The historic town of Hico, Texas, made its debut on Honey Creek in the late 19th century. With the coming of the railroad, the town’s forefathers moved toward the new mode of transportation in 1880, a decision that proved prosperous for the community. New landmark buildings appeared, which have now withstood more than 100 years of the ebb and flow of commerce and populations. Hico prospered as the shipping center for cotton and other crops.
Many of the historic buildings remain along the main streets of the town, transformed into shops and restaurants, with fresh entities opening. Many, however, visit the small community for a more notorious reason. Locals adhere to the legend that Billy the Kid lived there as an old man. In the middle of the main street, a small museum tells the stories, providing scores of artifacts from the man they knew as Brushy Bill Roberts.
For historians, a visit to the museum offers facts about Billy the Kid, whether or not you believe the local tales. Outside the room with Billy’s life story, other historic artifacts exist for visitors to browse.
Near the museum, Blue Star Trading Company houses a fun shop ranging from clothing to furniture and a gallery featuring local artists. An antique riding horse and life-size stallion make it a fun place for all ages to visit.
Upstairs in the mezzanine you will find a post office front and other antiques, including a vault built around the safe inside. When a fire destroyed the entire mezzanine, the vault became a floating time capsule. No one had the combination to the safe, but when they finally opened it, they discovered letters, documents and ledgers from 1917 to 1940. With the mezzanine restored, the upper part now houses a pictorial history of Hico. Doubling as an event center, the pictorial experience takes a step back in time.
All buildings in the downtown area contain brick or rock walls, built in earlier centuries to stop raging fires from moving between shops. From the city watering station to a historic log cabin at Peppermint Square, the museums and buildings Hico contains offer enough history to keep any interested person busy all day. Throughout the city center, murals painted on walls also give visitors an opportunity to view art. Entering the area, you can’t miss the iconic larger-than-life letters HCO.
The space between H and C allows visitors to become the I in Hico.
For those who prefer the outdoors and adventure, the city park includes RV parking spaces. Situated beside the Bosque River, visitors can enjoy nature. Nearby, Pete’s Path winds around a sports complex and contains a disc golf course. Designed in honor of fallen heroes, the trail provides a paved sidewalk for exercise and dog walks while strolling along the river. Picnic tables dot the area for those who want to enjoy a meal or snack.
A newer attraction to Hico, Siloville opened in 2015. Built from three silos, it offers harnessed climbing, both indoors and out, low ropes, ninja warrior courses and ziplining. The less adventurous can climb a ladder and watch the sunset from the top of the silos.
With ample places to stay and eat, visitors can plan a weekend in the small community to step back in history and enjoy a bit of adventure. Located 100 miles or less from the DFW Metroplex, it also makes a fantastic day trip.
Photos by Lisa Bell
Written by Lisa Bell
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