Choosing Texas: Getting to know Lockhart

By Laurie Mona

LPR Staff                            

      If you’ve stopped into the Lockhart Post-Register (LPR) office in the past few months, you might have noticed a new face at the front desk. I joined the staff this summer, shortly after I moved to town from Minnesota. Just like over 1,500 people who’ve moved here in the past two years, when it came time to find a great new place to put down roots, I chose Lockhart. 

     Why Lockhart? 

To be honest, I hadn’t visited Lockhart before I moved here and didn’t know a soul in town. With my research and my grown sons already living in Texas, my interest piqued in Lockhart. I was drawn by the promise of great barbecue, live music, interesting art, and the slower pace of a small town with easy access to my sons in Austin. More than ready to leave brutal Minnesota winters behind, I decided to pull the trigger on a move this March. By late May, I had sold the rural home I’d raised my boys in, loaded up the moving truck, and trekked over 1,000 miles to my new Texas home.

I guess you could call this my empty nester adventure.

     New town, now what? If there’s a guidebook on how to do this, I don’t have one. And when it comes to learning about a new town, pretty pictures on a computer screen are no substitute for talking to people in person and boots on the ground exploring.

     One of my first stops when I got to town: the LPR news office, for a copy of the latest edition for leads on interesting happenings around town. As a veteran reporter for small-town newspapers, I expected the local newspaper to have the scoop, and I haven’t been disappointed.

From the weekly at-a-glance entertainment guide for local events to in-depth news stories, the newspaper is a reliable resource for a town’s pulse – not only as a primer on events, but as an introduction to local characters, historical relevance, and a gauge of what matters to people.

To fill in the gaps and enjoy more random creative vibes, I turned to social media. Typing “Lock-hart” into the search bar, one pulls up endless information on local and nearby venues, events, businesses, and people. In my first week alone, I was introduced to First Friday art gallery exhibitions, live music events, and food & drink specials, plus endless information about interesting people and places around town to seek out and experience. 

     But while there are countless rabbit holes of video reels and attention-getting photos to explore on social media, sometimes you want more objective, curated information. When you don’t yet have trustworthy friends, family, or neighbors to turn to for advice, the annual “Best of Caldwell County” reader’s choice awards guide from the LPR is a great solution.

     Over 30,000 votes were cast online for this year’s winners. The 2026 guide, that was just published, lists voter favorites in over 170 categories, ranging from food & drink to services, businesses, and notable individuals.

     Whether you’re looking for the most recommended mechanic to fix your car, where to get the best pedicure, or tasty inspiration for your next dinner plans, the “Best of” guide is a reference you’ll want to hang on to all year. If you missed getting the Nov. 5 issue of the LPR, you can still pick up a copy of the 2026 guide at the office located at 111 S. Church Street in downtown Lockhart, while supplies last.

     As of today, I’m glad to have survived my first Texas summer – including the hottest September in recorded history – and am looking forward to exploring my new hometown and the state of Texas in the cooler seasons. 

     My New to Lockhart Quick Takes: Scariest introduction: 183 toll road flyover – 100’ tall, 85 mph of sheer terror. Even cuter in person: Downtown square and courthouse. Hot weather perk: Styrofoam fast-food drink cups for icy drinks in summer heat (they’re illegal in Minnesota) Rudest surprise: fire ant blisters. (And what’s this I hear about furry caterpillars?)

What’s next: Over the next year, I plan to write about the “new” things I have found to see or do in and around Lockhart. 

   Please feel free to drop me a note at news@post-register.com.  Please include the subject line “New in town. ” If you’ve got more insights to share, to help newbies in town, questions you’ve had about living here but didn’t know who to ask, or your recommendations for something interesting worth checking out, please let me know and that could be my next story.