DRIPPING SPRINGS BABBLE: FOUNDERS DAY FESTIVAL SATURDAY IN FULL SWING (AND THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE HOT DOG BUS)

FOUNDERS DAY FESTIVAL SATURDAY IN FULL SWING (AND THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE HOT DOG BUS)

If you haven't been out yet, the festival is in full swing! Lots of booths, bands are rocking, and we are making a dent in our tour of the food vendors. Speaking of, making its maiden voyage, is the Double Decker Hot Dog Bus. The bus is actually a huge, red, double decker cafe. Order your food from the lower deck, then step upstairs to relax and eat on one of the 26 antique cast iron tractor seat barstools, and the solid oak bar top surrounding the upper deck. It is also offers one of the few (if not only) rooftop views of the festival.

The history of the bus began when it was purchased by the Cheshire Inn, located in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1975, they ordered the chassis from International Harvester, and had the body built by the Carpenter Bus Company. They intended to get two buses built, but after the first bus the Carpenter Company said they could not do the second bus because the cost was to too much. So, this is the only documented factory-built double decker bus made in 1975. Current owner, Dan Hendricks, whose wife is the famed Lori of Classic Cakes by Lori here in Dripping, won the bus on eBay, flew to St. Louis and drove this big, red monster back to Texas.

The bus has already undergone massive renovations and, while some fresh new paint and a few details are still to come, it is now an operational cafe and really something fun and special. At the festival, the bus is parked on the street that runs between 290 and Mercer, at the intersection of the food vendor row. The bus has also been a labor of true love as a percentage of every sale will be going to help feed and clothe those in need.