Lucy In the Sky With Brisket
Hill Country communities have always been home to good barbecue and creative small business. Lucy’s Barbecue in Lakehills, Texas proves that the pandemic hasn’t changed things. I’ve watched as Lucy’s has grown and developed its personality.
It’s tough to select highlights, but here are my favorites:
The shrugging skeleton at the grill and the tie-dyed sign capture the spirit of the place.
This classic station wagon, complete with “Woodstock or Bust”, deer, and flamingo is wonderful. And note the peace sign on the table.
In another nod to that golden era, there’s a Beatles lyric and enigmatic nose and glasses on the wall. Perhaps the glasses are a tribute to John Lennon in his granny-glasses days.
But Lucy and crew aren’t just artistic. They also know how to cope with a changing business world. As the pandemic dragged on they added menu boards and tables on posts for drive-up service. Lakehills gets a lot of weekend Medina Lake visitors and motorcyclists. There’s a reason Lucy’s hours say “until sold out.”
Once again, thanks to Loretta for her post-production work on the photos.
In the last photo, I especially like the admonition on the building’s wall: “If you’re happy and you know it, rev your engine.” That’s a tip of the hat to the bikers, no doubt.
I’ve realized how much I don’t know about that area southeast of Bandera. If I’d ever done more than notice the exit for Pipe Creek from I-10 on my way to Kerrville, I might have found Medina Lake, Lakehills, etc., much sooner. No matter. Spring is coming, and it’s not just the plant juices that are starting to rise. I’m going to have to add Lucy’s to my list, along with Bigfoot and Polly’s Chapel. So many places, so little time!
The area around Medina Lake isn’t what most people think of first when they think of Bandera County, but it’s the most densely populated part of the county. The lake is a big part of the draw, although the water level is down due to the drought. It’s at 38.5% capacity right now. Medina Lake gets a double hit in drought because its primary purpose is irrigation for farms to the south, so in a drought it not only gets very little inflow from a small catchment area but also gets extra outflow due to irrigation needs. Despite the low water level, the area is still active and has some interesting places to see.