In-demand destination

Alluring Texas Hill Country one of fastest-growing vacation spots in U.S.

Texas Hill Country is one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

Photo courtesy of Vista Brewing

For years, the Texas Hill Country has been a go-to getaway destination for residents of Dallas and other Texas cities. Now, it appears travelers outside of the state have learned about the Hill Country’s allure.

Austin-based vacation rental marketplace HomeAway has named the Texas Hill Country one of the 25 fastest-growing vacation rental markets in the U.S.

HomeAway based the list on bookings made on its vacation rental network from 2016 to 2017. The Hill Country is the only Texas destination on the list.

Fredericksburg sits at the epicenter of the Hill Country, thanks in large part to the more than 40 wineries and vineyards in and around the quaint German-cultured town. Lodging in Fredericksburg and the rest of the Hill Country is dominated by B&Bs, guesthouses, and inns.

“The scenic beauty and the big, starry skies of the Texas Hill Country have been a favorite of Texan travelers for decades,” Ernie Loeffler, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau, said in 2016. “Now, the culinary hot spots, the museums and heritage sites, the nationally recognized art galleries, the upscale shopping, the burgeoning Texas wine industry, and the live music scene of Fredericksburg are being discovered by visitors from across the U.S. and the world.”

Texans make up about 70 percent of the overnight stays in the Hill Country, with non-Texans accounting for the remaining 30 percent, according to a report prepared for the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Division.

Within Texas, the Houston area sends the most visitors to the Hill Country, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin, the report says. The places sending the most out-of-state travelers to the Hill Country are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.

In 2016, the Hill Country attracted nearly 32 million visitors, according to the report. That’s up from 30.1 million in 2015 and 28.4 million in 2014.

hill-country wine

RELIVE THE ALAMO

Taylor Sheridan takes on epic event in Texas history for next project

Yellowstone Season 5 premiere, Taylor Sheridan

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images for Paramount

Taylor Sheridan is taking on one of the most epic events in Texas history.

North Texas producer, director, and screenwriter Taylor Sheridan — whose growing catalog of entertainment projects includes Yellowstone, Landman, Tulsa King, and the soon-to-be-released Frisco King — wants everyone to remember the Alamo.

At the invitation of Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Sheridan will tell the story of the Battle of the Alamo for an immersive 4D movie to be shown at the Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, which is set to open in 2028.

“The Alamo is the very bedrock Texas was founded upon. To chronicle the sacrifice made by the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives defending the Alamo is an honor I eagerly accept,” Sheridan says in a news release issued by Patrick’s office.

Sheridan’s Battle of the Alamo project promises to be epic simply because the battle itself was epic.

The 13-day conflict in 1836 was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. In a one-sided defeat, the Mexican army prevailed, killing the roughly 200 Alamo defenders and one-third of the roughly 1,800 Mexican soldiers. Much of the mission was destroyed as well.

The sacrifice of Alamo defenders like James Bowie, Davy Crockett, and William Travis helped fuel the Texas resistance, leading to the “Remember the Alamo!” rallying cry and helping to pave the way for Texas independence.

Sheridan, who grew up in North Texas, lives at the 600-acre Bosque Ranch in Weatherford. Sheridan has shot many of his TV shows in the Fort Worth area, such as Landman; Special Ops: Lioness; 1883; and The Madison. A new series, Frisco King, is filming in Fort Worth this spring.

Sheridan founded SGS Studios, which recently partnered on a new 450,000-square foot production campus at Fort Worth’s 27,000-acre AllianceTexas development.

"Over the last decade, Taylor has told the story of the American West — the people, the land, the depth, and the history — in a way no other filmmaker has,” Patrick said. “In addition to his amazing film portfolio, Taylor is a native Texan who knows and loves our state and its history.”

Sheridan’s re-creation of the Battle of the Alamo will be a key attraction for visitors to the $185 million Alamo Visitor Center and Museum. Nearly 160,000 square feet will be taken up by the 4D theater and more than 5,000 artifacts, including over 400 from the Phil Collins Texana Collection.

Today, the Alamo draws more than 1.6 million visitors a year, making it the state’s No. 1 tourist attraction.

Over the years, the Alamo has been the star of several films and TV shows. Most notably, John Wayne portrayed Davy Crockett in the 1960 movie The Alamo. A 2004 reboot of the same name featured Billy Bob Thornton as Crockett and Dennis Quaid as Sam Houston.

Other projects paying tribute to the Alamo include The Alamo: 13 Days to Glory, a 1987 TV movie, and Alamo: The Price of Freedom, a 1988 documentary-style IMAX film.

history movies taylor sheridan texas history alamo