Things to do & places to visit in Gonzales, Texas, United States

Gonzales city in Texas, United States. Timezone: America/Chicago, current date and time: Monday, April 29, 2024, 0:04.

Top things to do (15)

Top places to visit (29 attractions)

5.0 Templin Saloon (14 reviews)
- Be tempted by the Templin Saloon
Monday: Spent More than 3 hours Bars & Clubs

It’s a fun bar in downtown Gonzales. Great service and perfect outside seating. They offer live music but play great music on the jukebox. We didn’t eat here but the beer is cold and the whiskey flows when you need it. My wife says they have the cleanest bathrooms in the county. Cool old school bar with plenty of nostalgia and atmosphere. Note to owners- Would like to have a corn hole game in the outdoor patio. Great TVs for golf and live sports. Perfect watering hole for the weary travelers. Pool tables in the back of the bar make it a fun nighttime destination. The staff were unloading ice from a pickup on the street. Ownership may want to upgrade the ice machine. Be sure to add this place to visit during your trip to Gonzales. See more..
5.0 Main St. Marketplace (10 reviews)
- Local gem
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops • Antique Shops

6000 Square Feet Of Great Shopping! 38 Vendors In 42 Booths Offer A Huge Variety Of Merchandise Including Antiques, Collectibles, Clothing, Glass And Dinnerware, Home Decor, Hand-mades, Salvage, Household Resales, Furniture Projects And Paint, And Tons Of Just Plain Random Stuff. See more..
5.0 JB Wells Park & Arena (6 reviews)
- well run !
Arenas & Stadiums

a very well run event center with a great staff ! great location with plenty of stalls and rv hookups . See more..
5.0 Laurel Ridge Inn & Antiques (2 reviews)
- Lots to see
Monday: Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops • Antique Shops

Laurel Ridge offers antique furniture, Italian and French vintage jewelry, estate jewelry and heavenly soaps and wellness products, including Young Living. They are famous for their holiday decorations - over 30 Christmas trees, full of Radko and Old World ornaments! So much to see here, consider a night stay in one of the beautiful rooms on the 2nd floor. We call it a "Shop Over"! See more..
5.0 River Acres Rv Park (1 review)
- Great place to live.
Monday: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM Parks

River Acres RV Park is the newest RV park along the Guadalupe River in Gonzales, TX. Our Nature-lovers paradise is perfect for those looking to escape to a natural setting just outside of the San Antonio Area. Our park features affordable rates, on-site laundry, free high-speed WiFi, electric at every site, water & sewer, bathhouses & more. Book your stay at River Acres RV Park today! See more..
4.5 Palmetto State Park (186 reviews)
- My old stomp'n grounds during the 80's oil boom sure has changed.
Monday: 8:15 AM - 4:45 PM State Parks

State park known for its lush plant life and excellent bird watching. See more..
4.5 Old Jail Museum (131 reviews)
- Interesting little museum
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

We stopped by on our way to Shiner, TX. Wasn’t expecting much, but had some extra time and decided to stop in. Surprisingly, it was very entertaining. We had 6 teenagers with us and they all enjoyed it. The guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. It only took us about a 1/2 hour. See more..
4.5 Gonzales Memorial Museum (100 reviews)
- Great little museum
History Museums

See the actual cannon marking Texas independence. Many interesting artifacts and a very knowledgeable museum director. New reflecting pool being built. Souvenirs are reasonably priced. They have just started an entrance fee of $5 per person. See more..
4.5 Texas Heroes Square (19 reviews)
- Great walk
Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites

Took early morning walk around square and saw old homes easy walk side walk uneven so you must've careful about 1 mi around area lots of history firehouse,jail,courthouse, courthouse square neat old filling station See more..
4.5 Pioneer Village Living History Center (11 reviews)
- A Walk Through Life in Pioneer Times
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Pioneer Village Living History Center provides a wonderful experience of what life was like in Texas at the turn of the 20th century. Children and adults will enjoy visiting this collection of houses and buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s. All buildings are from Gonzales County, TX. Our tour was led by a very personable young guide who shared her extensive knowledge of the 15 buildings on the property. Although our visit didn't include volunteers in period clothing demonstrating skills and crafts of the era, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. There is a handicap entrance available for quicker access. It's separate from the main entrance. Call for information and directions. Be prepared for a lot of walking. The School House and Gift Shop are air-conditioned. All others are not. The Pioneer Village Living History Center is a treasure in Gonzales, TX that's well worth a visit. See more..
4.5 San Antonio Distillery (7 reviews)
- A must stop
Monday: Distilleries • Distillery Tours

My wife and I are from San Antonio and we had gone up to Houston for couple of days and we diced to stop into shiner Texas and tour the brewery. Well to our surprise it was closed Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. So on the way back we tried to stop in at templin bar in Gonzales TX. Well strike two it is permanently closed. Well we saw a Rum distillery down the street and decided to go in for one drink. Wow was this a diamond in the rough. Great service and fresh made cocktails from our wonderful bartender. She started us off with a free shot of their rum and it was smooth. Then we had a strawberry daiquiri, mojito and a pina colada. All freshly made and nothing frozen wow they are great. As we were sitting there a man came up to the bar. We started taking and had a great conversation with him come to find out he was the former owner of Templin bar. This was a great two hours of our day with great people and Rum! This place was great we will be back very soon. See more..
4.5 The Lynn Theatre (7 reviews)
- Movies at a Bargain Price
Theaters

Great hometown movie theater with first run movies. No need to drive into San Antonio or Austin. The Lynn will be all that you ever wanted in a theater and the snack bar will not deplete your wallet. See more..
4.5 Long Branch Saloon (2 reviews)
- Open 7 days a Week
Bars & Clubs
The Long Branch Saloon in Gonzales is a fun place to make new friends, cool off and hang out. They have craft beers on tap, a full and ask about the ghost tour of Gonzales down town. See more..
4.5 J.B. Wells Home (2 reviews)
- Tours are not scheduled often
Historic Sites

My husband and I went by the 1885 J.B.Wells Home on a Tuesday afternoon. It was the home of James 'Jim' Bailey Wells., Sr. and wife, Josephine 'Josie' Henry Wells. Jim was born in Mississippi and came to Texas with his parents when he was a child. Josie was born in Gonzales County. The house was built by T.N. Matthews. The house is made of Florida long leaf pine lumber that was shipped from Florida to Indianola on Gulf steamboats then hauled on ox carts to Gonzales. The modern house for the times had fire escapes, lightening rods and indoor plumbing. The house has 15 rooms and original furnishings. The Wells family gave the house to the Daughters of the Revolution of Texas. There are tours occasionally but I was not able to find out the exact days/times that are on a regular basis. There were tours on October 2, 2021 from 1pm-6pm for $5. It certainly worth a drive by if you are on Gonzales. There are lots of historically houses within a few blocks. See more..
4.0 Independence Park (8 reviews)
- Great RV Park
Spent More than 3 hours Parks • Playgrounds

What a surprise. We were tired and just looking for a decent place to spend the night in our RV that wouldn't cost us an arm and a leg! What a great surprise to happen along the Gonzales Parks and Recreation Dept RV Park at Independence Park. We camped in Site 6 and had full hook-ups (water, electric, and sewer) No Cable or Wi-Fi, but no problem. Our antenna picked up stations from San Antonio so we had great reception and plenty of channels to watch. I had my smartphone that tethered to our computer and iPad, so we were all set. This was one of the quietest RV Parks we have ever been to! It was wonderful and we had the Guadalupe River flowing right next to the campsite, so it was lovely. All this for only $25! I would definitely recommend and I will be back! See more..
4.0 Discoveries From the Past (7 reviews)
- Architectural antiques
Speciality & Gift Shops

A wonderful collection of stained-glass windows and old wooden doors as well as many other items. See more..
4.0 Runaway Scrape Oak (6 reviews)
- HIstoric Sam Houston Oak/Runaway Scrape Tree
Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites

Out Hwy 90 8.5 miles from Gonzales just past the Peach creek off on a dirt road, you can drive by and see this tree and the Braches House (1840s) from a distance. The Box House is now privately owned as is the land, so at best this is a respectful drive-by opportunity outside the property's gates and fences, The tree is where Sam Houston is said to have taken a rest after ordering the burning of Gonzales following the news of the Alamo during the runaway scrape. See more..
4.0 Eggleston House (6 reviews)
- One of the Oldest Surviving Structures in Gonzales, TX
Monday: Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites

The Eggleston House is located just east of the Gonzales Memorial Museum. Built in 1845-46, this 'dog run' cabin is typical of the period. During hot Texas summers, the wide exterior hallway between the two enclosed rooms allowed for a welcome cooling breeze. Although you can't enter the rooms, they are both fully furnished and clearly visible through the plexiglass on the doorways. Admission is free. See more..
4.0 Independence Square (1 review)
- Very nice
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Historic Sites

My husband and I walked around downtown (and Independence Square) on a Tuesday afternoon. The square is approximate 1 acre (1 block by 1 block). The square is like a park, has well mowed green grass, benches, bushes and a Confederate statue. The square was mapped as Market Square in 1825, however, it was originally named Jail square in 1832. In 1909, a Confederate monument honoring Confederate soldiers killed in the Civil War was placed in the square and the square was renamed Confederate Square. A couple years ago, the square was renamed Independence Square. The buildings around square were built in the late 1800s. A 1903 fire station is located on one corner of the square. Public restrooms are located next to the fire station. Texas Heroes Square is catty-corner to Independence square. We enjoyed our walk around. See more..
4.0 1898 Dunn Houston House (1 review)
- Not sure how to tour/see the inside but it is awesome to see the outside
Historic Sites

My husband and I stopped outside the Dunn Houston House for a few minutes. I am not sure how to tour/see the inside but it is awesome to see the outside. James Dunn Houston arrived in Gonzales County in 1864. When he was 18 years old, he got in to the cattle business and started driving herds of cattle to Kansas. As a Cattle baron, he started building his home in 1895 and it was completed in 1898. The house has 15 rooms plus 5 bathrooms. There are lots of historically houses within a few blocks. See more..
4.0 1902 Dr. J. J. Fouts House (1 review)
- Beautiful. Private residence.
Historic Sites

My husband and I stopped outside the Dr. Fouts House for few minutes. It is a beautiful white painted house with large first and second floor porches in the front and huge oak trees. It is a private residence. Dr. Fouts started building his home in 1902. He was the son of a Florida sawmill owner so he had Florida cypress and pine shipped to Gonzales to build the home. Dr. Fouts graduated from Tulane Medical School and moved the Gonzales in 1890. There are lots of historically houses within a few blocks. See more..
4.0 Oak Forest Bridge (1 review)
- Nice walk over history
Points of Interest & Landmarks

My husband and I enjoyed walking across the 1913 Oak Forest Bridge on a Tuesday morning in August. The bridge was originally on CR-143 over the Guadalupe River but was moved and is now a part of a trail over Kerr Creek in near Gonzales City Park. Nice walk over history. See more..
4.0 Historic Courthouse (1 review)
- Very interesting
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Government Buildings

Gonzales County historic courthouse was completed in 1896 after 2 years of building. It is a three-story building built with red brick and white limestone trim. The original cost was cost $64,450. It had extensive repairs in 1958 & 1997. The beautiful courthouse is located on the square in Gonzales. Gonzales has many historic sites to visit (most are free). It is certain worth a visit. See more..
3.0 Lions Park (1 review)
- Average neighborhood park
Parks

My husband and I went to Lions Park on a Tuesday afternoon. The neighborhood is located between St Lawrence Street and St Louis Street near the Gonzales Memorial Museum. The park has a playscape, pavilion, splash pad, a couple back stops for baseball/softball, small basketball court and restrooms. The grass was well mowed. The only picnic tables were under the pavilion. Lots of free street parking is available. See more..
3.0 1907 J. F. Remschel House (1 review)
- Very nice
Historic Sites

My husband and I stopped outside the 1907 R. S. Dilworth House for few minutes. It was built by a local builder (Fred Meisenhelder) for lumberman J.F. Remschel and his wife, Luella. It looks like stucco on the outside so I do not think that was original. The marker outside the home states that the house was built in 1884. Occasionally (rarely), the private residence has been open for touring to help fund projects in Gonzales. There are lots of historically houses within a few blocks, search ‘Gonzales walking tours’. See more..
3.0 1908 R. S. Dilworth House (1 review)
- Beautiful
Historic Sites

My husband and I stopped outside the R. S. Dilworth House for few minutes. R.S. Dilworth was a banker. He and his wife (Susan) hired architect J. Riely Gordon to design and build their home. It was started in 1908 and completed in 1911. The 8,000 sq ft house has large columns, large first floor porch and second floor porch in the front. The inside has mahogany paneling, a walnut staircase and marble steps. There are lots of historically houses within a few blocks. See more..
2.5 Gonzales Emporium (21 reviews)
- There just might be a treasure lurking.....
Antique Shops

An old store featuring all types of collectables. See more..
Vintage Charm & Co. (0 review)
Antique Shops
See more..
Plum Creek Mercantile (0 review)
Spent 1-2 hours Antique Shops

Antiques, Vintage Items and Collectables. Funky Finds and something for everyone. See more..