the restaurant.

The Salt Lick's primary cuisine is beef (brisket), sausage, and pork ribs. Chicken and turkey are also served.^[2] . The Salt Lick is currently owned by Scott Roberts and his wife Susan. They only take cash and if you want to have some alcohol related Spirits it's "BYOB" of choice.... which we did....

In late 2008 The Salt Lick was featured during an Austin episode in the first season of the Travel Channel's show Man v. Food (hosted by Adam Richman),^[5] and the restaurant was positively reviewed by Food Network chefs Bobby Flay and Duff Goldman.^[6] Then in 2012 it was featured on another Travel Channel show, Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America, for its spicy brisket jalapeño sandwich topped with habanero sauce (which was recommended to Richman by Flay).


Old Town Wimberley, Tx

Popular Café

Wimberley, Tx

Wimberley, Tx

I tried...but got in trouble

So, back to the trip.......left Sunday around noon time....stopped off at a few places and about two hours later landed at the Wimberley Inn...22 rooms sitting  up on a hill...very quaint setting....the room was spacious...and  as the  Bride said "very cozy"....we registered, got the lay of the land, walked around the grounds, relaxed...and left for Salt Lick....as luck would have it, we pulled in the same time Son and DIL arrived.....the place was huge....two eating establishments...and to our surprise no wait...Son brought beer, we brought wine, and Salt Kick provided Water and ice tea...the stars where aligned just right...

Its five o'clock somewhere

Wimberley Inn view from front door

The Ladies ordered a proper meal while Son and I decided on "all you can eat"....that means the Brisket, Ribs, and Sausage just kept arriving.....all with potatoes and slaw...I know I'm trying to lose weight...but it is a special occasion....we spent 3 plus hours and had a great time eating, reminiscing... and a lot of BSing...but that's what family and good times are all about....we all said our Good-Byes....Bride and I got back...sat outside for a while then crashed and slept like hibernating bear cubs...

Next morning we slept in...finally got up...made coffee and decided to walk around the old part of town...around noon we headed back home...couple hours later we landed, unpacked and then relived our time at Wimberley.... and smiled.....another great Day (Plus) Trip....thanks for stopping by...Horst sends