My first visit to Helotes, TX was in the early 1970s.  At the time it was "out in the middle of nowhere," according to the friend who had encouraged me to make the trip.  And he was right.  From Bandera Road in Leon Valley, over a liesurely drive of around eight miles, , there was very little commercial or residential activity along the way.

A lot has changed since then.  Bandera Road is now engulfed with commercial businesses, and tens of thousands of ew residents have ventured into the area as the northwest San Antonio building boom, which began in the mid 1970s and continues to this day, required pioneers in small towns between San Antonio and Helotes to adapt their way of life to the changing conditions.

As the story might go, Helotes would be caught up in the changes, but this is not quite the way it is.  Residents have endured the growth and the increase in traffic through theirr city of 4,285 inhabitants (2,000 census.)  The mystique in this small country town, that was originally a stagecoach stop between San Antonio and Bandera, TX thirty miles to the north, remains intact.

Several restored limestone buildings, dating back to the 1800s, are reminders of the rugged existence the multi-cultured community, which can be traced back to Canary Island settlers in the 16th century, has endured.  The Marnoch building, which has served as a family residence, a stagecoach stop and a post office, and is now again a family residence, is typical of these structures, some of which can be viewed from the main thoroughfare on Bandera Road. 

If i could pick one of these landmark buildings that exemplifies the country atmosphere that I sense when I visit or drive through Helotes, it would be Floore's Country Store, a local country restaurant and dance hall, where Willie Nelson is reputed to have started his famed career.  Opened in 1946 by John T. Floore, the famed establishment has also been host to Hank Williams Sr., Conway Twitty, Ernest Tubb, Dwight Yoakam, and Lyle lovett.  Each weekend at Floore's you can expect live country music, homemade bread and tamales, and a variety of beers.  If you pick the right weekend, you might run into Willie, who still comes back to visit and perform.

Tranquility is a way of life in Helotes. Attempts to infringe upon this setting, to include an attempt by Walmart to open a super store, have been thwarted by strong resistance from area residents, who want to keep it the way it was--and the way it is today.