Y’all. This place.

It’s a combination mercantile, bar, cafe, and church (and that’s just the things I know about).  The bartender, Jennifer, told me that I’d missed the church service earlier that day. I was pretty sure it was a joke, and I was willing to go along with it. She said they had 2-for-1 bloody marys during church. Still seemed like a joke. She told me that day four people had been baptized in the river (which was just across the road). And that’s when it sort of started to seem like maybe it wasn’t a joke.

But honestly, I’m still not sure.

Oh, and I can’t believe I nearly forgot to mention that the place hosts the Texas Testicle Festival. Jennifer can probably give you more details.

Castell, Texas
photographed 10.19.2025