Medina Doesn’t Announce Itself

Story · Medina

By Spencer Forrest · 2026

Medina, Texas doesn’t announce itself. Highway 16 from Bandera to Medina is one of those drives that earns your full attention — pecan, cypress, and oak lining both sides of the road, their branches reaching across the asphalt until the sky nearly disappears. Then the trees open up and there’s nothing but rolling hill in the distance. The Medina River runs alongside the highway in stretches and crosses under it twice, close enough that you can see the cypress roots in the water from your window. It’s the kind of road that makes you slow down without thinking about it.

A two-lane road under a tunnel of pecan and oak branches — Highway 16 toward MedinaBranches across the road until the sky nearly disappears.Photo: Spencer Forrest

Jess and I spent the day there, admiring what this little town has quietly built for itself.

The Medina River running clear and shallow between tall bald cypress — The Medina RiverCypress roots in the water.Photo: Spencer Forrest

A man in a straw hat in a yellow kayak on the Medina River under cypress — On the waterPhoto: Spencer Forrest

The Apple Store has been drawing people from across the state for years — two-hour drives are not uncommon, and once you’ve had a slice you’ll understand why. Store opens every day 9 to 5, Patio Cafe from 11 to 3. Get there before the pie runs out. The Core — Espresso, Pizza and Prayer — is a family-owned gathering place that’s become the quiet heart of this community. Good coffee, good people, the kind of place that makes you linger. And Medina Hardware, celebrating 50 years with two flags out front, is exactly what a small Texas town hardware store should be.

The Apple Store sign with daily hours beside red picnic tables and a stone building — The Apple Store and Patio CafeHours as posted when we visited.Photo: Spencer Forrest

A giant stone apple sculpture under a blue sky beside a flagpole — Medina, the apple capitalPhoto: Spencer Forrest

A green storefront reading Espresso Pizza and Prayer with flags on the porch — The CoreEspresso, pizza and prayer.Photo: Spencer Forrest

Ace Hardware storefront with American and Texas flags and a Medina Hardware is 50 banner — Medina Hardware at 50Photo: Spencer Forrest

But the thing that stopped us longest was the Medina Veterans Memorial. A wall of names — every man and woman from this small community who served. We stood there a while. If you have a relative on that wall, we’d genuinely love to hear their story. Tell us about them.

A wooden memorial wall titled Medina Veterans with five columns of names — Medina VeteransA wall of names from one small community.Photo: Spencer Forrest

Some of the best Hill Country discoveries happen just down the road from the obvious ones.

Go see it. Highway 16 north of Bandera. Medina · Medina Veterans Memorial · Ask Brody, our Bandera guide