This 0.3–mile walking tour features 11 historically significant structures, starting at the Hileman/Riggs House (near the City parking lot) and ending at the Ross Barham House. A 12th structure, the Marnoch Homestead, is well worth seeing; however, because it is outside of the Old Town District, we suggest you drive.
In 1881, Arnold Gugger, a Swiss-American, founded downtown Helotes. He saw the potential of the area then known as “Helotes Crossing.” Throughout the farming seasons and during cattle drives, travelers stopped to camp at the intersection of Bandera Road and Helotes Creek.
Downtown Helotes began with a homestead, general store, blacksmith shop, and saloon. A boarding house and dance hall followed. For several decades, the town center, surrounded by large farms and ranches, remained little more than a “cow town,” a few buildings on either side of a dusty, packed earth road wide enough to accommodate cattle drives.
In 1992, the Texas Historical Commission awarded the town its first historical marker, recognizing Helotes as a historic settlement. A revitalization project was completed in 2010, and the MarketPlace at Old Town Helotes, which occurs the first Saturday of every month, brings in talented artisans and craftsmen, delectable food, and lively music.
This homestead, a half-mile from the intersection of Bandera Rd, is the oldest residence in Helotes. Dr. George Frederick Marnoch (1802-1870) commissioned prominent San Antonio architect John M. Fries to build the unique home. It is a private residence.
Gugger built this two-story limestone homestead for his family. The original stairway was outside, but was removed when one was installed inside in the 1940s.
Arnold Gugger (1855-1928) built this general store, also called Gugger’s General Store, using locally quarried limestone. He and his wife, Amalia Benke (1861-1921), were the proprietors.
Hileman was the first to see the potential of Helotes as a dance and music venue. This building housed the first dance hall in Helotes.
Built originally in a Victorian style with an L-shaped two-story porch by entrepreneur Wilbert Hileman (1873-1956), the house’s façade was changed by second owners James & Kate Riggs using local limestone.
James Riggs (1879-1964) built the original grocery store; he and wife Kate Niernberg (1879-1946) ran the store. He sold the business to John T. Floore (1898-1975), who renamed it Floore Country Store.
Ross Barham (1895-1983), an early entrepreneur and amateur archaeologist, built this flat roof rock cottage as a residence. A private residence since 1925, it is reminiscent of the cottages being built at the time at Scenic Loop Playground, now Grey Forest.
Riggs commissioned several building projects in the twenties and thirties, but there were few places for workers in Helotes to stay. Riggs built this cabin for his carpenter.
This was the first full-service gas station in Helotes.
Riggs built this rock house as a residence for his nephew Martin Terry (1920-2000) and his family for the convenience of living near the grocery store,
which Terry managed after Floore ended his lease.
This quaint rock house was initially built as a residence. Barham erected the fountain by the house using some of his fossil and rock discoveries.
Floore Country Store, founded in 1942 as a grocery store across the street, moved to this building in 1952 after the dance hall was completed. The building has been a dance hall and music venue continuously since it opened.
the Texas Historical Commission awarded the town its first historical marker, recognizing Helotes as a historic settlement.
A revitalization project was completed in 2010, and the MarketPlace at Old Town Helotes, which occurs the first Saturday of every month, brings in talented artisans and craftsmen, delectable food, and lively music.