Discover Round Top's Hidden Shopping Territory
Ask most Round Top visitors where they shopped. The answer is almost always the same: Blue Hills, Marburger, maybe Big Red Barn.
But here's the thing: Round Top isn't just those three venues.
There's an entire world of shopping in Warrenton and Burton — venues that most guides ignore and most tourists drive right past.
That's actually one of the reasons we built Round Top Finder — to put these hidden venues on the map, literally. Our interactive map and venue directory includes the smaller Warrenton and Burton locations alongside the big-name shows, with hours, directions, facilities, and vendor details.
If you only shop the "big three," you're missing half of Round Top.
Where Is Warrenton?
Warrenton is just a few miles west of Round Top proper on Highway 237. You've probably driven through it without realizing it was a destination.
It's smaller, scrappier, and more field-based than polished Round Top venues. But that's exactly why the prices are better and the finds are more surprising.
Warrenton Venues Worth Your Time
Dillard's Field
What it is: One of the main outdoor fields in Warrenton, packed with vendors.
Best for: General antiques, furniture, variety
What people say:
"There's stuff everywhere. Everywhere." "If you come to Round Top, it's going to be a big walking trip. You'll never know what you'll find."
Pro tip: There's a barn in the back with even more vendors that many people miss.
Tinstar Field
What it is: Great outdoor venue with a restaurant on-site.
Best for: Western Americana, vintage signs, Rocky Mountain aesthetic
Notable finds:
- Railroad crossing sign: $1,200
- Salesman sample stove (with tiny pots): $300
- Various porcelain street numbers
Pro tip: Vendors here come from all over — Arkansas, Nebraska, across Texas.
Rank Field / Rank Hall
What it is: Two connected areas — outdoor field and enclosed hall with furniture.
Best for: Furniture, vintage clothing, western wear, vintage hats
Items spotted:
- Church pews
- Wood stoves
- Water pumps
- Vintage thermometers ($30 and up)
- Texaco cans ($25+)
The Hall: Nice enclosed space with quality furniture. AC available.
The W / Bluebird Originals
What it is: Unique vendor known for repurposed vintage textiles.
Best for: Quilted clothing — coats, shirts, jackets made from vintage quilts.
What's special:
"I love when they do this — the stitching, using the old quilts to do coats and shirts."
Price range: $125 - $995 for quilted pieces. All handmade, all one-of-a-kind.
Why it matters: This is a Round Top specialty you won't find anywhere else.
Tex Punk Antiques
What it is: Shop focused on vintage advertising and Americana.
Best for: Soda signs, rustic items, religious artifacts
Inventory:
- Vintage Pepsi signs: $1,200+
- 1940s Pepsi machine: $2,500
- 1960s Pepsi machine: $950
- French tapestry: $850
- Western wear
- Oriental vases
Outdoor area: Tons of porcelain signs — Cooper Feeds, BF Goodrich, Dixie Feeds, Blue Ribbon, Coca-Cola.
Dead People Stuff
What it is: Yes, that's the actual name. And it's fantastic.
Best for: Vintage advertising signs, thermometers, Americana
Why the name works:
"I think that's the coolest name."
Finds documented:
- Royal Crown thermometer: $245
- Sleepy Eye pottery: $28
- Mobile Oil Pegasus (1941): $30 — purchased on camera
- Standard Fuel Oils thermometer: $100
Pro tip: Vendors here are friendly and will negotiate.
The Chicken Ranch
What it is: Venue specifically known for reseller-friendly pricing.
Best for: Shoppers buying for resale, those who need margin
Why it matters: Recommended by locals specifically because the pricing works for people who need to make money on what they buy.
Lonear Barbecue
What it is: Food vendor that's been at Round Top since 1982.
Best for: Breakfast tacos with brisket, Texas BBQ
The experience:
"I got a breakfast taco for $3 and said 'can you throw some brisket on there?' Fantastic. The brisket is smoky. It's tender."
40+ years serving Round Top — this is a local institution.
Where Is Burton?
Burton is about 6 miles from Carmine, even further off the main Round Top path. It's tiny, it's quiet, and it's where locals send other locals.
Burton Venues Worth the Drive
La Bahia Antique Show
What it is: Show that happens twice a year (October and spring) in a tiny Texas town.
Best for: Jewelry, jadeite, quality curated pieces
The setting: Under beautiful live oak trees (stay green year-round).
What people say:
"Very well curated in here." "I know where I can get my salt shakers now."
Special events: Friday is fried fish day.
Notable finds:
- Marshmallow tins: $165-$225 (sought after)
- Extensive jadeite collection
- Hines tomato collectibles
Tai's Little Red Barn
What it is: Antique show in Burton with variety and character.
Best for: Signs, toys, vintage bikes, unexpected finds
Finds documented:
- Cookie jar jug: $20
- Vintage Schwinn double rider bike
- Coleman lanterns
- Life-size Ronald McDonald: Negotiated from $795 to ~$550
Signage prices:
- Standard/Atlantic/Texaco/Gulf signs: $2,300+
- Cattle sign: $5,000
- More affordable options available
Junk in the Trunk
What it is: Antique mall in Burton recommended by local shop owners.
Best for: Affordable finds, furniture flipper supplies, unique pieces
Finds documented:
- Croc picture: $16 (unusual find)
- Milking stool: $24
- Various reasonably priced pieces
The local connection: The owner recommended another shop (Bayberry's), demonstrating how the local network works.
Why Warrenton & Burton Matter
Better Prices
These venues have lower overhead. They're not competing for the same premium positioning as Blue Hills and Marburger. That translates to better prices.
Less Competition
While everyone crowds into the same three venues, Warrenton and Burton are quieter. More time to browse, more room to negotiate.
Different Inventory
The quilted clothing at Bluebird Originals. The advertising signs at Tex Punk. The reseller pricing at Chicken Ranch. This is inventory you won't find at Blue Hills.
Local Relationships
These vendors remember you. They appreciate the customers who make the drive. The relationships you build here are different than at the mega-venues.
How to Plan a Warrenton/Burton Day
Half Day: Warrenton Focus
- Start at Dillard's Field (overview)
- Hit Tex Punk for signs
- Lonear Barbecue for lunch (since 1982)
- The W for quilted clothing
- Dead People Stuff for final browse
Full Day: Both Areas
Morning: Warrenton venues Lunch: Lonear BBQ Afternoon: Drive to Burton
- La Bahia
- Tai's Little Red Barn
- Junk in the Trunk
The Budget Route
Focus on:
- Dead People Stuff (negotiable pricing)
- Junk in the Trunk (affordable finds)
- The Chicken Ranch (reseller-friendly)
- Outdoor fields (tent vendors are flexible)
What to Buy Where
| Looking For | Go To |
|---|---|
| Vintage signs | Tex Punk, Dead People Stuff |
| Quilted clothing | The W / Bluebird Originals |
| Furniture | Rank Hall, Dillard's Field |
| Affordable antiques | Junk in the Trunk, fields |
| Reseller pricing | The Chicken Ranch |
| Food | Lonear Barbecue |
| Jewelry/jadeite | La Bahia |
| Unexpected finds | Tai's Little Red Barn |
The Bottom Line
Blue Hills and Marburger are spectacular. No question.
But Round Top is bigger than those venues. The 11-mile highway extends into Warrenton. The network spreads to Burton. The finds are everywhere — if you know where to look.
The next time you come to Round Top, don't just hit the big three.
Drive a little further. Find the fields nobody talks about. And use Round Top Finder to discover venues and vendors across the entire corridor — including the Warrenton and Burton spots most visitors don't know exist. Add them to your Trip Planner, and the app will optimize your driving route so you hit them all without backtracking.
That's where the real treasure hunting happens.
Round Top Finder — The whole show, not just the highlights. Available on web, iOS, and Android.
