Fall 2026 Texas MeatUp….New Location! Book Your Rooms Here!

[Panhead John]

After days of intense negotiations with the Texas MeatUp Committee, 🥸 a new location has been agreed on for the Fall 2026 Texas MeatUp. The Dallas/Ft. Worth area, Arlington, Tx to be specific, has been selected as our next destination for food, fun and fellowship! There’s several killer BBQ joints nearby which most of us have never been to. One spot we definitely want to try is Goldee’s Barbecue in nearby Ft. Worth. They’re a previous #1 BBQ joint chosen by Texas Monthly’s Top 50 in Texas back in 2021. Their latest Top 50 list, published last year, they dropped all the way to……….#3 😳, oh the horror! 🙄 Quoting our friend jayjordan who said, “Goldee’s has the best brisket I’ve ever had” ……sounds like quite an endorsement to me! There’s also several other Top 50 spots within an easy 30 minute or less drive from our hotel.

A TRAY OF BBQ FROM GOLDEE’S


As I’m not familiar with the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, jayjordan was a big help to me in finding hotel locations and BBQ spot recommendations for this visit, thanks Jay! Also thanks to Purc and LA Pork Butt for their help as well! Speaking of hotels, I was able to find a Homewood Suites Hotel near I-20 in Arlington for our home base. Our group sales lady at the hotel, Kellie, was a joy to work with and gave us a great rate for our stay……$119. per night for a King single and $139. per night for a 2 Queen double! This hotel is also fairly new, having been built in 2016 and they’ve already just finished a major remodel. In addition to being nice and clean facilities, all the Homewood Suites have a kitchenette in each room with a full size fridge, none of those crappy mini-fridges. There’s also spacious indoor and outdoor meeting areas for us to use.













WHAT: Fall 2026 Texas MeatUp

WHEN: Thursday October 22 thru Sunday October 25

WHERE: Arlington, Tx.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Homewood Suites by Hilton Arlington South
4550 Waxwing Drive
Arlington, Tx. 76018
Phone number to the hotel….. 817-465-4663

LINK TO BOOK YOUR ROOMS:

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/dalaghw-908-19a316cd-7bcf-44c1-8168-a5ad49fa593e/__;!!FOfmI8qiWcWBHqypJtzENF0!3hUCKPzBnd3vPr49AddJn WC2AxPqE44vN4gA--_a6lGvDx79yJKEUX_qk1j8_3sb1NXvO4UiOXp8UezAbeSFNwm-UzUu2g$

Alrighty folks, the link is live and ready to use. DO NOT BOOK THROUGH THE HOTEL’S WEBSITE OR ANYWHERE ELSE. The link here is what you’ll use to get our discounted rate. Please note that when you go to book your room, you’ll have the option of a stay from Wednesday through Monday. This is so anyone who wants to stay a little longer can still get the discount through the link. For everyone else, just click on the Thursday through Sunday option, you don’t have to stay Wednesday through Monday of course.

The 2 major airports in the area are DFW and Love Field in Dallas. DFW is the closest airport to the hotel, about 19 miles away. And also, for anyone flying in, if you’re not getting a rental car, jayjordan has graciously offered to pick you up at the airport and drive you back for your return flight! This offer is good for reasonable arrival/departure times, no damn midnight trips! 😂 He has room for 2 additional people in his vehicle, just DM Jay if needed for arrangements. Wow, that’s what I call a good guy! Anyway, I’m excited about this new location and hope to see lots of you there!

HERE’S THE LIST OF PEOPLE GOING SO FAR……..

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...a-texas-meatup

[jayjordan]

Actually I can accommodate 3 passengers, 4 if 3 don’t mind squeezing into the back seat of my CRV.

[Alan Brice]

Just checking last night, our best deal is Love Field, IINM. What are the logistics for jayjordan n does he prefer we fly into DFW?
My maps says Love is only 17 miles, but 27 minutes. Sup wit dat?
My Maps says DFW is 16 miles and 21 minutes plus tolls. Looks like Tolls no matter what.

[jayjordan]

Alan Brice Love Field is okay for pickup as well.

[Alan Brice]

jayjordan looks as if we will be flying into DFW. Arr 1:19 pm. Thur 22.
What do you prefer, Gas, grass or Arse? ;-{)>

[Panhead John]

Ok, I just booked my room for Thursday thru Sunday. A little time saving tip I learned is…… Once you’ve clicked on the booking link and then click “Book Your Room”, go the top of the page and hit Edit Your Stay first, before entering the rest of your info. I forgot to change my days to Thursday thru Sunday and finished up, it automatically booked me for Wednesday through Monday and I had to start all over again…🙄

ALSO….Once you’ve booked your room can you please announce it here in this post, along with how many people in your party and the days you’ll be staying? Thanks!

[CaptainMike]

Me + My Girl are a 'Very Likely'. We have a close friend who lives in Dallas and it would be great to see her on this trip.

[Panhead John]

Woo hoo! 😎👍

[Panhead John]

Mike, this goes without saying of course, but if your friend is up to it, have her join us anytime she wants.

[WI Bubba]

I'll have to wait to see what klflowers decides. That will greatly affect my decision.

[Panhead John]

Alls I know is that if he goes then I ain’t goin’. 🥸

[CaptainMike]

Very clever. I you're both there it would be 2 of my Secret Santas.

[Panhead John]

Jay also had a couple of recommendations for us that weekend. One of them was to possibly have our Thursday night Mexican dinner at one of his favorite spots, Mariano’s Mexican Restaurant, about 10 minutes from the hotel. Since Jay lives in Arlington, he’s in the know about this kind of stuff. Looking at their website it sure looks good to me!

https://laharanch.com/marianoshaciendarancharlington?utm_source=google

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[jayjordan]

The fajitas here are second to none in my experience eating fajitas. Flavorful and juicy, the steak fork tender.
The founder created the first frozen margarita machine, which now resides in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

https://laharanch.com/page/our-story

[Alan Brice]

Mariano's looks yummy!

[zblongladder]

I'm always up for some good Mexican!

[Panhead John]

Jay’s second suggestion, which I think will be a popular one, is taking a little side trip to Meat Church BBQ Supply in Waxahachie! It’s only about a 30-35 minute drive from the hotel and is something we could do after lunch either Friday or Saturday. As always, everyone is free to go wherever you like, not a problem. Also, for anyone flying in for the MeatUp we will have plenty of vehicles between us to give rides to anyone who doesn’t have a rental car.

[Carolyn]

jayjordan Hwy 287

I lived near Sublett and 287 for almost 20 years.

My first house in Arlington was near Sublett and Matlock Rd when it was nothing but pastures. My second house was off of the service road of 287 near Hwy 20 just north of Hawkins Cemetery. We left Texas, moved back and bought a house one neighborhood over.

[jayjordan]

Carolyn - I live between Sublett and Green Oaks at Park Springs.

[Carolyn]

jayjordan We were practically neighbors.

[klflowers]

I'm not sure if I'll make it, so WI Bubba you can feel safe. One of my aunts is having a bday party in Indianapolis around that time; they haven't set the date yet. Or I might do what I did for the last one - wait until you are all committed and then show up.

As for Panhead John, I think I'd be youins a favor by keeping him away.

[jayjordan]

Hope it works out that you can make it!

[Purc]

We should make a visit to Meat Church.

I went to the current Meat Church store grand opening several years ago. It was a street party with great crowd. My son and I spent time with Matt Pittman before and during the event. Matt made it a point to personally meet and greet everyone there. We both made several store purchases.

[klflowers]

I liked both the store and the area. I spent some time walking around.

[Michael_in_TX]

I am a maybe. I had so much fun with yall at the April 2024 Meatup.

The deciding factor is I have an early weeklong October trip that is very weather dependent. If that fizzles out, I’ll be able to go. The awkward thing is I won’t know until early October!

[Michael_in_TX]

(LOL….One would think with as much traveling as I do, I would know how hotels work. I can book and cancel for free by Oct 19. Let me get that in work.)

[Panhead John]

Hope you can make it Michael! You just reminded me of something in our hotel contract….posted below. And yes, you may cancel your reservation up to 48 hours before your check-in day without any charges.

[Panhead John]

Just an FYI here and it probably won’t affect anyone but, on October 2nd the hotel will release any remaining rooms in our block to the general public, and this is from my hotel agreement……👇


CUT-OFF DATE October 2, 2026. All reservations must be booked no later than the cut-off date to qualify for group rate. After the cut-off date, reservations may still be made based on availability and the prevailing room rate.

[cruiseplanner1]

That is a standard group policy. Do not procrastinate. Venues cannot wait and have unsold capacity.

[KeepsakeKim]

Bruce and I are hoping to join! We really enjoyed the last two Meat-ups! Such fun times!

[Panhead John]

Hope y’all can make it Kim! 🤞

[Michael_in_TX]

I love that those of us in Texas are like…driving the “height” of the entire State of Louisiana…it’s just around the corner…

[CaptainMike]

Update: Rena and I are in! 10/21 - 25.

[Alan Brice]

Sorry, PJ. Thur 22nd - 25th Sunday.

[KeepsakeKim]

CaptainMike looking forward to seeing you and Rena again!

[CaptainMike]

Us too, KeepsakeKim

[Panhead John]

Just a short 10-15 minute drive from the hotel is Zavala’s Barbecue in Grand Prairie. They’re a current Honorable Mention in Texas Monthly and were also recently recognized as having one of the “Top 50 Tacos in Texas” by the magazine as well. They’re described as a “Tex-Mex meets central Texas style BBQ.” Here’s a few pics of their food…😍

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https://www.zavalasbarbecue.com/