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My husband, Michael and I fell in love on a two-week road trip along the Gulf Coast while we were dating. We both discovered that we share a passion for travel and exploring new cities together. Now as newlyweds, we decided that we needed a change of scenery after restricted travel in 2020, so we set out on our next road trip.
A short drive southwest of the Brazos Valley, we found retreat at the FlopHouze, a shipping container hotel located in Round Top. The road to our destination was winding, with bluebonnet fields and wildflowers that hugged the sides of the blacktop. In true Satterfield travel tradition, day one of our road trip included stopping to look at the smallest church in Texas, St. Martin Catholic Church and photographing a few architecturally interesting buildings and homes we found along the way. Sometimes we find a little inspiration just beyond the well-traveled roads.
We soon arrived at the FlopHouze hotel, and it was time to settle in for our extended stay. The interior walls to the floor of our “houze” was outfitted with reclaimed lumber from a Kentucky distillery and sustainably harvested wood from the owner’s farm in upstate New York. The FlopHouze property is also home to a working ranch, and we watched the cattle grazing in the distance through salvaged windows from a Philadelphia grade school. Reclaimed Texas bowling alley floors were repurposed as counter tops that adorn the kitchen cabinets that once housed lab equipment in Brooklyn, New York. From coast to coast and around the world, walking across the original floors in the shipping container hotel takes one on a trip of its own, reclaiming the past. Vintage textiles and finishings tell a story from the front door to the bedroom. In the evenings, we stargazed from our patio and found retreat and relaxation by the pool and hammock right outside our door.
Things to Do in Round Top
We love exploring antique and vintage stores for one-of-a-kind treasures to take home during our travels. Round Top is a premier location for discovering art, upcycled, reclaimed, and “uniquely you” furnishings for the home. We are still trying to determine our combined style, and we enjoy learning about each other’s tastes in home décor. In addition to hunting treasures, we had to stop by the famous Junk Gypsy flagship store to top off our shopping excursion. You have been warned! It’s way too easy to walk out in style with a new cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and even a tutu!
We find when visiting a small town that the restaurants may close a little early, especially during the week. We found an excellent burger joint in town, Popi Burger, and we could not resist their chocolate milkshakes for dessert. For a wine-tasting experience close to the FlopHouze, we found an Aggie-owned and operated winery, Busted Oak Cellars, in Carmine. We timed it right for their Taco Thursday special and relaxed on their patio while listening to live music.
For a destination close to home and a slower pace of life, we recommend Round Top as a great place to unwind with your significant other or plan for your next girls’ trip. Many of the creature comforts we find right here that remind us of the Brazos Valley — small and local businesses, family owned and operated stores and eatery, and artists, creators and innovators — we found on our Round Top road trip.
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Just outside of the Brazos Valley southwest of Brenham is Round Top, one the smallest incorporated towns in Texas with a population of about 90 people. The antique shows and festivals that take over the region stretch for miles along State Highway 237. But getting to Round Top can be an experience, especially in a Misano Blue BMW M2 Competition CS coupe.
Along the way, we took a detour to the community of Independence, the original home of Baylor University and historic buildings including the Houston House, the Independence Baptist Church, and the Steward Plantation. One of my favorite stops is the Lueckemeyer General Store, the only place in Independence to get a bite to eat and top of your tank.
From Independence, we took FM 390 through the beautiful countryside and the small town of Burton, home of the Texas Cotton Gin Museum. Another route is longer, down FM 50 towards Brenham, home of Blue Bell Creameries, which has a visitors’ center and of course, a Blue Bell Ice Cream Parlor, where scoops of some of the brand’s favorite flavors are only $1 each. The route to Round Top continues on FM 389 towards Shelby, then a right on FM 1457, which will take you into the heart of town.
The FlopHouze Hotel is actually south of Round Top. To get there, we headed down State Highway 237 past the town of Warrenton. This stretch of road is full of roadside attractions, from the antique shops that specialized in historic oil and gas signs to the world’s smallest active Catholic church. There is even a vintage Russian MIG fighter jet parked along the side of the highway.
Pulling into the FlopHouze, which is on a working ranch and active architectural salvage store, we knew we had found something special. While the hotel itself is an amazing retreat, we had to drive a short distance for a bite to eat. Thankfully, there are a lot of great choices in the area and some scenic routes to enjoy along the way. Another option, rather than heading back into Round Top, is to take FM 1291 down to Fayette, which has a number of restaurants on the square, or head north to Busted Oak Cellars for a wine tasting and tacos. Either way, the drive is enjoyable.
When it does come to exploring the antiques, there are plenty of unusual finds that I would have loved to have taken home for my study or mancave. There were a lot of classic cars, motorcycles, boats, and even planes for sale in the antique shops. Mostly likely, we would have needed a truck to haul them home because not much else would have fit in the M2 once we loaded our luggage.
The Round Top area is an easy day trip or weekend getaway from just about anywhere in the Brazos Valley. It is the kind of place we want to go back to again and again and will still discover something new, from a family-owned restaurant to a must-have vintage sign. Plus, those country roads are hard to beat.
Jennifer Satterfield is the founder and editor for Growing Up Texas, a Southern lifestyle and travel blog. Find inspiration through Jennifer's colorful stories of her favorite boutiques, culinary treats and spirits, and travel adventures across the great state of Texas and beyond. A resident of the Brazos Valley for more than 20 years, Jennifer is passionate about telling the stories of local residents and business owners and believes that the Brazos Valley is truly the best place to live. Visit her blog at growinguptexas.com
Michael Satterfield is an award-winning journalist, photographer, and founder of TheGentlemanRacer.com, a men’s site focused on cars, luxury lifestyle, and adventure. Michael has been featured in Forbes, Society Texas, Western Lifestyle Retailer, and Velocity. After moving to Texas three years ago, he has made his home in the Brazos Valley. Visit his site, thegentlemanracer.com
