Is Austin Really Keeping It Weird or is Central Texas Weirder?
The Land Up Country Living Series
If you’ve heard of Austin, you’ve heard the phrase “Keep Austin Weird.” What started as a campaign became a movement and is now basically considered fact: Austin is weird.
Sometimes considered the red-headed step child of the Lone Star State, Austin is full of successful freaks and geeks - all who share a deep pride for the city and everything that makes it different.
But, as with any interesting city, the more interesting it gets, the more people ask themselves, “what the heck is going on over there?” More and more big businesses want to be close to the action, and are looking to invest in Texas real estate and searching for Central Texas commercial real estate.
But you know what else was considered fact? Pluto being a planet. Or that you eat 8 spiders a year in your sleep. What is considered “fact” can change or maybe was never a fact at all - so you can rest easy and spider-free.
So, it begs the question: is Austin really weird? Or is it time to hang up the disco cowboy hat?
My days of disco ranching (don’t ask) are behind me, but they’re not forgotten.
Keep Austin Weird: A History Lesson
When did “Keep Austin Weird” start? The period was somewhere in the early 2000’s. The top-rock radio station was KLBJ-FM. The times were turbulent - big businesses were looking for commercial properties for sale in Texas, and residents and business owners alike were worried that their local spots were at risk.
The man behind the mic was Steve Bercu, local bookstore owner and co-founder of BookPeople. Along with Red Wassenich, a librarian, he coined the phrase “Keep Austin Weird” during a conversation at KLBJ-FM, where they discussed the increasing number of chain stores and restaurants looking for a Central Texas property - a little too close to home in Austin.
Inspired by the idea of shopping local, having pride in individuality, and keeping the city unique, the keep it weird slogan started to gain traction. The phrase was printed everywhere - you could get a Keep Austin Weird shirt, bumper sticker, hat, and lots of other merchandise.
But what does “Keep Austin Weird” mean? Many things. What started off as a slogan to support shopping locally became the city’s identity - the vibrant art, music, food, cultural, and progressive scenes that set Austin apart from its Lone Star State counterparts.
Nothing was safe from tie dye in the early 2000s.
But That Was The 2000’s. So What About Now? Is Austin Still Weird?
Austin has always marched to the beat of its own drum - well before the slogan was popular. But why is Austin weird?
Even now, Austin is a must-see Central Texas destination, with its funky art, creative food, and lots of quirky entertainment options from music to shows to comedy and beyond. And, of course, their support of shopping local and small businesses, rather than welcoming in the big chains. All of these things are cool and off-beat. But, nowadays, is it enough to stay… weird?
It’s easy to be a weirdo when nobody’s looking. Trust me, I’ve tried.
But, for the last decade, Austin’s population has seen explosive growth - from 1,558,000 to now 2,228,000. On average, 184 people move there a day. Those are Texas-sized numbers becoming Texans themselves.
Austin-based businesses like Chuy’s, Whole Foods, Pluckers, and Alamo Drafthouse aren’t local underdogs anymore fighting the proverbial “man”. Now they’re big chains that will surely catch the ire of any blue blooded hippy strumming a guitar on the East Side.
With supply (of people) comes demand (for stuff - glorious stuff!). Or, really, with demand comes the need for more supply. Supply of: housing, food, offices, parking, things to do, places to see.
This has made the Central Texas commercial real estate scene a booming one. And, as many other cities have experienced, with growth comes gentrification, commercialization, rising costs, and displacement of those who can no longer afford "keeping austin weird" where they are.
If you want to be weird in Austin, you’ll have to pay at least $1,600 for a 700 sqft apartment - parking space not included. A one bedroom in the heart of the city is closer to $2,000 a month. And a house? You better be making some very unweird dollars.
And the people moving to Austin? They’re from all over. This adds to the melting-pot of creativity and culture (yay!), but also raises the need to create places to live and things to see that are more widely-liked - a concept the late Anthony Bourdain pontificated about, and would muse that every time he showed people a new, cool place on his TV shows he would also kill those gems a little because they would get inundated with newcomers.
If $1 long island ice teas are wrong, I don’t want to be right.
The Verdict Is Out: Austin Is Still Weird, For The Most Part
Yes, there is gentrification. And yes, there are a million more people than in 2010. But native Austinites are still here, and they - along with new Texans - are doing what they can to preserve the unique nature of the city. Organizations are diligently working towards supporting the local cultural scenes and communities.
The spirit of individuality still persists, it’s just more spread out. Austinites that moved outside of the metro area to be able to make the smart move - looking for land for sale in the Texas Hill Country to have their own Central Texas property, as property values continue to rise.
They are sharing their creativity across Central Texas, leaving the hustle and bustle (and high price tag) to enjoy the countryside and doing whatever it is that they do.
You know what Houston or Dallas doesn’t have? A Cathedral of Junk. Or Eeyore's Birthday Party.
And let’s see Seattle do Chicken Shit Bingo.
While Austin isn’t (and frankly, can’t realistically be) as strange as it once was, it still holds its freak flag high. The city and residents are committed to keeping its reputation and Keeping Austin Weird.
In fact, some people are so committed, they even take the weirdness home with them. No spoiler alerts here, but there is more to come in our next blog - so check back soon!
Austin Is The Tip of The Iceberg - Here Are 12 Weird Spots in Central Texas
You can take comfort in the fact that weirdos are all around us. You don’t need to be in the metro area to see something that makes you go, “what?”
Just like with other large cities that have undergone the transition from weird duckling to mainstream handsome goose, people start looking to the surrounding areas to find that which has yet to be discovered.
The Central Texas areas around Austin have their fair share of attractions and activities for those looking to explore off the beaten path. Places like San Marcos that used to be sleepy little towns are now becoming popular with those who don’t swim with the rest of the school.
Here are just a handful of things to see and do in Central Texas:
Zzoooooooomm!!! Wiener dog races in Buda are a must-see event in April.
The Chilly Cheeks “Clothing Optional” 5k in McDade
Portland has its naked bike ride and McDade has its naked run. The race is part of the Star Ranch Nudist Club activity list that invites members to feel comfortable in their own skin. Literally.
FreezerBurn in Paige
What is a burn? There are many elements to burns but the highlights are art, community, openness, sharing, and celebrating the unique. The most famous example of this is Burning Man, but we’ll let you do your own research into what burns are all about. They can get, uh, interesting.
Old Settler’s Music Festival in Dale
Looking for an ACL before ACL got big? Try this festival that is less about Instagram posts and more about music and community. The event doesn’t just host live music acts, it also runs workshops like Mindfulness for Musicians and Bluegrass Jamming 101.
Sherwood Forest Faire in McDade
Ok it might not be Houston’s Texas Renaissance Festival After Dark, but Sherwood Forest Faire offers something unique for those looking to get out of the Austin box.
Wurstfest in New Braunfels
Beer, brown food, and polka dancing; need I say more?
Jaws in the Water in Leander
While Leander and Lake Travis aren’t really in the hill country, we’ve spent enough time there to know the locals don’t consider themselves Austinites. We also know they like to torture kids and adults alike by showing the horror classic Jaws on a giant screen while visitors watch from the lake. It might be on hold for right now, but we hear rumors it’s coming back for you...
Pioneer Town in Wimberley
Show me someone that never wanted to stand in the middle of an 1800's western town saying “this town ain’t big enough for the two of us”, and I’ll show you a liar. A wild west experience!
Wiener Dog Races in Buda
Short legs, top speeds. In April of each year, these hotdog shaped pups are off to the races. In 2023, the theme was top gun.
World’s Largest Shovel in Creedmoor
You may not need a 40 feet high, 5,000 pound shovel, but we have one anyways! Everything is bigger in Texas, including gardening tools.
World’s Largest Gingerbread Man in Smithville - permanently closed (it’s been eaten)
In 2006, residents of Smithville made a 1,308 pound, 20 foot tall gingerbread man - and promptly ate him. Smitty, as he was called, was made of 750 pounds of flour, 49 gallons of molasses, and 72 dozen eggs!
Mermaid Festival in San Marcos
San Marcos loves their mermaids! While we won’t dive into why here (pun intended), you can learn more in our previous blog. In late September, visit the Texas Mermaid Capital for their annual festival.
Beer Spa in Waco
The next best thing to a shower beer. You could fill your bathtub with shiner, or you could go to the beer spa! Beer, wine, cheese, and great skin? Why didn’t I think of that?