If your idea of “family bonding” includes barbecue, backroads, and driving past places where fictional cannibals once roamed… pull up a chair at the dinner table (uh… maybe not that dinner table). A few years back, we loaded up the car, queued the soundtrack of cicadas, and went chasing the real filming locations from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre universe — the 1974 original and the early-2000s reboot era. Below is our full route, complete with addresses, what was filmed where, juicy history bites, and the kind of practical tips you only get from actually going.

We started in Taylor, detoured to that eerie house in the middle of nowhere near Granger, rolled into Kingsland to eat inside the actual 1974 house (yep), slept in vintage cabooses on the same property, and then hit the infamous gas station near Bastrop on the way home. Yee-chainsaw! (Too much? Never.)

Stop 1: The Slaughterhouse in Taylor

Address: 2211 W 2nd St, Taylor, TX 76574
What it is: The working meat plant used as the “Blair Meat Co.” slaughterhouse in the 2003 remake (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, dir. Marcus Nispel) and 2006 prequel (The Beginning).

On screen: In the ‘03 film, the final act funnels our survivor into the maw of this very facility — because of course the nearest “safe” place would be a slaughterhouse. Location scouts didn’t just fake it; they shot at Taylor Meat Company at night, in and around the actual plant.

History nugget: Taylor Meat has been a local meat operation for decades and, fun fact, that industrial plot has been tied to butchering since the mid-20th century. Film location guides consistently list 2211 W 2nd St as the precise address; if you’re doing a quick drive-by, it’s visible from US-79 with access off W 2nd. Be respectful — it’s private property and a commercial facility, so keep your pics curbside.

Pro tip: Park across the way for a wider photo of the façade and smokestacks. Spray yourself with bug repellent unless you like auditioning for extra mosquitos, scene 1. (The flies around here? Legendary, even per location hunters.)

Stop 2: “The House in the Distance” — The Hewitt House near Granger

Address: 901 County Road 336, Granger, TX 76530 (PRIVATE PROPERTY — strictly no trespassing; view from the road only) – they have SIGNS EVEYWHERE!

What it is: The imposing plantation-style farmhouse used as the Hewitt family home in the 2003 remake and 2006 prequel. If you remember the shot of a big two-story house sitting alone on open land — this is the one. You’ll spot it from a distance across the fields; honestly, the isolation is doing half the acting.

On screen: It’s the center of gravity for the Nispel era — chases, captures, and Sheriff Hoyt’s roadside menace all orbit this spot. Multiple production diaries and then/now location sites pin the exact CR-336 address (again: road shots only, friends; the owners are serious about privacy).

History nugget: This house actually predates its horror fame. Local historians say the structure originated in Austin in the 1850s, then was moved by train in the 1930s to sit where it is now in Granger — long before Leatherface revved up. That old-Texas backstory explains the formal, symmetrical architecture that reads more plantation home than farmhouse shack.

Pro tip: There are “No Trespassing” signs and cameras right at the drive. The best safe vantage is along CR-336 with your hazard lights on, off the traffic lane. Zoom lens > gutsy fence hops. (Leatherface isn’t your biggest problem; it’s the property owner.)

Stop 3: Kingsland — Eat Inside the Original 1974 House (and Sleep Next Door in Vintage Cabooses)

3A) Hooper’s (formerly Grand Central Café): the 1974 House

Restaurant Address: 1010 King Ct, Kingsland, TX 78639
On the same property as The Antlers Inn (details below)

What it is: This is the house from Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic TCM— the Sawyer family home — painstakingly moved from Quick Hill in Round Rock to Kingsland in the late 1990s, reassembled plank by plank, and turned into a restaurant. It operated for years as Grand Central Café before adopting the name Hooper’s in 2022 to honor the director. Inside, you can recognize the narrow hallway, the stair, and room layouts (minus bones and chicken feathers… thankfully).

How it got here: The original farmhouse sat near what’s now the La Frontera development in Round Rock. In 1998, preservation-minded owners cut the house into ~7 pieces and relocated it ~60 miles to Kingsland, where carpenters restored it to its Edwardian bones and Hill Country charm.

Today: Hooper’s serves Southern-pub comfort food and leans into the lore with subtle nods upstairs (there’s even a cheeky “say hi to Grandpa” moment on the second floor). If you’re wondering whether it’s tourist-trap corny or actually good: multiple travel outlets covered the relaunch and the experience — it’s a legit restaurant first, film museum second, which is why it works. Reservations recommended in peak seasons. The encourage you to look around.

Quick film buff flex: The 1974 movie shot July–August 1973 and released Oct 1, 1974 — most interiors at this very house (in its Round Rock days) with exterior scenes scattered around Central Texas. You’re literally dining on a film set.

3B) The Antlers Inn & Those Iconic Cabooses (where we stayed!)

Lodging Address: 1001 King Ct, Kingsland, TX 78639 (same drive as Hooper’s; look for the historic hotel and rail yard)

What it is: A railroad-era resort (opened 1901, restored 1990s) on the banks of the Colorado River/Lake LBJ. The property includes the vintage hotel, cottages, three brightly painted cabooses converted into adorable family stays, and — this is the key for Chainsaw fans — the 1974 house sits right next door as the on-site restaurant. We booked a caboose for the full “sleep steps from horror history, but make it cozy” experience.

Why it’s perfect for this itinerary: You can check in, stroll to dinner inside the Chainsaw house, then wander back to your train car for bedtime. The kids get the caboose bunk novelty; the adults get a nightcap and a porch swing. Win-win-win. (FYI: The Inn lists its address and contact on multiple official pages if you need to call for availability.)

Stop 4 (Homeward): “We Slaughter Barbecue” — a.k.a. The Gas Station near Bastrop

Address: 1073 State Highway 304, Bastrop, TX 78602
What it is today: “The Gas Station” — BBQ joint + horror gift shop + photo-ops + rentable themed cabins — lovingly restored to match the 1974 look. It re-opened in 2016 after a careful rehab, and they’ve kept adding touches ever since.

On screen: In the 1974 film, the “Last Chance Gas Station” (with the cheeky sign “We Slaughter Barbecue”) is where the teens stop, meet the proprietor, and get…. bad advice. The building you visit today is that structure, restored with era-appropriate signage, props, and a memorial bench to cast/crew. Great stop for lunch, merch, and a few “please don’t follow me home, sir” selfies.

Behind

Good to know: Check hours before you roll in — they can be seasonal. Cabin stays are a fun novelty if you want to split your trip differently and overnight here instead of Kingsland.

How to String It Together (Our Route + Time Savers)
• Taylor (Slaughterhouse) → Granger (Hewitt House): Straight shot up TX-95; the Granger house sits southwest of town on CR-336. Plan this as a pull-off and photo-from-the-road only.
• Granger → Kingsland (Hooper’s + The Antlers Inn): Head west toward the Hill Country for your big meal in the 1974 house and an easy roll to your caboose. Hooper’s is 1010 King Ct, The Antlers is 1001 King Ct — they’re neighbors.
• Kingsland → Bastrop (Gas Station): Work your way back east to 1073 SH-304 for BBQ and the photo ops, then hop to your home base.

Film-Geek Deep Cuts (Because You Know I Had To)
• The 1974 house’s move: In 1998, the original farmhouse from Round Rock’s Quick Hill (near today’s La Frontera) was disassembled into ~7 sections and hauled ~60 miles to Kingsland. It’s one of Texas film history’s coolest preservation stories.
• Release timeline: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre filmed July–Aug 1973; released Oct 1, 1974 — the heat and stench reports from set are legendary.
• Remake footprint: The 2003 remake and 2006 prequel worked a tight triangle of Taylor / Granger / Manor (and more), putting both the slaughterhouse and Hewitt house within a reasonable drive for fans today.

Exact Addresses (Copy-Paste Friendly)
• Taylor Slaughterhouse (2003 & 2006):
Taylor Meat Company, 2211 W 2nd St, Taylor, TX 76574 — view from the road; private/commercial site.
• Hewitt House (2003 & 2006):
901 County Road 336, Granger, TX 76530 — private property; strictly no trespassing; roadside photos only.
• Original 1974 House — now Hooper’s restaurant:
Hooper’s, 1010 King Ct, Kingsland, TX 78639 — dining inside the restored 1974 house.
• Where we stayed — The Antlers Inn (cabooses!):
1001 King Ct, Kingsland, TX 78639 — historic inn, cottages, and train caboose rooms; Hooper’s is on the same property.
• “We Slaughter Barbecue” / The Gas Station (1974):
1073 State Highway 304, Bastrop, TX 78602 — BBQ + merch + cabins; the restored gas station location.

Etiquette, Safety & Spoiler-Free Sanity Checks
• Don’t enter private land. The Granger house is heavily posted, monitored, and occupied. The owners’ patience = not a renewable resource. (Trust me, the long-lens shot from the road is better.)
• Mind business hours. Hooper’s hours vary; book ahead on weekends/holidays. The Gas Station also has seasonal hours; double-check before detouring.
• Heat + bugs: Central Texas in warm months = sunscreen, water, bug spray. The Taylor location in particular is infamous for flies — it’s on brand, but still.

Little Things We Loved
• Hallway déjà vu at Hooper’s. Walking past the host stand and catching the angles you’ve seen a hundred times in stills = goosebumps, minus the bone décor.
• Caboose bedtime. The novelty factor is high for kids and grownups; you’re steps from the river breeze and a quick walk from breakfast.
• Gas Station merch. Between the BBQ and the tiny museum vibes, it’s a perfect final stamp on the trip — grab the tee, earn the cred. Recent coverage shows the site is thriving and welcoming to fans.

Sample Day-By-Day (Steal This)

Day 1: Taylor (photos of the slaughterhouse) → Granger (roadside photo of Hewitt House) → Kingsland (check in at The Antlers, dinner at Hooper’s).

Day 2: Kingsland morning coffee, poke around the property, then roll toward Bastrop for lunch at The Gas Station and drive home full and faintly unnerved.

Roll Credits (Sources for the Film Nerds Who Want Receipts)
• Taylor slaughterhouse ID and address: verified across film-location guides and travel sites.
• Hewitt House address, usage (2003/2006), and strict no-trespassing status.
• 1974 house relocation to Kingsland, restaurant history (Grand Central Café → Hooper’s), and current details.
• Antlers Inn address + caboose lodging info.
• “We Slaughter Barbecue” / The Gas Station address + restoration and current experience.
• 1974 production dates and regional filming footprint.
• Remake footprint (Taylor/Granger/Manor).