Gustine: Local History and Dairy Tours

Gustine combines a rich local history with a tangible experience today: Volleman's Family Farm offers tours of its dairy. The story stretches from the first settlement of Old Evergreen to the move to the present-day site. Agriculture, transportation routes, and the Gustine Pavilion add to the topics to explore during a stay. This way, you can get to know Gustine through both its development and a guided experience.

From Old Evergreen to the Present-Day Site

Around 1873, Gustine was settled by H. H. Blankenship and M. B. Odell. The first settlement was called Old Evergreen and was located about three-quarters of a mile northeast of the present-day site. It had homes, a store, a blacksmith shop, a cotton gin, and a school. This combination of homes, commerce, crafts, processing, and education shows the roles that came together in the early settlement.

In January 1888, a U.S. post office opened in Gustine, named after postmaster Samuel Gustine. In the early 1890s, Gustine moved to its present-day location to benefit from a newly opened road between Comanche and Hamilton. This sequence—settlement, post office, and relocation—makes the town’s development tangible without conflating the individual steps.

Railroad, Road, and Agriculture

Transportation routes are also part of Gustine’s history. In 1911, the Cotton Belt rail line reached the town; its official name was the St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas. State Highway 36 was built along the railroad right-of-way, preserving Gustine’s main transportation link. The relationship between the railroad track and the highway is a distinct part of the town’s history: it connects two different forms of transportation infrastructure.

In the 1980s, Gustine’s economy was based on cattle, goats, hogs, grain, peanuts, pecans, and fruit. This mix of livestock and crops shaped Gustine’s agriculture in the 1980s. Today, Volleman's Family Farm offers tours of its dairy, which can be scheduled through the Dairy Tours page. The historical economic information refers to the 1980s; the dairy tour is a current offering. Check dates and availability on the Dairy Tours page before your trip.

Gustine Pavilion and Homecoming

The Gustine Pavilion is next to Gustine City Hall and is open for everyone to use. If you rent it, a concession stand, restrooms, electricity, tables, and chairs are included. A reservation is required for Homecoming celebrations at the Pavilion; no rental fee is charged for these special events. Confirm the reservation terms before using the Pavilion.

An earlier newspaper report describes Gustine’s Homecoming at the time as an annual event and mentions a washer tournament in Gunter’s dryer shed. The report preserves a specific example of an earlier festival program. As another glimpse into Gustine’s culture, this memory complements the town’s architectural and economic history.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Stay

When choosing a vacation rental in Gustine, use the reason for your trip as a guide: Is local history your main interest, would you like to plan a dairy tour, or do you want to use the Pavilion?

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