Goldthwaite, Texas — small in size but large in spirit — has officially won the Season 16 Viewer’s Choice contest to be featured on the award-winning PBS travel show The Daytripper. This victory is a huge moment for our community, and we’re all buzzing with excitement to welcome host Chet Garner and his crew next spring.

For fans of Texas travel and storytelling, The Daytripper is a household name. Created and hosted by Chet Garner, the show has captured the heart of Lone Star State explorers with its blend of food, history, nature, and off-the-beaten path gems.

Though it began as The Austin Daytripper on Austin PBS in 2007, the show broadened its scope statewide and was rebranded as The Daytripper, now produced by Hogaboom Road, Inc. in Georgetown, Texas. Over the years the show has earned multiple Lone Star Emmy Awards and become a beloved fixture for those wanting to experience Texas “one day at a time.”

Each episode typically spotlights a single destination—towns large and small—revealing stories, flavors, hidden spaces, and memorable characters in just one day (or close to it).

The Viewer’s Choice contest is an annual tradition where The Daytripper staff nominates a slate of Texas towns—both modest and more prominent—and lets the public decide which one will host that season’s featured episode.This year, the contest was run online with voting promoted via social media posts, video appeals, and the show’s website. 

Goldthwaite’s nomination kicked off a campaign of hometown pride. Posts like “The Daytripper’s Viewers’ Choice voting is open — we need YOUR help to get Chet and the crew out to Goldthwaite” circulated on local Facebook pages and beyond. The Daytripper’s own social channels also periodically reminded fans to cast their daily vote. 

One of the driving forces behind our win: Chet’s own family ties to Goldthwaite. His parents live here, giving this hometown a passionate edge — and rallying local voters even harder. Through word of mouth, local events, and social media sharing, the community came together to push Goldthwaite across the finish line.

With the win secured, The Daytripper team is scheduled to film the Goldthwaite episode and premiere it in Spring 2026. The exact filming days and full itinerary haven’t been announced yet, but soon we’ll see Chet and crew rolling into town and putting our best foot forward.

Until then, it’s fun (and kind of inevitable) to speculate about what they’ll feature. Will they highlight Goldthwaite’s historic downtown, maybe the old courthouse, Legacy Plaza, or other heritage sites? What restaurants will Chet and his crew choose to feature? What local businesses and shops will The Daytripper feature, both old and new? And knowing Chet, there’s almost always something quirky, off-beat, or deeply local to surprise us.

For a small town like Goldthwaite, being selected for The Daytripper is both an honor and an incredible opportunity. It puts our stories, history, and local culture in front of a statewide (and even national PBS) audience. It’s a chance to invite visitors, celebrate longtime residents, and preserve what makes our community unique.

Plus, the momentum from this win is already uniting people. Local businesses, civic groups, and residents are rallying — offering ideas, preparing to host, and thinking ahead to how we can shine on camera.

• Follow The Daytripper announcements. Keep an eye on their social media and website for filming updates.

• Share ideas. If you have places, stories, people, or traditions that deserve the spotlight, speak up (locally or via social channels).

• Get ready. When filming draws near, there may be calls for volunteers, extras, or local coordination.

• Celebrate. Use this moment to unite and promote Goldthwaite — both during filming and after broadcast.

This win isn’t just about a TV episode — it’s a chance for Goldthwaite to tell our story, show off hidden gems, and welcome others to see what we love about this place. We’re more than ready for Chet and his crew. Let’s show them why Goldthwaite was the right pick.