Welcome to CactusCreekDaily.com’s Round Top GUIDE. This is our little version of a travel guide ~ Since it is online we will be able to update it with new pictures, tips & more as our Fall & Spring trips to Round Top evolve.

Round Top, Texas ~ Then & Now

So what, exactly, is Round Top??  First off it’s a small Texas town, population 77+, located in Fayette County.  ONE hour East of Austin, an ONE 1/2  hours West of Houston, and FOUR hours south of Dallas.  The Round Top Antique Week, as it is often called, began over thirty years ago in the Round Top Rifle Association Hall, when Miss Emma Lee Turney and her company, Antiques Productions, were asked to do an Antique Show in a little German town that was quietly being restored, Round Top, Texas.

The show quickly became a social event for Houston socialites as they retreated to charming Round Top every Spring and Fall.  The show was still small but it was the cream of the crop in quality dealers, and had the leaders and financiers of Houston buzzing.  The fresh air and country-style shopping gave the society folk a chance to let down their guard, pick for their beautiful homes, and even guzzle a Shiner or two beneath the shade trees.  {For a wonderful interview with Emma Lee Turney, and her account of the Round Top Antique Fair, click HERE}.

Round Top is no longer ONE SHOW.  {The Map to the left will be updated regularly!!}  Over the years it has become a 10 day event featuring 1000s of merchants spread out over four small towns: Round Top, Warrenton, Carmine and Shelby.   The Round Top Register guesses that there are now about 35 separate shows with at least 2,500 dealers.  Not to mention the surrounding fields, warehouses, and tents covering cow pastures and black tops…  Round Top Antique Week takes place every Fall and Spring with the next show beginning TODAY ~ September 26th, 2008!!

So where do you start??  Locals, weekend warriors and dealers alike all say that enjoying the town of Round Top is a great way to settle in before you start your shopping spree.  Here are a few of the local venues that make Round Top not just a lovely place to shop ~ but an enchanting way of life for 77+.

Round Top, Texas VENUES:

Marburger Farm

If you only have one full day to spend at Round Top Antique Week then Marburger Farm is THE place to be.  Located halfway between Warrenton and Round Top {click HERE for a map}, Marburger Farm is a journey through Parisian flea markets, Western Art exhibits and Country Quilt Bees.  Your creativity will be fueled * your collections will tip with new weight * and your passion for all things vintage will swell larger than ever before!!

Spread through a dozen historical buildings, and 9 large tents, the Marburger Farm Antique Show features over 350 dealers from North America, Europe, Asia & beyond. 

The dealers are enthusiastic and thoughtful, working hard to bring unique items that are sure to delight you.  Not only do the merchants bring QUALITY, they also bring QUANTITY ~ a few of them even fill a semi for their biannual trip to Marburger!!

A favorite for the preeminent Country Living Magazine, Marburger Farm has a long history with the Round Top Antique Week.  First started by Mr. John Sauls in the 1990’s, Marburger quickly grew a reputation as the premiere venue for quality and diversity.  Now owned by Margaret Marsh, Rick McConn and Ashley Ferguson, and their extended family, Marburger Farm’s future is rooted firmly in the traditions of the past ~ while moving steadily with the trends of the future.

This Fall ‘08, Marburger Farm will open Tuesday morning, September 30th, for Early Shopping.  For many, the $25 ticket to attend Early Shopping from 10am till 2pm, is a no-brainer.  Shoppers can even arrive as early as 8 in the morning to park, enjoy breakfast next to Lake Marburger, and wait for the yellow tape to come down at the gate, marking the starting gun of Early Buying.  It’s true that the best of the best is offered, and sold, on Tuesday morning to the die-hard designers * pickers * and shoppers as they fire up the economy in South East Texas.  If you can’t make it Tuesday morning then no worries, a $10 ticket will get you through the gates to Marburger beginning at 2pm on Tuesday and lasting through Sunday, October 5th.  {you only have to buy the $10 ticket once as it is good for all 5 days of the show}

As for CactusCreekDaily.com, we are most excited to attend the 30th Anniversary Party for Country Living Magazine on Thursday, Oct. 2nd, 2008!!  This is a special year for the folks at Country Living, and Marburger Farm is proud to share the commemoration with a party from 11am - 1pm on Thursday, Oct. 2.  In addition to a big cake, and a 30% discount on select items throughout the show, there will also be a meet & greet and book signing with Country Living’sEditor-in-Chief, Nancy Soriano. 

Also coming up this Fall ‘08, a book signingby Marburger Farm vendor Robin Brown will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 30th.  Robin is the founder of Magnolia Pearl, a one-of-a-kind brand specializing in layered designs of “velvet and lace”, breezy, romantic clothing and big bags that are the newest fashion rage.

Marburger Farm is not only the place to be for buying matchless home decor, it is also a place to be seen {and to see} the society folks of Houston & Austin as they work their high heel western boots and short denim skirts, sassy cowgirl clothing they would never wear to PTA meetings, but they MAKE IT WORK at Marburger!!  As a Texas girl myself I love to see a gal who can make Gucci sandals & a cowgirl hat, Shiner Bock in one hand, and a shopping basket in the other, all make sense in a Texas cow pasture!! 

 MUST-SEE Vendors

These are the QUESTIONS we posed to some of the vendors we met on our Spring ‘08 trip to Round Top.  Here is what a few of the folks who are, themselves, the cream of the crop, had to say about their comprades…

VINTAGE SCULPTURE {ABOVE}
Brad & Sundie Ruppert, the husband and wife team from Vintage Sculpture, typify the “Art of Found Objects”.  Their space, located in Tent G at Marburger Farm, is a fun and vibrant space where you will want to hang out for a while visiting and definitely take home a treasure!!  Here is what Sundie had to say:

1. what is the one thing no one should miss when visiting round top?
SUNDIE: dinner at royer’s cafe… order the steak!!!

HOT TAMALE ANTIQUES {ABOVE}
Jan Orr-Harter, proprietor of Texas based Hot Tamale Antiques, is located in Tent A at Marburger Farm.  Jan offers an exceptional selection of brightly colored textiles, vintage art, and Wild West accessories.  The campy feel is comforting and a perfect fitfor your lake house, cowpoke room, or a sun porch decorated to bring you cheer all year round!!  Here are Jan’s tips for attending Round Top:

1. what is the one thing no one should miss when visiting round top?
JAN: No one should miss opening day at Marburger Farm Antiques Show—Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 10 am for $25 early buying or $10 at 2 pm, admission good all week. Tip: come early for breakfast so you won’t get stuck in the line of vehicles at 9:30 am.

THE SHOP ANTIQUES {ABOVE}
The SHOP Antiques, which happened to be featured in this month’s Country Home Magazine {Congrats!!} is owned by Mandie Murphree, and specializes in vintage relics from Carnivals, Amusement Parks and the Circus. How’s that for a good time??  Mandie’s space is located in Tent A at Marburger Farm. Here is Mandie’s 2 cents:

1. what is the one thing no one should miss when visiting round top?
MANDIE: Marburger Farm Antique Show Sept 30 - Oct 4

2. who is your favorite vendor at round top {in addition to you!!}??
MANDIE: Dan’s Antiques at The Bar W Field (By the Creek next to the 3rd Bridge) Great Stuff!!!!!

QUEENIE TIN {LEFT}

Warrenton

Round Top Antique Week is a culmination of many shows that take place in and around Round Top, TX {MAP Below}.  Once you’ve had dinner & spirits in Round Top, and have spent some time at Marburger Farm, the next “must see” venue is definitely Warrenton, home of Zapp Hall, the Junk Gypsies, and more junk antiques that you cannot live without!!

Like Round Top, Warrenton is another small Texas town {population 65+ } that swells to THOUSANDS during Antique Week.  Over 30 shopping venues blend and cross-market to make Warrenton a great way to spend a day shopping. 
{TIP: Park in a field and WALK.  Traffic is insane and you will save yourself LOTS of aggravation by sporting some comfey sneakers and leaving your wheels behind!!}

First stop when we arrive in Warrenton: the Bar W Field which features the Rustic Art Gallery {pictured ABOVE}, “Vintage and antique treasures imported directly from the heart of Mexico”, ARCHITECTURAL Salvage, IRON, Cowboy BOOTS, Vintage Clothing AND MORE!!

NEXT, before heading over to Cole’s Antique Show, swing through ZAPP HALL where there are several merchants who will make you go ga-ga.  This is also another chance to grab some of Bud Royer’s famous grub {the chunky chicken salad is to die for!!} and, of course, a cold Shiner Bock.

Cole’s Antique Show {ABOVE} is the place to retreat next.  200 vendors ~ 63,000 square feet ~ A/C ~ indoor restroom.  Not only was this a comfortable way to spend the afternoon last Spring, we also found TONS of treasures!!

There are still TONS of vendors to see in Warrenton but the most famous of them all is the Junk Gypsies {BELOW}.  Known for their vibrant brand, “Pedal to the Metal” mantra, and true Texas spirit, this is a stop that you CANNOT MISS!!! 

Located right on Highway 237 as you make your way into Warrenton, the Junk Gypsies’ famous pink Suburban {”Large Marge”} greets the crowd and let’s you know that you’ve made it to the pinnacle of Junkiness!!  I could go on and on about the fabulous goods that can be found in the Junk Gypsies’ booth ~ tees, boots, peely-paint, iron, velvet, belt buckles…  But you’ve really GOT to see it for yourself!!

Topping it all off is the Junk-O-Rama PROM which is hosted by the beautiful Gypsies and is LOADS of fun!!  This is THE place to be next Thursday night, October 2nd!!

Original Round Top Antiques Fair
now in the BIG RED BARN

Returning to the roots of the Round Top Antiques Fair.  What started as a tiny little show {22 vendors in all} produced by Miss Emma Lee Turney 40 years ago, has been re-created over and over again in neighboring fields, Dance Halls & under big tents making Round Top Antique Week an internationally reknown event.

So what ever happend to Miss Emma Lee Turney and the original venue??  Oh, they’re still going STRONG and I can’t wait to visit them!!  A couple of years ago Miss Turney sold the Original Round Top Antiques Fair to Susan and Bo Franks.  They have maintained the standards set forth by Miss Turney by hosting an exeptional quality of dealers, providing stellar service and adding two new shows in the Summer and Winter. 

The Original Round Top Antiques Fair now consists of two venues: Carmine Dance Hall and the Big Red Barn, plus two HUGE tents.  While the venues are close in proximity, the luxury of a transport and porter is provided to help you get to and from the parking lot.  Food from Royer’s Cafe will also be available {mm, mm, good!!}. There is a $10 charge per person, but the ticket is good for all four days of the show at both of the of the Original Round Top Antiques Fair venues & tents.

To top it off this Fall ‘08, in the Big Red Barn, Mary Emmerling will be signing her new book, Beach Cottages: At Home by the Sea.  Mary Emmerling is my biggest professional role model, and I’m practically shaking at the idea of meeting her!!!  I’ll keep you posted…

Last but not least on our itinerary is the Round Top Folk Art Fair& Creative Market.  After 40 years of Round Top’s biannual Antique BONANZA, Miss Emma Lee Turney is still in the biz producing this show which features “contemporary artisans in many areas of interest including woodcarvers, tinsmiths, custom and twig furniture makers, needle workers, creators of folk dolls, custom floor cloths, bird houses, paintings, country-style fashions, is a source for custom-made accessories, all to enhance the country lifestyle.”  WOW!!

As you plan your own trip to Round Top Antique Week you’ll want to use our Round Top GUIDE, and also these websites for reference…

In the coming weeks I will add a list of the new vendors that we meet in Round Top.  You won’t want to miss these new sources for the Rustic*Western*Vintage style you LOVE, so come back soon!!  Better yet…{SUBSCRIBE} HERE to have the CactusCreekDaily.com BLOG
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