Winedale, Texas Travel Guide

Region: Prairies and Lakes

To reach the tiny burg of Winedale, head east of Round top on FM 1457 then north on FM 2714. This town does not appear on the official Texas State Map but it’s definitely on the map as far as many Shakespeare buffs go thanks to the University of Texas productions here.

Winedale as a community dates back to 1870, starting out as a German community named Truebsal. Eventually the community relocated slightly and, thanks to a grape crop from area farmers, got a post office with the official name of Winedale. Today the area is best known as the home of the Winedale Historical Center, part of the University of Texas’s Center for American History. Winedale’s preservation dates back to the early 1960s when conservationist Miss Ima Hogg worked to preserve the old Samuel Lewis homestead here, later donating it to the University.

Things are pretty quiet in Winedale throughout most of the year except during the Shakespeare at Winedale events.

Attractions

Winedale Historical Center. Although Shakespeare at Winedale is a limited activity, the center is a year-around attraction. The 215-acre complex is home to a collection of eight historic structures, a research center, nature trail, and a picnic area. Weekend tours take visitors through homes furnished with period antiques and details such as stenciled ceilings that recall the German heritage of the area. Located four miles east of Round Top via FM 1457 then north on FM 2714; (979) 278-3530; www.cah.utexas.edu.

Shakespeare at Winedale. Operated by the University of Texas at Austin, this center hosts annual Shakespeare productions that draw visitors from across the state. A cast of students from assorted disciplines have come to Winedale every summer since 1970 to perform the works of the Bard in an old hay barn that has been refitted as an Elizabethan-style theater. For fifteen to eighteen hours a day, the students make costumes, prepare lighting, and practice for the performances. Public performances are held Thursday through Sunday evenings in late July and early August as well as the last Friday and Saturday in April. Reservations for the performances are highly recommended. Fee. Located four miles east of Round Top via FM 1457 then north on FM 2714; (512) 471-4993 or 471-4726; www.shakespeare-winedale.org.

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