The small town of Bertram was a bustling Hill Country trade and shipping center a century ago. Now, it’s growing once again as Texans discover this charming area an hour northwest of Austin. With wide open spaces, a historic downtown, destination events, and friendly folks, Bertram is becoming a favorite spot once more.
Established in 1882, but not incorporated until 1972, Bertram could still be described as a sleepy town best known for its quirky Oatmeal Festival. However, in the past two decades, its population has more than doubled to almost 2,200 people.
The 48th annual Bertram Oatmeal Festival will draw another large crowd come September, but the area now plays host to a rejuvenated Globe Theatre with year-round events, a train depot with summer steam train service, an art, herb & wine festival in the spring, as well as a growing choice of area eateries, distilleries, and wineries.
Today, Bertram is bustling and growing once again. “People from Austin and other nearby areas of commerce are attracted to our small town for her friendliness, darling downtown business district, wide open spaces, the beautiful Cow Creek and San Gabriel River, and proximity to the many Highland Lakes,” says the Bertram Chamber of Commerce. “You can watch your kids catch candy at the Oatmeal Festival parade, catch a headliner at The Globe Theatre, ride the steam train, or browse cute boutiques within a stone’s throw of City Hall.”
Located midway between Liberty Hill and Burnet on State Highway 29, Bertram is enjoying a resurgence as a gateway to the growing popularity of Texas Hill Country.
Town Founded as Stop on Austin and Northwestern Railroad
Bertram owes its existence to the Austin and Northwestern Railroad as the community of San Gabriel in Williamson County was moved two miles northwest in 1882 to become a stop on the new line.
“The original settlers moved to what is now Bertram after hearing the railroad would be expanded there. Understanding this was their chance for a better life, they dismantled some, and moved in whole 13 homes and two stores and headed out: stopping along the way to cook meals and conduct business in the homes. It took them 13 teams of oxen for each building and two days to make the two-mile move,” says TexasHillCountry.com.
At the same time, Austin businessman Rudolph Bertram, the town’s namesake, sensed an economic opportunity with its proximity to the railroad.
“In the late 1800s, the Austin and Northwestern railroad was constructed to move granite quarried in Marble Falls to Austin for the construction of the Texas State Capitol,” explains the Bertram Chamber of Commerce. “Bertram was the principal stockholder of the railroad and an astute businessman who saw enormous potential for growth. In 1882, he secured a 40-acre tract of land near the tracks and formed lots for a town named Bertram. A train filled with prospective buyers came through the area on June 25, 1882, and between them bought 70 lots.”
Bertram grew rapidly and became an important trade and shipping center with the help of the railroad. Wool, sheep, goats, cotton, hides, and cattle were shipped from the local depot. Cotton was grown, harvested, and ginned in the Bertram area with a record 11,624 bales in 1928.
The Great Depression and the resultant crash of cotton prices caused the town’s population to plummet from 1,000 people in 1929 to just 550 by 1931. In 1990, Bertram had around 1,000 people and 19 businesses.
Oatmeal Festival: Began as Chili Cook-Off Spoof in 1978
Beginning as a chili cook-off spoof in 1978, the Bertram Oatmeal Festival has become an enduring annual event that draws people from far and wide.
“Most every small town has their own festival to get “city folks” to come out and spend a few bucks, and everybody has a good time,” says the festival’s website. “We had the rural community of Oatmeal as our neighbor to the south, and it was simply too good an idea to overlook.”
Local resident Ken Odiorne, who lived in the Oatmeal community, came up with the festival idea, even securing funding from National Oats, maker of 3 Minutes Oats.
“Over the years the money raised has provided high-school students with college scholarships and built an open-air pavilion in Bertram as well as a community center down in Oatmeal. Scholarships are given to local high school graduates every year. In addition, financial assistance has been given to many local events including the Easter Egg Hunt, Santa’s Workshop, and the Burnet County Livestock Show,” says the festival organizers.
The festival typically includes:
- Friday Night: The Oatmeal Festival always begins with a barbecue at the Oatmeal Community Center, about 5 miles southwest of Bertram.
- Saturday Morning: The festivities move to Bertram, beginning on Saturday morning with a 5K fun run, a Pet Parade, and the Grand Parade. There are floats from nearby cities, businesses, the Shriners, and political candidates, especially in an election year.
- Saturday Noon and After: The fun continues after the parade with a barbecue at the Bertram Pavilion. Volunteers serve a generous portion of brisket, chicken, or a combination of both. There are fun and games in the downtown area plus bands playing throughout the day on the main stage as well as the historic Globe Theatre.
- Saturday Night: The festival closes with a headline musician and street dance on Vaughan Street.
April Art, Herb, & Wine Festival
The Oatmeal Festival isn’t the only annual event as the 2025 Bertram Art, Herb & Wine Festival will be held April 26-27, 2025.
The festival will welcome artisan and herbal vendors, Texas wineries, food vendors, Texas craft beers, live music, a 5K run, free seminars, and live demonstrations.
“It’s really starting to attract people from all over and introduce them to what Bertram is all about,” Burnet County Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle told the Daily Trib last year.
Weekend Getaways and Day Trips in Bertram
Bertram is worth a visit for a weekend getaway or a day trip with a growing list of things to do:
- Catch a Show at the Globe Theatre: This Art Deco gem was built in 1935 with granite walls, the same type used in the state capital and Galveston seawall. Sadly, closing after 50 years in the early 1980s, it lay untouched until 2009 when it was purchased and a 6-year restoration process started. The Globe reopened on Feb. 27, 2016, and now hosts live music, classic movies and special events. And the first Wednesday of every month is the always free Honkytonk Wednesdays!
- Ride the Steam Train to Bertram: The Austin Steam Train Association’s Bertram Flyer departs the Cedar Park Depot on most Saturdays in June-August and some special Sundays throughout the year. The 44-mile round trip to Bertram features a quick 15-minute layover at the 1912 Bertram Depot.
- Big City Dining: Enjoy a meal at the Standard on Vaughan, which brought “big city dining” to Bertram in 2023. It’s owned by the same people who own the Globe, and the Bacon Me Crazy food truck found outside the theatre. Other local favorite eateries include Fratelli Pizza, Junction Café, and El Rancho.
- Step Back in Time with a Drink: Flanigan’s Texas Distillery & Winery is in a historic 1904 building in Bertram and features an old-fashioned bar and relaxing courtyard.
As more people discover the charm of Bertram the day trips and weekend getaways can only get better and better.
