Seeing as my goal for 2023 is more XC hours - I'm interested in attending one of y'all's meetups this year!
So I reckon we need to figure out a location and then toss around some dates. Chances are I won't be able to make it, but I'll certainly try, and if I have a good firm date it's easier to block off my schedule. We also have to decide if it matters if it coincides with another aviation event in the region. Perhaps a few regional meets in case people don't want to fly as far, too?
I wish Ozzie’s still existed at KOUN. It was really good food and we could have included folks like @SoonerAviator and @RussR
KSEP and Hard Eight BBQ. Walking distance from the field. Excellent BBQ. Could also do KJCT and Cooper’s. Also walking distance but Junction is less central. Cooper’s at Llano is very popular but definitely too far to drive. Several courtesy cars (at least in the past) but if there are lots of attendees, that could be a challenge. Beyond BBQ, there’s always Fredericksburg (T82) and KCLL has Gate 12, which is excellent - but very popular.
The closest Cooper's I can find to KJCT is 3 hours away. Is the one you're thinking about still open?
Pretty sure it’s still open: we stopped there when driving to Big Bend in October http://coopersbbqjunction.com/menu.html
I'm in, weather and plane availability permitting. JCT is fenced and gated and no longer regularly attended, so we'd need to make prior arrangements to be sure we can get back in. The former airport manager, who is now buried under the windsock, told me the Junction Coopers is not affiliated with the Llano Coopers, and there's a better BBQ place in town. There is a Dairy Queen adjacent the 30 approach end at Dilley. Barth's is in walking distance at Kenedy, but last time I checked they are only open weekdays.
They have a new restaurant1 with great food at T67 KMWL has 4 courtesy cars and two big runways and a bunch of places to eat in town including BBQ
This is fact. Lum’s the better bbq place and it’s not walkable from JCT, anyways. For on/near field dining options, Gate 12 at CLL is my recent favorite. Tons of parking, great food. Lots of walkable BBQ options from Lockhart
It depends on how many folks we're expecting, but Llano and Taylor both have a few courtesy cars. Lockhart also a good choice. There's a good joint that's walkable from Mexia KLXY, but not sure what the quality is like currently.
Agreed. Nice place. Great service. Taxi up and park in front of the restaurant. Group seating. Ample menu options but not BBQ. Reservations needed on weekday I was there as it is a popular lunch location for A&M staff. Class D could be a deal killer from some. Busy on Texas A&M game days.
KLNC under Class B on south side of DFW. No fuss to get in and out of though but if North flying around to the south side probably the best option. Cafe open in the new terminal building. Enjoyed breakfast there a few times.
The restaurant at Tyler looks to be open again. Not a BBQ place but it shares a lobby with a little, decent military aviation museum.
I’m m based at Taylor. We only have one courtesy car, but I can arrange to have a few cars there for us. We could hang out in my hangar, which is a pretty cool place to be! I’m always up for flying though, so whatever everyone wants to do is okay with me! I was hoping to fly to Cleburne tomorrow for the Airplanes & Coffee meetup, but wx doesn’t look good. If you guys are on FB, look up this group. They have some good events.
They've also got an aircraft restoration hangar museum on the airport that is home to a MiG-17 flown by Randy Ball.
KRAS, there is a company who will do catered seafood boils on the beach. It’s a half mile walk, or I happen to have a suburban down there and would be happy to make a few back and forth trips. KLBX, the restaurant owner is great about hosing fly-ins. KCLL is nice, they have a big party room that seats 50 easily, but make reservations the day prior at a very minimum. there are also some great options mentioned above.
Not sure how many participants might be coming from west of San Antonio, but if you redefine "centrally located" to be "near where most people in the state live", then Lufkin, Woodville, and even Angleton/Lake Jackson are potential options (though maybe no better than Brenham or College Station). Woodville has the Pickett House restaurant, and they'll send a car to pick folks up (tips are optional but I would encourage them--the drivers will definitely appreciate it!). Field is small and transient parking is limited, so may not be great for large groups. The Heritage Village it's associated with is kinda neat. Lufkin is bigger though I think maybe still slightly limited on transient parking. Restaurant is smallish (and has no website), but is on-field. Angleton/Lake Jackson has plenty of ramp space for transients and is a great option for outdoor dining. The Runway Cafe is on-field. Even less central, but more conducive to larger groups: Conroe has a Black Walnut Cafe on field. It's a chain restaurant, but it's fairly large and there's plenty of transient parking. Galveston is within a short walk to the Cafe in the Park restaurant at Moody Gardens. It's a large restaurant and there's plenty of transient parking at Galveston.
Is that a change? I could have sworn that the last time I was there they had several nice courtesy cars. But that was over a year ago. And I could be thinking of someplace else.
You parked in front of Gate 12(CLL)? How’d you manage that? The several times I’ve been in I’ve specifically asked to park at the restaurant, but, it’s not allowed; gotta park at north end of FBO ramp and walk in. It’s not a big deal, more of an annoyance, and the restaurant is worth it, a mighty fine lunch spot.
I’ve seem T-6s parked in front of the big window at Gate 12. Me, I’ve always been relegated to the ramp and hitched a ride on the golf cart.
Only military and Jet-A bigwigs get to park in front of the Gate 12 windows. And people have to pass through Astin FBO due to airport security requirements. Everyone complains but it is what it is. Sorry.
Uhhh, what planet are you thinking of? Lufkin, Texas has but one (1) airport, that would be Lufkin/Angelina County, LFK.
