Hico, Texas: The Little Town That Claims Billy the Kid, and the Shops and Pie That Bring Folks Back

History books say Sheriff Pat Garrett shot Billy the Kid in New Mexico in 1881. Hico, a town of about 1,300 people in Hamilton County, would like a word.

The story goes that the outlaw survived, lived under another name and died right here in 1950. Whether you buy it or not, the legend is a fun excuse to visit one of the most charming little downtowns in Central Texas.

The legend of Brushy Bill Roberts

In the late 1940s, a researcher named William V. Morrison tracked down an elderly Texan, Oliver P. “Brushy Bill” Roberts, who claimed to be the real William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. With Morrison’s help, Roberts went public, and in November 1950 he met with New Mexico’s governor seeking the pardon the Kid had been promised decades before. He didn’t get it. A few weeks later, on December 27, 1950, Roberts died of a heart attack in Hico.

Historians have poked plenty of holes in his story. Family records suggest he was born around 1879, which would have made him a toddler during the Lincoln County War, and photo comparison studies have come down on both sides. A handful of writers still defend the claim, though. Hico has embraced the tale with good humor, and a historical marker downtown honors the town’s most famous maybe-outlaw. It’s the kind of story best argued over a slice of pie.

Shopping on Pecan Street

Hico’s compact downtown centers on Pecan and Elm streets, and it’s packed with more shops than you’d expect from a town this size. The Visit Hico shopping guide lists a long roster. A few highlights:

• Hico Mercantile, 101 Elm St., a collection of shops inside the town’s 1895 opera house with farmhouse decor, gifts and apparel.
• Blue Star Trading, 112 S. Pecan St., in business since 1999 with art, handmade jewelry and home goods, plus the Historic Hico Museum upstairs.
• Hico Popcorn Works, 117 S. Pecan St., where popcorn and fudge are made in-house.
• Hide and Horne, 115 S. Pecan St., for western boots, hats and ranchwear.
• Wiseman House Chocolates, 406 S. Grubbs St., a few blocks off the main drag, known for handmade chocolates, truffles and toffee.

Where to eat

Hico has a surprising number of places to eat for its size. The Visit Hico dining list includes the Koffee Kup Family Restaurant at 300 Second St., a longtime highway stop known for its house-made pies, and The Chop House at 103 N. Pecan St., which serves steaks and chicken-fried steak inside the restored Midland Hotel. You’ll also find Mexican food, wood-fired pizza, barbecue, a donut shop and a coffee shop with a drive-through. Hours vary quite a bit from place to place, especially early in the week, so check before you set your heart on one.

Music and things to do

HiCo Hall brings live music to town a few times a month and hosts free Slow Ride Sundays in the afternoon. Upcoming shows on the town’s calendar include Adam Hood on Oct. 16 and Fred Eaglesmith on Dec. 12, 2026. Hico also has disc golf, a splash pad for the little ones and a climbing gym built inside an old silo. The town usually throws a hometown Christmas celebration in December; watch the visitor site for this year’s details.

Getting there

Hico sits at the crossroads of U.S. 281 and Texas 6 and 220, about 20 miles south of Stephenville. Visit Hico puts the drive at about 1 hour 20 minutes from Fort Worth, 1 hour 45 minutes from Dallas and about 2 hours from Austin. If you’re headed this way, it pairs nicely with the dinosaur tracks in Glen Rose or a stop in Dublin for a cane-sugar soda.

Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the Visit Hico events page before you head out.

Maybe Brushy Bill was the Kid, and maybe he was just a good storyteller. Either way, Hico is a good-hearted little town with friendly shops and plenty of pie. Make the trip and decide for yourself.

Featured photo: Renelibrary via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.