Texas State Highway 304

State Highway 304 marker

State Highway 304
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length: 42.935 mi[1] (69.097 km)
Existed: by 1938 – present
Major junctions
South end: SH 97 northeast of Gonzales
  I-10
US 90
North end: SH 21 / SH 71 in Bastrop
Highway system
← SH 303SH 305 →

State Highway 304 or SH 304 is a Texas state highway that runs in a north-south direction between Bastrop, Texas, and Gonzales, Texas. The highway's current route was in place by 1938.

Route description

SH 304 begins at a junction with SH 97. It heads north from this junction to an intersection with I-10. The highway continues to the north to an intersection with US 90. Heading towards the north, the highway continues to an intersection FM 713. The highway continues to the northeast to an intersection with FM 535. It continues to the north to a junction with FM 2571. SH 304 reaches its northern terminus at SH 21 and SH 71 in Bastrop.[2]

Notable landmarks

The fictional Gulf Oil gas station/barbecue joint seen in the 1974 cult classic horror movie, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, is located on the highway south of Bastrop at 1073 SH 304, Bastrop, TX 78602.[3] In the movie, the establishment remains nameless but is donned with a "Coca-Cola/We Slaughter Barbecue" sign.

Today, the dilapidated grocery store (and former gas station ‒ its two gas pumps as seen in the movie having since been removed) sits unused and has been closed down for several years.[4] Before its closure, it was known as Bilbo's Texas Landmark and before that as Ryan's Hills Prairie Grocery. The location is now in the process of being restored and turned into a horror resort with a Texas chili kitchen, music venue and cabins. The ownership team is Roy Rose an Ohio entrepreneur an avid Texas chainsaw massacre fan and Ari Lehman the first Jason in the Friday the thirteenth franchise.

Junction list

County Location Mile Junction Notes
Gonzales SH 97
I-10
US 90
Caldwell FM 713
Bastrop FM 535
FM 2571
Bastrop SH 21 / SH 71

References

  1. ↑ Transportation Planning and Programming Division. "State Highway No. 304". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  2. ↑ Google (2008-03-14). "overview map of SH 304" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  3. ↑ "1073 SH 304, Bastrop, TX 78602". google.com. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Gas Station/BBQ Shack". texaschainsawmassacre.net. Retrieved January 7, 2013.