Uncover the History and Charm of Camp Verde General Store and Restaurant
Sometimes the best part about traveling is that our journeys often lead us off the beaten path to uncover hidden gems that defy the ordinary. It's the unexpected places that etch themselves into our memories. Such is the case with Camp Verde General Store and Restaurant, a historic destination in the heart of Texas Hill Country on the banks of the Verde Creek. As avid travelers know, it's the exploration of these unique and cool spots that transforms a journey into an adventure. Camp Verde beckons as one of those rare finds.
Located between Kerrville and Bandera, just a 20-minute drive from Hotel Giles, Camp Verde General Store and Restaurant offer visitors a little slice of American history and warm Texas hospitality. The town of Camp Verde was established as a frontier post by the U.S. Army in 1855. Two years later, the old Williams community store opened to serve the soldiers stationed at the fort and pioneer ranchers in the area. As the store changed hands over the years, it was renamed and served the community not only as a general store but also a post office. In 1900, the original building was swept away in a flood and was soon replaced by the two-story stone structure that stands today.
Today, 167 years after it opened, the Camp Verde has become a Hill Country tourist attraction that continues to serve the community and visitors as a store, post office and, more recently, a restaurant.
The Camp Verde General Store is a treasure trove of eclectic goods — some 12,000 items in all. The store, encompassing two floors, offers accessories, gifts, handbags, clothes, candles, housewares, home decor, fine foods and more. With products gathered from artisans and producers from around the world, every shelf tells a story. You’ll be impressed by the big-city selection available at this small-town store. The store successfully marries old-world charm with modern sensibilities as the glass display cases, uneven wood plank floors and tin ceiling tiles create a nostalgic atmosphere.
Don't leave Camp Verde without grabbing a bite to eat in the restaurant. Serving daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the restaurant serves everything from omelets and huevos rancheros to specialty sandwiches, juicy burgers and country favorites like chicken fried steak. Added in 2012, the 82-seat dining room is the most recently expansion. Or choose to dine on the spectacular outdoor patio. Surrounded by the picturesque Texas landscape, diners can savor their meals while taking in the beauty of the Hill Country. It's the perfect setting for a leisurely breakfast or lunch. In fact, there are plenty of places inviting you to “sit a spell” at Camp Verde, from the dining patio to the old-fashioned front porch to picnic tables under shade trees that have offered their canopy for hundreds of years.
One final historical tidbit about Camp Verde. As you approach the store, you'll notice a 10-foot-high iron sculpture of a camel in the front yard, as well as a camel in the store’s logo. This stems from an experiment, initiated by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, to use camels for supply transport and other military purposes. The camels were procured from Egypt and arrived in Texas in 1856. By the start of the Civil War, there were 50 camels at Camp Verde. The fort was captured by the Confederates in 1861, and by 1865 when the Union Army regained control there were 100 camels! Despite the fact that the camels outperformed horses and mules for carrying heavier loads for longer distances, they proved to be impractical in other ways (ie. other animals were frightened by their scent). The fort was deactivated in 1869, thus ending the camel experiment, and the hump-backed beasts were sold to zoos and circuses.
Camp Verde General Store and Restaurant beckon travelers to slow down and savor the simple pleasures of life — exactly what we encourage all of our Hotel Giles guests to do during their Hill Country getaway. Whether you're in search of a memorable meal, a stroll through history or a unique shopping experience, this hidden gem in the Texas Hill Country is sure to leave a lasting impression on your heart and palate.
