As a kid I grew up appreciating small towns in Texas. With both of my parents hailing from the town of Junction, Texas, I have always found small historic towns exciting and nostalgic. When I came across this article, I was drawn to it for the same reasons along with the fact that what these people are doing is really cool. In an article from November 3rd, 2007, The Statesman tells a story of five college friends who all decided to go in together and rejuvenate the tiny town of McMahan.
The five buddies were eating at a barbeque place outside McMahan in Lockhart when they saw a sign advertising the sale, “TOWN for SALE. Start your own history here.” They immediately went to check out the town that same day and fell in love with the idea of bringing life to a dilapidated town. After a year of persuading and making arrangements the deal finally finalized and they became the new owners of five downtown buildings in McMahan and the McMahan Texas LLC partnership. The five building sit on around two acres split by FM 713. In hopes to bring the town to the 21st century they are thinking about turning the buildings into “art galleries and studios, a music venue, restaurants, and gift and antiques stores.” Also there are talks of putting in a small park area on part of the land. One of the buildings (an old post office) is currently a barbeque place and the McMahan Texas LLC partnership is currently not charging them and rent in hopes to keep them thriving until they can get the rest of the town up and running.
When I heard this story I truly believed that this group of friends truly wanted to help and revive this town. It didn’t think they were just out to gain a profit. I believe that they just want to help and be part of something good. It’s not very often that you run across someone like this. I think we need more people out there who are willing to give a little in order to make this state a better place. Even if it is starting with a small rundown town like McMahan.
Several ideas to get the buzz about the new town include logos, baseball caps, and even enlisting the help of a Texas song writer to use then town name in one of her songs. Their dream is to hopefully in few years down the road be thriving along side towns like Gruene or Luckenbach.
Five pals have a vision for tiny town
New owners aim to make McMahan the new Gruene.
By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, November 03, 2007
