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Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, Kerrville is a charming riverside town known for its scenic beauty and small-town warmth.
Introduction to Kerrville
Kerrville was originally settled in the late 1840s by Joshua Brown (1816-1876), a shingle maker who used the area as a hub serving the middle and upper Hill Country. It was unofficially known as Brownsborough. In 1856, Brown donated the land for the original four acre townsite and named it Kerrville to honor his friend James Kerr (1790-1850), a politician and major in the Texas Revolution.
The town boomed in the last quarter of the 19th century with the introduction of ranching. The railroad reached Kerrville in 1887, and it officially incorporated as a town in 1889. Moderate growth continued throughout the years.
Today, the town is popular with both retirees and young professionals. There are a handful of cultural attractions as well as outdoor recreation, shopping, dining, and entertainment. With the Guadalupe River winding through town, it offers a perfect blend of outdoor adventure, art, and hospitality.
Earl Garrett Street
Before having lunch, we started our quick exploration of Kerrville in the heart of downtown along Earl Garrett Street. It’s lined with historic buildings filled with boutique shops, restaurants, and cafés.
Schreiner Mansion
The most prominent building on the street is the Schreiner Mansion. It was built by Charles Schreiner (1838-1927), a successful local businessman and a very important figure during the early days of Kerrville. Construction started in 1879 and the final phase was completed in 1897.
The mansion was designed by San Antonio architect Alfred Giles (1853-1920), combining the Romanesque Revival and Châteauesque styles. It had six bedrooms spread over two stories and was the first limestone building in Kerr County. The mansion was built by both local and German craftsmen, and the pink granite columns were imported from Italy.
Schreiner’s
Next to the mansion is the former Schreiner’s Department Store which has an interesting history. Charles Schreiner immigrated from France to San Antonio in 1852 and served as a Texas Ranger from 1854 to 1857. He then opened a general store at Camp Verde, a military post about 15 miles south of Kerrville, and obtained a government contract to supply soldiers with beef and other supplies. After fighting in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy, he moved to Kerrville in 1869 and opened a general store with a partner.
Schreiner bought out his partner in 1879 and expanded to include banking, ranching, and marketing wool and mohair. By 1900, he owned over 600,000 acres of land and by 1945 his store was one of the most progressive in the Southwest. He even founded the Schreiner Institute (now Schreiner University) in 1917.
Fort Worth-based Dunlaps acquired Schreiner’s in 1991 but declared bankruptcy in 2007 and dissolved. The original Schreiner’s closed its doors on September 23, 2007. The building has since reopened under the same name and hosts several smaller boutiques and retail shops.
Kerr Arts and Cultural Center
On the other side of the Schreiner Mansion is the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center. It opened in 1995 and has three main galleries featuring rotating exhibits. They also provide art classes for all ages. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm and admission is free (as of April 2025).
Heritage Star
In the middle of the intersection at Earl Garrett and Water Streets is the Heritage Star. It was completed in 1995 and commemorates the city’s historic past. The star is located on the Hill Country trailhead of the Chisholm Trail, where cattlemen would gather their herds before beginning the cattle drive north. In recent years, it has been a gathering place for the community. Tivy High School students used to meet at the intersection every Friday night during football season for large pep rallies. Homecoming pep rallies are still held there.
Kerrville City Hall
Finally, we walked through pleasant Peterson Plaza past the beautiful Kerrville City Hall. It opened in October 2012.
Where to Eat in Kerrville
We stopped into one place for lunch.
Cartewheels Catering
Cartewheels Catering, which is housed in a building built by the Schreiner Company, serves lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 2pm. They have a small menu featuring a few salads and sandwiches as well as a soup of the day. I had a delicious cranberry nut chicken salad sandwich with chips and a pickle.
