The video above takes you on a full tour of Granbury, Texas — from the lake to the historic square to some solid live music spots. David Bridwell rolled into town for a gig at Sledge Distillery up the road in Tolar, but he made a day of it, exploring what this small town about 35 miles southwest of Fort Worth has to offer. With a population of around 10,000, Granbury has a reputation as a popular retirement destination, but there's more going on here than you might expect, especially when it comes to live music and good food.
Exploring the Granbury Square and Lake
The first stop was City Beach Park on Lake Granbury, where you can go water skiing, fishing, play beach volleyball, or just hang out by the water. It's a solid spot to kill a few hours and decompress. From there, it was on to the Granbury Square, which is the historic heart of town. The Hood County Courthouse sits right at the center, and the surrounding storefronts are filled with restaurants, coffee shops, antique stores, and clothing boutiques. The square also happens to be where you'll find Jesse James's grave — a weird but genuinely cool piece of Texas history. For food, Mesquite Pit came through with solid brisket, which is always the real test of a Texas barbecue joint.
What Live Music Venues Are in Granbury, Texas?
Granbury has a few spots worth knowing about if you're looking for live music in the area:
- Granbury Live — A large music venue right on the square that hosts regular evening performances. It's one of the main entertainment draws downtown.
- Warren's Backyard — A big outdoor music venue that hosts larger events and touring acts. The video captures their grand opening celebration after renovations, where Joshua Ray Walker was the featured artist. The man was just hanging out on a couch at the bar before his set — that kind of low-key, accessible energy is what makes small-town Texas shows great.
- Sledge Distillery — Located about 10 miles away in Tolar, this distillery keeps the Sledge family tradition of craft distilling alive with gin, moonshine, and bourbon. They have a spacious indoor setup where David Bridwell performed to a laid-back Saturday afternoon crowd with the air conditioning cranking against the Texas heat.
A Good Day Trip from Fort Worth
If you're based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Granbury makes for a straightforward day trip or weekend getaway. The combination of the lake, the walkable historic square, and a handful of legitimate music venues gives you enough to fill a full day without feeling like you're stretching for things to do. It's a small town that has its own thing going on — good food, real music, and a genuinely relaxed pace. Check out the video for the full walkthrough and some live performance clips from Sledge Distillery.