13 Years at Harley's

Harley's Country Store and Beer Garden celebrated thirteen years of business this year. The honky Tonk opened on Sadie Hawkin's Day 2004. The legendary John "Harley" Nolan opened the business with his wife, Sylvia who continues to operate it today along with her daughter Calida and her husband Jim.

This Texas Honky Tonk is open seven days a week, but it is Saturday and Sunday when people flock there for the music and the home-style BBQ. Bushriders Dave play mostly  60-70 music on Saturday and Wildcat Thicket play mostly country on Sunday.  But don't be surprised if you come on a Wednesday and hear picking from the jam session going on in the bar or a Friday afternoon when you might catch Rande Hall in his keyboard in the dancehall.

Out in Bayview Texas away from the big towns and cities sitting on the third resacca on the left as you come down Shafer Road off Ted Hunt with the gate wide open inviting in cars, motor cycles, pickup trucks, bicycles and even horses is this very unique Texas treasure. There are birds, dogs, and plenty of country sounds.

Willie Nelson

Rascal

Bonnie

There is lots of seating. You can sit around the bar and talk with the locals about anything from politics to the answers in Jeoardy. Or there is the dancehall with its long wooden tables that invite you to meet new friends. Outside there is a deck to the north with picnic tables and a raised deck on the south where you can sit on a comfy cushion or an Adirondack chair.

Saturday and Sunday you can find Jim at the three grills fixing up chicken, pork and sometimes even some wild pig or other fresh catch for the BBQ. Sylvia makes big pan of beans. Everyone is welcome to bring a dish to share so each week there is plenty to sample all for a donation .

Beer can be bought by the bucket, the pitcher or the glass.  Wine and set-ups are also for sale. 

If the walls could talk, the tales would start back 13 years ago when this former city dump was turned into a country store and beer garden. Flash forward to crowds in the hundreds coming by to enjoy a cool one, dance and meet up with friends. Everyone waits to see Willie Nelson stop by one day, but in the meanwhile there has been Nashville 's Tom Buller, and Luckenbach 's ShAnnie play on the stage, to name two of many.

A crowd came to Harley's "and a few of our friends",  we listened to some amazing music by Wildcat Thicket and relaxed along the resacca.

Van-Go presented Sylvia and Rande, and Calida and Jim the traditional beer bucket as we have done for the last 13 years.  

We also had a painting of John commissioned by David MacIntosh and presented them with it; it is now hanging in the bar with Willie Nelson looking up at it.