Loco Coyote Grill, the roadside barbecue palace down a long farm road outside Glen Rose, is calling it quits after decades of feeding hungry day trippers. The owners say the restaurant will stop serving this Sunday, and regulars who routinely made the trek from Dallas and beyond are already lining up for one last plate. With its mix of big burgers, smoked meats, live music, and picnic-style seating, the spot became a must-stop for Hill Country drives and biker runs alike.
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the restaurant's team posted on Facebook that "Like many Texas BBQ restaurants, rising food, labor, and operating costs have made it impossible to continue operating." The post invited customers to a last-round Lotería on Thursday and offered discounts on merchandise ahead of the final service. According to the Chronicle, the announcement sparked more than 600 comments and was shared over 900 times within 24 hours.
Turnkey Property Now On The Market
The Loco Coyote site at 1795 Co Rd 1004 - about 16.2 acres with indoor and outdoor dining and two ponds - was listed for sale in late June with an asking price of $2.2 million. The listing notes that the sale includes the business, existing improvements, and an extensive equipment package, so a buyer could step into an operating business "from day one," according to Republic of Texas Land & Home. The brokerage also highlights unused acreage and event space as opportunities for a new owner to expand revenue streams or reposition the property.
A Roadside Staple For Decades
Writers and visitors have long treated the Coyote as a classic Texas stop. The Dallas Observer traces the joint's roots back to the 1970s and praises its oversized Jack Daniel's barbecue burger and biker-friendly vibe. The spot has changed hands several times over the years; its most recent owners, Pilar and Larry Rogers, took over in November 2024 and added fire pits and a covered patio while aiming to preserve the place's character, the Chronicle reported. For a lot of diners, the draw has always been the atmosphere as much as the food.
Part Of A Wider Pattern Of Closures
The Coyote's closure joins a string of recent North Texas restaurant shutdowns blamed on rising costs and thin margins. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has cataloged multiple notable closings across the region. Industry watchers say rural destination restaurants, in particular, are getting squeezed by higher food and labor costs combined with uneven tourism flows. Losing a longtime anchor like the Coyote could ripple through Glen Rose's small tourism economy, which leans on diners, live-music nights and day-trip traffic to help support other local businesses.
Whether a buyer steps in or the site is eventually repurposed, Glen Rose residents and out-of-town regulars have one last weekend to make memories at the Coyote. Expect crowds, long waits, and a steady stream of stories about the place for weeks to come.
