Bryan-College Station, Texas; A Big-Small Town That is More Than Meets the Eye
By Tyler Lewis
What was a seemingly small town on the Brazos River, has now become one of the most well-known college towns in Texas. Just 95 miles Northwest of Houston sits Bryan-College Station, Texas.
Growing up 30 minutes outside of the Bryan-College Station area, I’ve always known that it was the “Home of the Texas A&M Aggies.” Although true, BCS has more to offer than just being a college town. Often overlooked is its rich history, booming entertainment and unique finds. BCS offers Broadway-quality shows, museums and galleries, restaurants, and a presidential library — all within a 10-mile radius. For travelers who may be passing through, BCS is more than all things Aggie and here is why.
Museums
There is the one-of-a-kind Brazos Valley African American Museum. Opening its door to the public in 2006, the Brazos Valley African American Museum is built on the site of one of the original black schools in BCS. The museum is the first and only of its kind in BCS to promote the history of African American citizens in the Brazos Valley.
Inside are antique-looking paintings, photos, musical instruments and historical documents. The walls are lined with glass exhibits with colored perimeters, ranging from deep purples to bright orange and lime green. They are all accented with symbols and designs of African heritage, giving the appearance of an African headdress or saree.
The most well-known museum in BCS is the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Although former president George and former first lady, Barbara Bush are not Aggies, visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look into the life of the 41st President. Sitting at the edge of the Texas A&M campus at the crossing of George Bush Drive and Harvey Mitchell Parkway, a winding road leads to the entrance of the cream-colored, dome-top, greeting its guests with seven American flagpoles and a concrete water fountain. The main attraction — a gazebo and duck pond — are right behind the library and museum. There are multi-colored flowers that surround the gazebo with green bushes accented with clusters of pink, purple and white.
Visitors can take a stroll around down the sidewalk path to the Bush burial site, which is canoped with lush greenery and looks similar to a wonderland filled with some of the largest trees.
Entertainment
Community theater in BCS is surprising in its Broadway quality, especially The Theatre Company. Behind Joann Fabric off of Villa Maria road is this hidden gem of local Broadway. Lined with glass doors, guests enter into a large lobby with reddish-brown, glossy concrete floors and a lime green box office with a lighted marquee. The Theatre Company is most known for its large casts and over the top musical productions, including Mamma Mia, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Rocky Horror Show.
The Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Adrienne Dobson, is a Bryan-College Station native and has performed in more than 200 shows both in and out of her role.
“We have become known for our big, high quality productions and our audiences love it,” Dobson said. “As a community theater, it’s important to have that element of Broadway, but even more important to build a community where people want to come. Our actors are not paid, it’s all volunteer work. So it’s amazing to have such support and love.”
About five minutes down the road from The Theatre Company is historic downtown Bryan. It’s lined with one-of-a-kind restaurants and antique shops. It’s most known for the heart of downtown, the Queen Theater. The Queen started life as a hotel in the 1800s. According to the website, the hotel began showing silent films on the ground level in the early 1900’s, and in 1939 the hotel was converted into a fully operational movie theater. 5th Avenue Girl starring Ginger Rogers was the first movie shown in the Queen in 1939.
The Queen Theater is the crown jewel of downtown Bryan — literally. It building is one of the tallest buildings and features a large, red, neon crown at the top. At night, its green, red and white neon marquee illuminates all of the downtown. The Queen only shows movies on the first Friday of every month.
This coincides with downtown Bryan’s First Friday Celebration, a free community event where all of the locals and businesses come together and celebrate. The evening features performances by local artists and all of the mom-and-pop businesses are ready for you to spend some money. You can also stop by some of the local bars and restaurants, including Proudest Monkey and Mr. G’s Pizzeria. Locals usually round out the evening at the 5 Knocks Speakeasy.
“I’m a dancer, so I love to hit the dance floor,” Hannah Shihdanian of 5 Knocks said. “However, when I’m looking for a simple night with great drinks and smooth music, 5 Knocks is my first choice,” Shihdanian said. “Its red walls, smooth jazz and smokey atmosphere is one of a kind. It’s a tiny little place but a cool one nonetheless.”
Lodging
The George Hotel lies in the heart of College Station on University Drive surrounded by an overflow of burger joints, boutiques and whimsical candy shops that remind you of Alice in Wonderland. With its brick driveway, visitors are instantly greeted with a 6-foot-tall brass bull statue, red, neon lights and a massive Texas flag crafted entirely from red, white and blue books.
The hotel interior gives a sense of a train stop in an old-time movie scene. As you exit the elevators, you are met with a dark lit hallway with three red overhead lights and benches. The floors of the hotel have a unique touch. The dark, charcoal colored carpet is lined with a gold-colored stitching. The artwork is designed with train stop locations for the surrounding towns, including Navasota, Snook and Brenham.
About 10 minutes down University Drive past the Texas A&M Mounted Calvary barn is the Stella Hotel. This new hotel has an upscale look with a backwoods feel and even features a golf course. As guests arrive, they are met with a 20 to 30 foot tall sky bridge that overlooks the hotel’s pond. The pond has a water fountain feature with LED lighting that really speaks for itself, especially at night.
The interior is rustic yet sophisticated. The lobby is decorated with emerald green, plush-velvet and other jewel-toned furniture with accent walls of exposed brick. Navy blue and maroon stools and multi-shaped overhead lights line the wine-colored oak wood bar. The Stella Hotel can be pricey but may be worth the stay.
Overall, Bryan-College Station, Texas is more than a college town overrun by Aggies. Although many businesses have been affected by COVID-19, there are still many hidden jewels that the town has to offer, including antique shops, one-of-a-kind restaurants and other unique finds. If you’re traveling to BCS, get away from the hustle and bustle of the university and explore the true beauties of what makes Bryan-College Station the place to see.
