Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i Texas Highways Magazine

I served a total of 22 years in the U.S. Army and took photos all over the world. But this one of my wife, Elsa, taken on US 66 in 1958 remains a favorite. We are now celebrating 62 years of blissful marriage. - Manuel Quezada, El Paso ENCHANTED ROCK FAIRY SHRIMP When the puddles dried up one year, I sat down in the crater to look at the moss. The park volunteer gave me a huge talking to about the shrimp. I had no idea! Oops! Sarah Shaheen, Fort Worth Enchanted Rock was my first geology field trip in college… yep, there’s a nice view from the top. Bob Gibson, Argyle It’s quite amazing how water can be so plentiful on top of this monolith. Jeff Henry, Bend, Oregon…

6 cups peaches, peeled and sliced1 tablespoon lemon juice1⁄4 cup local honey3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour3⁄4 cup rolled oats1⁄4 cup firmly packed brown sugar2 tablespoon lavender sugar1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon1⁄2 cup soft butter6 scoops lavender ice cream 1. Place peaches in a 9-inch square pan. 2. Sprinkle with lemon juice and drizzle honey. 3. In medium bowl, mix together ingredients using a pastry blender or fork. 4. Sprinkle mixture evenly over peaches. 5. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown. 6. Serve warm topped with ice cream. Makes 6 servings. Lavender sugar can be found in certain gourmet shops, online sources, or can be made by combining ½ cup granulated sugar with 2 teaspoons dried culinary lavender flowers in a spice grinder. Lavender ice cream…

Freestone peaches—varieties where the flesh doesn’t “cling” to the pit—are for the most part, all-purpose. White peaches are less common and more delicate than yellow varieties; they’re best eaten fresh or used for desserts (think tarts or ice cream) the day of purchase. Look for these Texas-grown beauties (regional availability varies) at your local farmers market, farm stand, or store: BOUNTY: Sizeable and firm with good texture; use for grilling, poaching, or for applications that require slices. FLAMEPRINCE: Late ripening, extending the Texas freestone season well into August. Sweet and tart medium to large fruit. DIXILAND: This sweet, juicy variety is one of Texas’ most beloved. Fresh or preserves. LORING: Tied with Dixiland for the region’s favorite, with firm, “melting” flesh. Fresh or with ice cream, please. HARVESTER: Grown throughout…

Camping can be intimidating when starting from zero. Just the amount of equipment necessary is bound to make a novice’s head spin. Luckily, individuals and families can take advantage of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s Texas Outdoor Family program. This guided camping experience led by a TPWD ranger takes place at parks around the state in the spring and fall. Equipment like tents, cots, sleeping pads, propane stoves, and some cookware are provided, so participants can test out the experience before investing in often-expensive gear. Needing some initial guidance before I tried camping on my own, I attended a TOF weekend at Garner State Park in Concan in late September. My fellow campers were families from Seguin ISD. Elizabeth Moore, an elementary school physical education teacher who’s been working…

This sauce, made with whey from the asadero-making process, goes well with eggs and refried beans, and even makes a tasty dip for chips. To make chile con queso, add 1-2 pounds of Velveeta cheese once the whey begins to simmer. 3 garlic cloves, diced1 ½ onions, chopped15 long green chiles, roasted, peeled, and chopped3 quarts Licon Dairy whey In a sauce pan, sauté the onions and garlic until the onion is tender. Add the chopped green chiles and pour in the whey. Simmer for 15 minutes.…

Order Online SHOP.TEXASHIGHWAYS.COM Or call 800-839-4997 (903-636-1123 from outside the U.S.A.) Or use the order form in this issue on page 81.…

Whenever Texas Highways publishes a story about naturally growing flora, we always include a caveat: Due to Texas’ unpredictable weather, results may vary. This also applies to our feature “Just Peachy!” (Page 38) about the top peach-producing counties, which writer John Lumpkin originally reported during the 2018 peach season. In early March 2019, a deep freeze blanketed much of the state, leading Lumpkin to follow-up with the growers he interviewed. For the sweet freestone varieties that draw Texans to roadside stands, the trees had not blossomed and, in fact, may have been helped by the frigid dips. “We prayed that God would blanket our farm and protect the tender buds and delay blooms for the ones that had not popped,” said Elizabeth Johnson, co-manager of Cooper Farms in Fairfield. She…

Roy Eaton’s earliest memory of the Wise County Messenger was his parents eagerly awaiting its Thursday delivery during World War II for news about local servicemen. “Many were our friends and neighbors,” recalls Roy, who would leave the family ranch near Decatur for college, become a TV news anchor in Fort Worth, marry his high school sweetheart, Jeannine Eaton, and return with her in 1973 to buy the weekly newspaper his parents read. Decatur was born in 1856 when the Texas Legislature created Wise County and directed the establishment of a county seat. The town benefited from three transportation eras—cattle drives on the nearby Chisholm Trail in the 1860s, the arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver Railway in 1882, and the route of the Meridian Highway from Mexico to…

It doesn’t take visitors long to get the hint that Jacksonville is proud of its tomato heritage—maybe it’s the painted concrete tomato sculptures adorning nearly 200 local business fronts. On the second Saturday of June, the community’s fondness for the tangy fruit is on full display during the Jacksonville Tomato Fest (June 8, 2019), an annual celebration of the tomato harvest. Along with events like a 5K run and a car show, Tomato Fest honors its namesake by judging homegrown tomatoes and holding contests for tomato eating, tomato peeling, tomato packing, and salsa. Local farmers are also on hand selling produce. If you can’t make it for Tomato Fest, two produce sheds draw tomato junkies from far and wide throughout the growing season (roughly May to November): The Tomato Shed,…

STONEWALL PEACH JAMBOREE This weekend celebration is in its 58th year and includes a parade, crowning of the Peach Queen, rodeo, concerts, dances, a “washer-pitchin’” tournament, peach-eating and pit-spitting contests, and a peach grower competition—as well as baking, salsa, and preserve cookoffs. June 21-22. 830-644-2725; stonewalltexas.com/peach-jamboree PARKER COUNTY PEACH FESTIVAL Downtown Weatherford kicks up its heels in honor of the region’s peach farming history for the 35th year. Embark on the Peach Pedal bike ride, take home a title at the food competition (categories include ice cream, preserves, cakes, and appetizers), listen to live music, or browse more than 200 arts and craft vendors and activity booths in between sampling all manner of peachy treats. July 13. 817-596-3801; parkercountypeachfestival.org DE LEON PEACH AND MELON FESTIVAL Peach dessert and fruit competitions,…

B & G’S GARDEN Find this Poolville farm’s peaches and other produce at Fort Worth’s Cowtown Farmers Market. Cowtown Farmers Market, 3821 Southwest Blvd., Fort Worth. cowtownmarket.com; bandggarden.com BURG’S CORNER Buyers flock to this Gillespie County farm stand for the Duecker family’s peach harvest, which also sells preserves, baked goods, and peach ice cream. 15194 US 290, Stonewall. 830-644-2604; burgscorner.com COOPER FARMS This country store sells fresh fruit, preserves, honey, and baked goods using peaches grown on its 300-acre orchards. 301 W. Interstate 45, Fairfield. 903-389-5500; cooperpeaches.com ENGEL FARMS This stand is a favorite stop for peach ice cream as well as fresh organic fruit. Local trivia: Third-generation farmer John Engel’s grandparents were the original owners of the land that’s now home to Luckenbach. 9885 US 290 E., Fredericksburg. 830-889-3714;…

A steady diet of hot dogs and s’mores is a perfectly fine (short term) camping meal plan. But if you want to step up your live fire game, author and Texas Highways contributor Paula Disbrowe’s cookbook Any Night Grilling provides inspired recipe ideas. The simple yet decadent Broccoli Spears with Crispy Cheese Crust makes an ideal side dish for a hearty cut of meat. “This recipe is great for camping because of its short ingredient list, and it’s easy enough for novice grillers to prepare,” Disbrowe says. “The final shower of grated Parmesan creates a crispy cheese crust that will have everyone reaching for seconds.” INGREDIENTS 2 heads broccoliOlive oil, for drizzlingKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or chopped dried arbol chiles (stemmed and seeded),…

Two of the state’s most respected conservationists met in the early 1980s when Andrew Sansom, then running the Texas office of The Nature Conservancy, invited J. David Bamberger to watch the evening emergence of bats from Bracken Cave, north of San Antonio. “I’ll bring the chicken,” replied Bamberger, then the CEO of Church’s Fried Chicken. There began a relationship spanning more than three decades, Sansom recounts in his new book, Seasons at Selah: The Legacy of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve. In the early years, as the two men walked beside Selah’s clear streams or swam in its largest lake, Sansom writes, “I began to realize that my new friend … was in the process of creating something extraordinary on his ranch, an inspired effort that would transcend our lives.”…

SUNKEN GARDENS 305 E. Fifth St., Shiner. 361-594-3603 Open Mon-Fri, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. When Kay Villalpando was a child in the 1950s, her parents sold dance tickets at Sunken Garden, an open-air pavilion where seemingly half of Lavaca County came out every weekend to polka, waltz, and two-step on 4,000 square feet of glazed concrete. “It was quite an experience for a little girl,” Villalpando says. Gesturing to an elevated structure with an ornate rock backdrop, she notes, “This was the bandstand.” From its opening in 1936 until the late ’50s, when the advent of airconditioning moved the party to indoor venues, Sunken Garden made Shiner the swingingest small town in Texas. All the big Texas swing and polka bands, including Houston’s Blue Ridge Playboys, played here to capacity crowds…

LUCIA 408 W. Eighth St., Suite 101, Dallas. 214-948-4998; luciadallas.com At Lucia, one of the most coveted dinner reservations in Dallas, Jennifer and David Ugyur conjure the spirit of their journeys through Italy. If you look closely, you’ll notice David’s international driving permit from one of their trips framed on the wall. Beyond inspiring the décor, a laid-back, European sidewalk café vibe permeates the Bishop Arts District space. “We love places in Italy that offer delicious food and good wine but don’t feel fancy,” says Jennifer, who oversees front-of-house operations while David mans the kitchen. “We wanted that at Lucia.” Perhaps that’s why, even after more than eight years in business, Lucia books its 14 tables at least a month in advance. Inside the shotgun space warmed with cozy banquettes…

Held on the banks of the Trinity River in Fort Worth’s 33-acre Trinity Park, Mayfest began in 1973 as the Trinity River Festival—a celebration of the recreational development of the waterway after the devastating flood of 1949. Today it’s Fort Worth’s most popular family festival and offers a bit of something for everyone: live music, carnival rides, a petting zoo, performing arts, top-notch food and beverages, rock climbing, and more. Throughout the four-day weekend, roughly 40 bands perform on three stages, along with more than 40 performing groups on four additional stages. The art and gift market features more than 60 artists from across the nation, selling everything from home goods and furniture to handcrafted jewelry and art. MAYFEST May 2-5 Trinity Park, 2401 University Drive, Fort Worth. 817-332-1055; mayfest.org…

To receive free travel information from the following destinations, simply circle the number on the attached reply card that corresponds to your selection, fill in your name and address, and drop it in the mail. To find our advertiser information online, go to texashighways.com/advertiser-information. 1 Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau 2 Andrews Chamber of Commerce & CVB 3 Bandera County Convention & Visitors Bureau 4 Bastrop County Tourism 5 Bay Area Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau 6 Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau 7 Blanco Chamber of Commerce 8 Boerne Convention & Visitors Bureau 9 Brady/McCulloch County Visitors Center 10 Brazosport Convention & Visitors Council 11 Brenham Convention & Visitors Bureau 12 Bullock Texas State History Museum 13 Cedar Park Tourism 14 City of Angleton 15 City of Bryan 16 City…

This undated photo of a Crystal City farmer driving a truck packed with spinach baskets hangs on an office wall at the Texas Basket Company in Jacksonville, which celebrates its 100th year of operation in 2019 (see “A Century of Baskets,” Page 22). Crystal City, the seat of Zavala County, is a hub of South Texas’ Winter Garden Region, where winter conditions are prime for growing spinach, onions, carrots, and broccoli. Before the introduction of plastic bushels, regional spinach farmers were big customers of Jacksonville wooden-basket factories. Zavala County remains Texas’ top producer of spinach, and Crystal City celebrates the harvest every November with its Spinach Festival. Know of any fascinating vintage Texas photographs? Send copies or ideas to letters@texashighways.com.…

Andrew Sansom Sansom wrote about a conservation ranch in Johnson City (Page 58) and its passionate steward, J. David Bamberger. “It isn’t often that you have a chance to write about one of your personal heroes and, for me, it has been a privilege to be inspired [by him] over the last 40 or so years,” Sansom says. He has served as executive director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and the Texas Nature Conservancy. He is also the author of eight books. Jason Stanford The Austin-based writer penned a heartfelt essay about taking his son, Henry, to visit Texas A&M University (Page 16). “One thing I’ve learned about fatherhood is that you’ll get sick of all…

The night before I take my oldest son to visit Texas A&M, my wife comes home to find me watching The Blind Side. It’s the scene where the Ohers are dropping off their son Michael at Ole Miss. Sandra Bullock is all business to cover her emotions. She’s not crying, but I am. “What are you?” asks my wife, who’s worried I’m intentionally inflicting misery on myself. “An emotional cutter?” She knows how much I’ve been looking forward to, and dreading, college visits with my oldest son, Henry. He’s 18 now and ready to go to college. I’m not ready to let him go, but I want to do this for him, to be the parent who helps him explore his options. I’ve been waiting for my turn to do…

CRIDER’S RODEO AND DANCEHALL 2310 State Highway 39, Hunt. 830-238-4441; cridersrandd.com On summer weekends, Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall springs to life on the banks of the south fork of the Guadalupe River, where locals and vacationers return time and again to watch cowboy competitions and boot-scoot to live music under a canopy of stars. The down-home, open-air entertainment venue on the outskirts of Hunt got its start in 1925 when Walter and Audrey Crider hosted a rodeo, dance, and barbecue fundraiser to support the local school. The event proved so popular it was reprised the following year, then on a weekly basis throughout the summer by the late 1940s. Over the subsequent decades, the small-town attraction has grown and gained a statewide following. “Everyone needs a place to come home…

As summer begins, so will annual pilgrimages to roadside stands and farmers markets where popular varieties of Texas’ succulent freestone peaches arrive in successive waves through Labor Day. Those peaches set a national standard for sweetness, and—here’s the really good news—they are mostly reserved for Texans. The Texas census first mentioned peaches as a commercial crop in 1890, and by 1910, the state’s peach production peaked with 10 million trees. Today’s current tree count is a tenth of that—largely due to inconsistent weather cycles—meaning there’s not a steady enough supply for commercial export outside the state. “It’s darn hard work,” says Jim Kamas, a Texas A&M associate professor who co-authored a primer on growing Texas peaches. “It can’t be mechanized because it is a perishable commodity.” As a result, the…

“If we leave now, we can be home by 11,” my boyfriend, Alex, told me as we were sitting in his Honda Accord, damp from the sudden onslaught of rain and out of breath from hurriedly putting our valuables in the car. I’d never loved him more than in that moment. He’d given me permission to quit my first camping trip. After a sleepless night, a canceled stargazing party, chilly and wet weather, and lackluster campfires, we were officially throwing in the towel. We’d lasted just 36 hours in the great outdoors. Giddy from the rush of freedom and abandonment of pride, we pulled out of Inks Lake State Park and headed home to Austin. I’d never understood the allure of camping. Perhaps it’s because my family was never very…

One of the things that keeps potential campers in the great indoors is all the unknowns…out there. From unforgiving weather to creepycrawlies to vines with a vengeance, danger can seem to lurk around every tree trunk in Texas. And while nature is naturally unavoidable, being armed with knowledge—and a first-aid kit—will alleviate some fears. Kimberly Sorensen, a Houston-based outdoor education specialist with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, shares her knowledge of some common dangers in state parks. Severe Weather What to Know: Unless it’s an extreme weather event like a flash flood, campers are responsible for their own safety. In the event of extreme weather, rangers will alert campers when possible. What to Do: Use the WeatherBug app to track lightning distance. When lightning is within 10 miles, seek…

Public and private tours: Visitors can take a firsthand look at the results of a half-century of habitat restoration. They might also see dinosaur tracks, fossil beds, a herd of scimitar-horned oryx (a graceful African antelope that is extinct in the wild), examples of every tree native to the Hill Country, and plenty of bats on summer evenings. Go deeper: The ranch offers a number of workshops on land stewardship, such as cedar management, water development, growing native grasses and trees, and managing for wildlife. Family Day and Picnic: The ranch’s biggest public event each year offers tours and nature walks, ziplines and fishing lessons for children, fossil digs, wildlife presentations, arts and crafts, and a native plant sale. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 5. $45 adults, $15 children, $135 families.…

LICON DAIRY 11951 Glorieta Road, San Elizario. Open weekdays 6 a.m.-5 p.m. and weekends 6 a.m.-6 p.m. The petting zoo opens daily 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 915-851-2705; licondairy.com The El Paso Mission Trail is most famous for its age-old adobe Catholic churches, rich in border history and Southwestern culture. But as locals will attest, it would be a mistake to journey to this corner of Texas without a stop at Licon Dairy for asadero cheese. On the outskirts of the Spanish presidio town of San Elizario, Licon Dairy has been perfecting its signature cheese since the 1950s. That’s when Soltero and Isabela Martinez moved to the El Paso area from California, acquired a couple of dairy cows, and started selling asadero made from a family recipe, says Gene Licon, the third…

Nonna: Owner-chef Julian Barsotti produces gems from a wood-fired oven, along with lobster ravioli, in a Highland Park hideaway. 4115 Lomo Alto, Dallas. 214-521-1800; nonnadallas.com Sprezza: The ode to Roman dining showcases pizza, pasta, and inspired salads in Oak Lawn. 4010 Maple Ave., Dallas. 972-807-9388; sprezzadallas.com Loveria Caffe: Owners from Emilia-Romagna bring the best of home in pastas, wine, and décor. 5615 Colleyville Blvd., Suite 410, Colleyville. 817-893-5880; loveriacaffe.com Nonna Tata: Owner-chef Donatella Trotti, a native of a town near Lake Como, shares her grandmother’s recipes for bresaola, cappellacci, and torta ciotola. 1400 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth. 817-332-0250; nonnatata.com Piattello Italian Kitchen: Chefs Marcus Paslay and Scott Lewis turn simple into sublime with house ricotta, pappardelle with rabbit, and cannoli with chocolate ganache. 5924 Convair Drive, Suite 412, Fort…

While your chances of seeing a mountain lion in the wilds of Texas are vanishingly slim, museums around the state display replica or taxidermied animals and explore their lifeways and habitats. Big Bend National Park: The Chisos Basin Visitor Center displays a replica mountain lion along with information about the life of one of the park’s most famous lions, a female known as F-07, which lived in the Chisos Mountains for 13 years until she died in 1992. The display includes her skull and monitoring collar, as well as photos. nps.gov/bibe The Witte Museum, San Antonio: A diorama in the McLean Family Texas Wild Gallery includes a mountain lion feeding on a deer. The exhibit describes the lives of lions among the mountains, rocky overhangs, and animal burrows of West…

No need to travel “just around the bend” when the bend itself is the main attraction. From the tops of its panoramic vistas to the bottom of its darkened caves, Colorado Bend State Park offers more than 5,000 acres of pure Hill Country heaven to explore. 325-628-3240; tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/colorado-bend Gorman Falls The most common visitor reaction is “I can’t believe we’re in Texas,” and I must admit I felt the same way the first time I stood below this amazing waterfall. The cascading waters look like a postcard from Hawaii, while the lush vegetation feels like a scene from Jurassic Park. Fed by natural springs, the falls rush over a 70-foot cliff that spans more than 150 feet across. Wild Cave Tours Some of the best views in the park aren’t…