Stumbled Upon Camp Verde General Store, a Texas Hill Country Hidden Gem.

About one year ago, we stumbled upon Camp Verde General Store in Center Point, Texas. It is one of the hidden gems in the Texas Hill Country.

Camp Verde General Store is not only a lovely gift shop, but it is also an eatery. It occupies a two-story historic building in town.

I will tell you more about it after we find out its location.

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Where is Camp Verde General Store located?

Camp Verde’s location is in Center Point in the Texas Hill Country. You probably like, “Where the heck is Center Point?”

We didn’t even know there was a town named Center Point until we came upon it last fall. I guess that is why it became a hidden gem, right?

Just as we left Kerrville on our way to Bandera, I saw the road sign of Camp Verde General Store. It’s just 9 miles south on highway TX-173 S from Kerrville-Schreiner Park, where we stayed during our Thanksgiving road trip in the Texas Hill Country.

Somehow, the name rang the bell, so I asked my husband to make a stop. It was an unplanned stop that didn’t disappoint us at all.

So, Camp Verde General Store is located between Kerrville and Bandera on TX-173 S, right by the highway. Here is the address: 

285 Camp Verde Rd. E, Center Point, TX 78010.

Here are approximately driving times from a few neighboring cities: 

Bandera: 15 min

Boerne: 35 min

Fredericksburg: 40 min

San Antonio: 1 hr

Camp Verde General Store, a hidden gem in the Texas Hill Country

We didn’t think it was a store when we decided to stop at Camp Verde General Store. I wondered if it was an office or a lodge. There’s a historical mark by the door that made us intrigued.

So, I went out first to check whether it was open. Or if it was a public space. 

We only saw two cars parked in front of the building, and it was around ten in the morning. 

Peeping through the window, I saw a Christmas tree and Santa ornaments, but I still did not know what it was. Maybe it’s the lobby of a boutique hotel? 

Then I saw a lady behind a counter, so I went inside. After she told me it was a store and made a quick browse, I knew I wanted to look around. Instantly, I felt it was my kind of store.

Camp Verde is not pet friendly, so our son waited outside with our dog Snoopy when my husband and I cruised inside. Then, my husband went out so our son could look around.

As mentioned above, Camp Verde General Store occupies a historic two-story building. It is a stone structure of Southern colonial design. They constructed the building after a flood swept away the original building around 1900.

Initially, the general store was established in 1857 to offer goods and services to the soldiers stationed at Fort Verde. By the time the US Army deactivated the fort, the General Store and post office had played an integral part in the surrounding community. It continued serving the growing number of pioneer ranchers in the area.      

Camp Verde General Store and Restaurant

Generally, the are three rooms on the first floor of the Camp Verde Store.

The first room is in the middle when you enter through the front door. You will see small mailboxes on the left and an old bar on the right. They were covered with Christmas and Santa ornaments when we were there. At the back wall is the counter where they sell jams and sauces.

To the right is the second but larger room. It is where you will find kitchenware. The room is pleasant, and it looks like you can find everything you look for. My husband was looking for jalapeno pepper cores, but they didn’t carry it. Oh, well.

From this room, there is a stair to take visitors to the second floor.

Then, we saw a hallway towards another room. It’s a restaurant! Too bad we just had a full breakfast. We didn’t even have room for a cup of tea. The restaurant looked full that morning.

There’s a different entrance to the restaurant, and I saw a more spacious parking lot out there.

Later, my friend in Boerne told me that Camp Verde restaurant serves delicious food. Then, I read great reviews about the food and services in the restaurant. I guess I will have to make another trip here. 

Then we took the stairs to the second floor. Here we found more items like jewelry, candles, baby stuff, soaps, Christmas ornaments, and more. Also, we could see the spacious kitchenware room from the second floor.             

There is a stair to the first floor on the other side of the room. It took us to a nook on the back left of the first floor, the third room. It is where you can see the biggest old mailboxes. Here you can find old-style restaurant signs, soft drinks signs, and other merchandise.

I would say Camp Verde General Store offers high-quality products. Therefore, prices are also high.

Even though you don’t plan to buy anything, it’s always nice to browse around the store. It really is a neat store.

Camp Verde Store Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 am to 5 pm. Closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Camp Verde Restaurant Hours: 8 am to 4 pm. Breakfast is served daily from 8-11 a.m. Lunch from 11 am to 4 pm.

A Brief History of Camp Verde

You will notice a metal camel in the yard once you arrive in the parking lot. Then another camel on the store sign. They are there because there’s a history behind the camels.

In 1855, the US Army started the Camp Verde post. Then, they used it as a camel experiment initiated by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis.

The idea was to use camels for supply transport and other military purposes. The camel was chosen for its ability to withstand Texas heat and arid conditions. So, they brought camels from Egypt with their handlers.

While the camels did a great job, researchers noticed that other animals panicked at the smell of the camels. So, they decided to stop using camels and let them roam freely in the area.

Egyptian handlers took the camels and used them to haul cotton to Mexico.

Soon after, they sold the camels to different zoos and circuses.

In 1857, Williams opened a community store in the area. The purpose was to serve soldiers stationed at the fort.

After he died in 1858, a German immigrant, Charles Schreiner, acquired the store. 

The store continued to operate as a post office for area residents after the Army abandoned Camp Verde. This post office closed in 1866 and reopened in 1887. However, the post office was closed again in 1892. Walter S. Nowlin re-established the post office and store in 1899.

Today, people still can shop at the store and eat at the restaurant. The mailboxes are still intact on the walls.

A Verde Creek is running in front of Camp Verde General Store. Unfortunately, the fall colors were faded when we were there.

I can imagine how beautiful it was when the cypress trees were burning with orange-yellow colors at their peak. It’s a lovely spot to enjoy fall views from picnic tables scattered in the yard.

So, when you are in the Texas Hill Country, visit this neat general store. Have breakfast or lunch, too. They have an enticing lunch menu and breakfast.

If you’ve been here before, let me know what you think about Camp Verde General Store.