This Legendary Texas BBQ Spot Was Featured in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Film

Pulling off TX-304 into the quiet stretch of Texas countryside, it became immediately clear this stop was going to be different. The Gas Station sat there exactly as it appears on screen, and the familiarity of it all made the experience feel surreal before I even got out of the car.

Walking up to the entrance, I noticed the rustic wooden boards and the big BBQ sign, and it honestly gave me chills in the best way possible. Inside, the smell of smoked brisket mixed with rows of horror collectibles created a combination I had never experienced before.

The staff greeted me right away, and their friendliness immediately balanced out any spooky vibes from the exterior. This place manages to be a legitimate BBQ joint, a horror fan’s paradise, and a piece of cinema history all rolled into one unforgettable stop.

A Real Film Location Frozen in Time

Pulling into the parking lot felt like stepping onto a movie set that never quite packed up and left. The building itself is the actual gas station used in the 1974 horror classic, and the owners have kept it looking remarkably close to how it appeared on screen.

Walking around the outside, you can see the weathered wood and simple architecture that made it perfect for that eerie rural Texas atmosphere. The open fields behind the property stretch out just like they did in the film, giving you that isolated feeling even though you’re not far from civilization.

On foggy or overcast days, several visitors mentioned the place takes on an even more cinematic quality.

What makes this spot special is how it balances preservation with function. Instead of turning into a pure tourist trap or museum piece, it operates as a working restaurant and shop.

You can take photos from every angle, and the staff encourages it because they understand why people make the trip. The building’s exterior remains true to its roots while the inside has been adapted to serve food and sell collectibles.

It’s rare to find a filming location that’s both accessible and authentic, making this a genuine treasure for movie fans and casual visitors alike.

Brisket That Brings Folks Back

The brisket here gets mentioned in nearly every review, and after trying it myself, I completely understand why. It arrives at your table with that perfect smoke ring and a tenderness that doesn’t require much effort to cut through.

The seasoning hits that sweet spot where you taste the meat first and the spices second, which is exactly how good brisket should work.

What surprised me was how consistently people praised it, whether they ordered on a busy Saturday or a quiet weekday. The kitchen clearly has their process down, and it shows in every slice.

Some folks mentioned it being better than spots with hour-long waits, which says a lot about the quality they’re putting out. The meat stays moist without being fatty, and the smoke flavor comes through without overpowering everything else on your plate.

You can order it as part of a plate with sides or grab a sandwich if you’re eating on the go. Either way, you’re getting the same quality brisket that keeps locals coming back and convinces travelers to plan return trips.

Several reviews specifically mentioned bringing food home for dinner, and it held up well even after the drive, which speaks to how well it’s prepared from the start.

Horror Collectibles Around Every Corner

Walking into the shop section feels like entering a horror fan’s personal collection that somehow became available for purchase. The shelves are packed with figures, patches, shirts, stickers, and all sorts of memorabilia spanning different decades and franchises.

I spotted everything from classic Universal monsters to modern horror favorites, with plenty of variety in between.

The selection goes beyond typical tourist merchandise. You’ll find collectibles that serious fans actually want, including items that are harder to track down elsewhere.

Several visitors mentioned discovering Troma merch and other niche pieces they didn’t expect to find in a rural Texas location. The pricing earned consistent praise for being reasonable, especially compared to online retailers or convention vendors.

What makes browsing here enjoyable is the lack of pressure. The staff knows their inventory and can point you toward specific items if you ask, but they’re equally happy to let you explore at your own pace.

Some people came just for the BBQ and ended up leaving with bags of collectibles they hadn’t planned on buying. Others made the trip specifically for the shop and grabbed food as an afterthought.

Either way, the combination works surprisingly well, creating a destination that appeals to multiple interests at once.

Outdoor Seating With Character

The seating area sits out back, away from the road and surrounded by open Texas land. It’s all outdoors, which works perfectly during cooler months and early mornings when the temperature stays comfortable.

The shade structures provide relief during warmer parts of the day, though summer afternoons can definitely get toasty.

Eating outside here feels different than typical restaurant patios. You’re looking at fields and cabins rather than parking lots or street traffic, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere.

The setup is casual with picnic-style tables, encouraging a laid-back approach to your meal. A few reviews mentioned flies being an issue, which is pretty standard for outdoor dining in rural areas, but most people felt the food quality and unique setting made it worth dealing with.

The outdoor arrangement actually adds to the overall experience rather than feeling like a limitation. You can see the property stretching behind the building, including the rental cabins that dot the landscape.

It gives you a better sense of the location’s history and how it’s been preserved over the years. Some visitors enjoyed the quiet between the sounds of nature, while others appreciated having space for their group to spread out and relax after a drive through the countryside.

Staff Who Know Their Horror History

The people working here genuinely care about both the food they’re serving and the history of the building.

When you ask questions about the film or the property, they have real answers rather than rehearsed tourist information.

What stood out to me was how they balanced being informative without being pushy. If you want to talk about horror movies and filming locations, they’re more than happy to share stories and point you toward other nearby sites worth visiting.

If you just want to order food and browse quietly, they respect that too. Several visitors mentioned staff members who’d been there a long time, which usually indicates good management and a positive work environment.

Their friendliness creates a welcoming atmosphere that counteracts any spooky expectations you might have from the building’s exterior. First-time visitors often mentioned feeling immediately comfortable once they stepped inside and interacted with the team.

That combination of expertise and genuine hospitality makes a big difference, especially at a place that could easily coast on its film connection alone without putting in the extra effort to create a quality experience.

Sausage Worth Ordering

While the brisket gets most of the attention, the sausage here deserves its own recognition. It comes out with a nice char on the outside and stays juicy inside, with seasoning that complements rather than overwhelms the meat.

Several people specifically called it out as amazing or delicious, which doesn’t always happen with sausage at BBQ places where it can be an afterthought.

You can get it as part of a plate or wrapped up for a quicker meal. The sausage wrap got mentioned multiple times as being particularly satisfying, offering a handheld option that doesn’t sacrifice quality.

The kitchen clearly knows how to cook it properly, giving it enough time on the grill to develop flavor without drying it out. One review mentioned wishing it had been grilled slightly longer, but that was the exception rather than the rule.

What makes the sausage stand out is how it holds its own against the brisket rather than playing second fiddle. Some folks ordered both and enjoyed them equally, while others came back specifically for the sausage after trying it the first time.

It’s the kind of menu item that could easily be overlooked but ends up being a highlight once you give it a chance.

Rental Cabins for Overnight Stays

Behind the main building, you’ll find several small cabins available for overnight rental. They’re simple structures that fit the property’s overall aesthetic, offering a unique lodging option for horror fans who want to extend their visit.

Prices run around seventy-nine dollars on weeknights and one hundred twenty-nine on weekends, which several people noted as reasonable for the experience.

The cabins appear regularly in reviews, with people either mentioning they stayed in one or adding it to their future plans. Those who did stay overnight described them as clean and well-maintained, with one review specifically noting how creepy it got at night in cabin one.

That’s probably exactly what most guests are hoping for when they book a stay at a location connected to a horror film.

The appeal goes beyond just having a place to sleep. Staying overnight lets you experience the property when day-trippers have left, creating a more immersive connection to the location’s history.

Several visitors mentioned wanting to convince their partners to book a cabin on a return trip, suggesting it’s something that sticks in your mind after seeing them during a daytime visit.

The combination of affordability, cleanliness, and unique atmosphere makes them worth considering if you’re planning more than just a quick stop.

Fast Service That Keeps Lines Moving

Even on busy Saturdays when people line up for food, the service moves quickly without feeling rushed. The menu stays intentionally small, which allows the kitchen to focus on doing a few things really well rather than struggling with a massive selection.

Orders come out fast enough that you’re not standing around forever, but the quality doesn’t suffer from the speed.

Multiple reviews praised how lightning-fast the food arrived, with one person specifically noting they were impressed by the combination of speed and taste. That efficiency matters when you’re stopping during a road trip or visiting with kids who might not have patience for long waits.

The streamlined approach works in everyone’s favor, letting the staff serve more people while maintaining the quality that keeps folks coming back.

To-go orders get the same attention as dine-in meals, coming with sauce options, pickles, and onions so you have everything you need. Several people mentioned picking up dinner to take home, and the packaging held up well during the drive.

The system they’ve developed clearly works, balancing volume with quality in a way that benefits both the business and customers. You’re not sacrificing anything by choosing this spot over places with longer waits and bigger reputations.

Sides That Complete the Plate

The sides here do their job without trying to steal the show from the meat. The pinto beans come with bacon and get consistent mentions for being flavorful and well-prepared.

Coleslaw arrives fresh and provides that cool, crunchy contrast you want alongside smoked meat. The pasta salad earned a specific shout-out for being nice, which might sound like faint praise but actually indicates it exceeded expectations.

What matters with BBQ sides is that they complement the main event rather than competing with it or disappointing you. These sides accomplish that goal, adding variety to your plate without any of them being weak links.

The beans especially seem to resonate with visitors, probably because they’re cooked with enough bacon to give them real flavor while still letting the bean taste come through.

When you order a plate, you’re getting a complete meal rather than just meat with afterthought accompaniments. The kitchen clearly puts thought into the sides, making sure they’re prepared with the same care as the brisket and sausage.

Several reviews mentioned specific sides positively, which doesn’t always happen when people write about BBQ restaurants.

That attention to the complete plate rather than just the star attraction shows a level of care that elevates the whole dining experience beyond what you might expect from a roadside spot.

A Destination Worth Planning Around

Some places work as convenient stops when you’re already nearby, but this one justifies going out of your way. Visitors consistently mentioned making it a specific destination rather than a random discovery, and very few expressed regret about the effort.

The combination of film history, quality food, and unique shopping creates enough value that people plan trips around it or add it to their Texas travel itineraries.

Road trippers appreciate having a spot that offers multiple reasons to stop rather than just one attraction. You can satisfy your hunger, pick up collectibles, take photos at a real filming location, and learn about the property’s history all in one visit.

That efficiency matters when you’re covering ground and don’t want to waste time on disappointing tourist traps. Several reviews mentioned it being a highlight of entire Texas vacations, which speaks to how well the experience delivers on its promises.

The location’s authenticity sets it apart from manufactured attractions designed purely to separate tourists from their money. This building has real history, serves legitimate food, and operates as a genuine business rather than a theme park version of itself.

That authenticity resonates with visitors who can tell the difference between something real and something fabricated for tourism purposes.

Address: 1073 TX-304, Bastrop, TX 78602.