The video above takes you on a drive through Helotes, Texas, a small town sitting right on the edge of San Antonio where the city starts giving way to the Texas Hill Country. With a population approaching 10,000 people, Helotes manages to hold onto a genuine small-town feel even though it's just minutes from a major metro area. The name comes from the Spanish word for corn cob — and yes, you can drop the H when you say it, though plenty of locals keep it in. David Bridwell stopped through Helotes on his way to a gig in Boerne and spent some time walking around the old town area, eating at a local favorite, and checking out what the town has to offer before heading up the road.
Old Town Helotes and the Corn Cob History
Helotes has roots going back to the 1850s, when it served as a stop for stagecoaches and cattle drives heading toward Bandera. German and Mexican settlers shaped the community, and it stayed a farming town well into the mid-1900s. That agricultural heritage lives on through the annual Cornyval Festival, which has been running since the 1960s. The old town strip is a walkable stretch of storefronts with antique shops, coffee spots, art galleries, restaurants, and even a bike shop operating out of a building that dates to the 1880s. For food, El Chaparral — locals call it El Chap — is a popular stop and a solid place to grab a meal.
What Live Music Venues Are in Helotes, Texas?
For a town this size, Helotes has a real concentration of places where you can catch live music. The big one is a legitimate Texas institution, but there are several others worth knowing about along the same stretch of road.
- John T. Floore's Country Store — Opened in 1942 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Elvis Presley and Hank Williams played here, and Willie Nelson was a regular when he lived in Bandera. It still books major Texas artists — on the day of this visit, fans were lined up waiting for Aaron Watson to play. The venue also gives a real stage to up-and-coming artists.
- Helotes Creek Winery — A winery located along the main strip that adds to the area's draw for a day out.
- Bee Daddy's Barbecue — A barbecue spot just across from the winery that advertises live music from time to time.
- Wine 101 — A wine bar with a big patio full of tables where folks were hanging out and enjoying live music on this particular day. It has a relaxed, social atmosphere.
- Pete's Place — A short walk from Wine 101, this spot also advertises live music and adds another option to the mix.
A Good Stop on the Way to the Hill Country
If you're heading out from San Antonio toward Bandera or Boerne, Helotes is right on the way and worth more than just a drive-through. You can walk the old town area, grab food at El Chap, and depending on the night, catch live music at Floore's or one of the smaller spots nearby. After exploring Helotes, David Bridwell continued up to Boerne where he played a set at Salvadore Dos — you can catch a bit of that performance at the end of the video, including his original song "White Knuckle."