Houston, Texas Community

Before Leatherface terrorized a group of travelers in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), there was another horrifying chapter in the Hewitt family’s history.

Released on October 6, 2006, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning takes audiences back to 1969 to explore the origins of the murderous family featured in the 2003 remake.

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman, the prequel stars Jordana Brewster, Matt Bomer, Taylor Handley, Diora Baird and R. Lee Ermey.

The story follows two brothers and their girlfriends traveling through rural Texas before the brothers leave for military service.

Unfortunately, their road trip takes them into the territory of the Hewitt family.

But where were Leatherface’s terrifying surroundings actually filmed?

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning was filmed in Central Texas, using real locations around Granger, Manor, Taylor, Elgin and the greater Austin area.

Even more interesting, the production returned to several locations used in the 2003 movie.

Central Texas – Where The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Was Filmed

Unlike many horror movies that use California or another state to represent Texas, this prequel was actually filmed in Texas.

The production returned to the region northeast of Austin, where rural roads, historic buildings and isolated properties provided the atmosphere needed for the story.

Several of these places can still be identified today.

Real-World Filming Locations

• Granger, Texas – The Hewitt Family House

One of the movie’s most recognizable locations is the Hewitt family farmhouse at 901 County Road 336 near Granger, Texas.

The large, isolated residence also appeared in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003).

Its weathered exterior, surrounding fields and remote setting made it an ideal home for the fictional Hewitt family.

The building has a history that predates either movie.

Originally constructed in Austin during the 19th century, the house was later relocated to the Granger area.

The production used the property again for the 2006 prequel, maintaining the visual connection between the two films.

The house is private property and is not open for public tours.

• Manor, Texas – The Cele Store Gas Station

Another recognizable location is the Cele Store at 18726 Cameron Road in the Manor area.

The building served as a gas station in both the 2003 remake and the 2006 prequel.

Its rural surroundings and traditional storefront made it a convincing roadside stop in the movie’s fictional Texas setting.

The Cele Store is also known for appearing in other productions, including Secondhand Lions (2003).

Although the building has a recognizable movie history, visitors should check its current status and respect property boundaries.

• Taylor, Texas – The Slaughterhouse

The Taylor Meat Company property at 2211 West 2nd Street in Taylor is associated with the slaughterhouse setting used in the 2003 film and the prequel’s production.

Industrial meat-processing facilities play an important role in the Hewitt family’s fictional history.

The production also used a separate former meat-processing building in Martindale for Leatherface’s basement workroom.

These real industrial environments helped give the movies their grim, unsettling appearance.

The Taylor property has undergone changes since filming, and its current business status should not be assumed.

• Martindale, Texas – Leatherface’s Basement Workroom

A former meat-processing building on Main Street in Martindale supplied the interior setting for Leatherface’s basement workroom.

The location was used in both the 2003 remake and The Beginning.

Its industrial character helped create one of the franchise’s most disturbing environments without requiring every detail to be built from scratch.

The building is private property, and its connection to the movie does not make it a public attraction.

• Elgin, Texas – The ...

Pecos is wrapping up a week of wall-to-wall creativity with its first Tumble West Art Fest. Fifteen mural artists from around the country spent September 28 through October 3 transforming community walls into large-scale public artwork.

The project culminated Saturday evening with a free downtown celebration running from 5 p.m. until midnight. Local businesses and organizations were invited to sponsor mural spaces, giving the finished pieces a direct connection to the people supporting the event.

The murals will remain after the festival ends, leaving Pecos with a new collection of public art created during one unusually colorful week. 

A Texas food festival that left visitors frustrated last year returned with a new recipe: controlled admission, additional activities and considerably happier guests.

The In A Pickle Festival filled the Helotes Festival Grounds with more than 150 vendors on September 19 and 20. Offerings ranged from craft pickles and salsa to pickle lemonade and pickle nachos, while some sellers reported running out of products amid the turnout.

The event needed a comeback. Visitors to its 2025 gathering in New Braunfels complained about long lines, overflowing neighborhood parking, inadequate facilities and poor organization. One attendee said the entrance line extended for eight blocks.

Organizers responded by selling tickets for specific arrival periods, limiting each window once it reached capacity. They also expanded the festival beyond food with carnival rides, professional wrestling, a pet-costume parade and “Pickle Olympics” for competing teams.

Public comments collected after the Helotes event were notably more positive, although organizers had not responded to a request for additional comment and have not announced where the festival will go in 2027.

The turnaround offers a useful community-event lesson: when an enthusiastic crowd exposes weak logistics, the answer may not be a smaller idea—just better control over how everyone arrives.