Log in
Fredericksburg was founded on May 8, 1846, by 120 German settlers who came up from New Braunfels under John O. Meusebach. The land was Comanche territory, and a year later, in May 1847, Meusebach and Comanche leaders, including Chief Santa Anna, made a peace treaty that let the two communities live side by side. It has long been described as the only treaty of its kind that was never broken.
A town that smoked its meat
The settlers brought their food traditions with them, and smoking meat to carry it through the year was one of them. That practice never left Gillespie County. It is still the backbone of the local table, and it is the work Opa’s has done in Fredericksburg since 1947, now in the family’s third generation — smoked sausage, hams, turkeys, and more, seasoned and smoked the way the family always has.
Finding Opa’s
You may already know Opa’s from the refrigerated case at leading grocery stores across Texas, the South and Southwest (find a store). The fullest way to meet it is in Fredericksburg, at the Deli & Market at 410 S Washington Street. Every smoked sausage, ham, smoked chicken, turkey leg, and bacon is there, along with made-to-order sandwiches and salads for lunch and a tasting station that runs four sausages at a time.
Texas-German tradition, still in Fredericksburg
Opa’s is a working smokehouse and a living piece of Fredericksburg history, where German craftsmanship meets Texas barbecue. Whether you live here or you’re passing through, stop in, taste a few links, and take some home. Can’t make the drive? The full lineup ships nationwide.