A new barbecue joint in the Lone Star State is about as common as a vegan coffee shop in Portland, but a new barbecue joint inside the gas station featured in the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre is something to buzz about.
The Gas Station opened up last week to long lines, with people waiting close to three hours to throw down on some brisket, sausage, and a few pieces of white bread. Patrons are not encouraged to play Grandpa’s hammer game at the table. And if the ’itis sets in on you after the ribs and you need a place to crash, there are also cabins on site that patrons can rent out for the night. (Sleeping in a cabin in Texas? The only question that remains is who’s going to get you first: Freddy, Jason, or Leatherface.) There’s also a gift shop on hand where fans of smoked meats and the Sawyer family can purchase posters, T-shirts, and the like. There is no hardware store on site, though. Owner Roy Rose also showed Texas Chainsaw 3D on a big screen, because there’s nothing like blood, gore, and cannibalism to whet appetites.
A few stars from Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic were on hand for the opening, including Ed Neal, who played the hitchhiker, and Ed Guinn, who played the cattle truck driver. Neal will return to The Gas Station on Halloween, along with Caroline Williams, a.k.a. Stretch from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. How The Gas Station measures up to Farmer Vincent’s fritters or the home cooking of Paul and Mary Bland remains to be seen.
The Gas Station is now open for business in Bastrop, Texas.