“My family’s always been in meat.”
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre introduces a sadistic clan living in a rural pocket of Texas left behind by industrialization. As The Hitchhiker (Edwin Neal) explains to Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns) and her friends, his family’s business has always been in slaughter. However, technological advances left their practices obsolete, forcing them to turn to more extreme measures, replacing animal meat with human flesh. Sally doesn’t know it yet, but the Hitchhiker marks her group as his family’s next meal.
Though the family members change throughout the franchise, meat remains as integral to Leatherface’s family as the ‘saw itself, whether it’s The Cook’s (Jim Siedow) prized chili or good old-fashioned Texas barbecue. That extends beyond celluloid, too; many of the original filming locations from the franchise are now working establishments that frequently serve, well, meat.
For the brave carnivore or the diehard Texas Chain Saw Massacre fan, here’s a guide to dining your way through the franchise.
Hooper’s – The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Photo credit: Hooper’s
Location: 1010 King Court, Kingsland, Texas.
The original house featured in Tobe Hooper’s film, built in the early 1900s, was initially located in Round Rock, Texas. It was purchased by the owners of The Antlers Inn in 1998 and relocated to Kingsland, where it was turned into Grand Central Café, a quaint diner that honored its horror film roots with small touches in the bar and lounge area upstairs.
Now, under new ownership and title (a tribute to filmmaker Tobe Hooper), the diner embraces the horror more overtly. You can dine in the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre house while sipping a “Grandpa Sawyer” cocktail and munching a “Hitchhiker’s Grilled Chicken” sandwich before or after recreating the iconic shot of Leatherface dragging his victim through the screened front door.
‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ 1974
The Gas Station (We Slaughter BBQ) – The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Gas Station. Photo by: Meagan Navarro
Location: 1073 TX-304, Bastrop, Texas.
The iconic gas station featured in the original film, located in Bastrop, Texas, makes for one giant photo opp, including the green van parked out to the side. Inside is a shop filled with horror merchandise, where you can also place your order for barbecue. While the delicious barbecue set at the precise place where The Cook captures Sally for dinner is enough of a draw, you can also book a stay at one of the rustic cabins available on the property. The Gas Station also frequently hosts horror events, making it an all-encompassing event space that has it all.
‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ 1974
Mean-Eyed Cat – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Mean Eyed Cat entrance. Photo by: Meagan Navarro
Location: 1621 W. 5th Street, Austin, Texas 78703.
In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Lieutenant Boude “Lefty” Enright (Dennis Hopper) shops for chainsaws at a local hardware store. This scene was filmed in an actual store, the Cut-Rite Chain Saws repair shop, in Austin. In 2004, the location was converted into a popular Johnny Cash-themed dive bar, Mean-Eyed Cat.
Luckily, the Mean-Eyed Cat honors its horror origins; the Cut-Rite Chain Saws sign is the first thing that greets you when you walk in, and if you look closely, you can find photos from the film on the walls along with saws and other film references. Mean-Eyed Cat is a bar through and through, so consider this stop when your belly is full of barbecue.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Cele Store – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
The Cele Store. Photo by: Meagan Navarro
Location: 18726 Cameron Road, Manor, Texas.
The Cele Store began life in 1891 as a saloon, and now it continues to operate as a cozy spot for excellent barbecue and, often, live country music. The Weiss family purchased the place in 1951 and has run it ever since. In the 2003 remake, the Cele Store served as the filming location for the gas station. Though the charming place with built-in history has frequently popped up in film and television, horror fans might also recognize it from “Fear the Walking Dead.”
The Manor, Texas, located store serves up succulent meat with simple seasoning on the regular, but its unique hours mean that it’s wise to make reservations ahead of time. At the very least, check the times before you go.
The Cele Store as featured in ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ 2003
Taylor Meat Company – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
Taylor Meat Company photo by: Meagan Navarro
Location: 2211 W 2nd St, Taylor, TX 76574.
Naturally, slaughterhouses are important to a ruthless family whose entire business revolves around slaughter. And a slaughterhouse served as a crucial set piece in the 2003 remake and its 2006 prequel. The Taylor Meat Company permitted filmmakers to shoot at night in and around their facility, which is still an operating meat processing business by day.
The full-service meat company, located in Taylor, TX, doesn’t lean into the franchise in any way. Still, it does process meat in-house, which makes this a great location for fans hoping to snap an exterior photo where characters like Erin (Jessica Biel) ran for their life. Then grab some sausage or steak to take home and grill for a perfect meal to accompany a TCM marathon.
‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ 2003