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Gillespie County Country Schools

About

View 17 historic country schools in Gillespie County by car or bicycle along the self guided Gillespie County Country Schools Driving and Cycling Trails. The full 120 mile trail includes 17 historic country schools dating from 1847 to 1936. Many historic schools along the trail are featured on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized by the Country School Association of America. Driving times along routes vary from one hour in length to half a day. Built of log, native limestone or framed with wood and tin exteriors unique to the Texas Hill Country, many of the historic schools along the trail were one teacher schools teaching up to ten grades at a time. Today, these schools are available as rentals for weddings, reunions, groups and more. Free maps of the trail are available at the Fredericksburg Visitor Information Center located at 302 East Austin Street in downtown Fredericksburg or for download here: Driving Trail

Map

Amenities

General
Wedding Facilities
Notes
  • Additional Info: Please check each school for their hours.
General
  • Meeting Group Facilities: As many as 44 rural schools were in operation around Fredericksburg, the county seat of Gillespie County, in the early 20th century. German immigrants had poured into the area that became know as the Texas Hill Country in the mid to late 1800's, starting with the settlement of New Braunfels in 1845 and Fredericksburg in 1846. With a strong sense of community in the rural areas of Gillespie County still today, 12 of the schools continue to be used as community centers, polling places and festival sites, as well as being rented out as sites for social gatherings and weddings.
  • Info: As many as 44 rural schools were in operation around Fredericksburg, the county seat of Gillespie County, in the early 20th century. German immigrants had poured into the area that became know as the Texas Hill Country in the mid to late 1800's, starting with the settlement of New Braunfels in 1845 and Fredericksburg in 1846. With a strong sense of community in the rural areas of Gillespie County still today, 12 of the schools continue to be used as community centers, polling places and festival sites, as well as being rented out as sites for social gatherings and weddings.