Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Texas Highways Magazine

This issue marks the fourth consecutive year we have devoted our August edition to small town Texas. Along with our annual list of Small Towns to Visit Now, we visit 15 mom and pop shops to augment your next road trip. Deputy Editor Michael Hoinski proposed the story after we ran last year’s feature on Buc-ee’s. It got him thinking about what constitutes a convenience store and some of the lesser-known but memorable independent businesses that cater to locals and travelers alike. The nine writers who contributed to the 26-page story collectively spend months every year traveling the state, and we only had to twist their arms a little to persuade them to share their favorite under-the-radar spots. Our original list of Small Towns to Visit Now included Uvalde as…

While editing the now-defunct Directions: The Magazine of the Texas Hill Country, Anthony Head heard about a model terra-cotta army at a venue in a Houston suburb and made a note to visit. Though the army’s original venue, Forbidden Gardens, shuttered before he could see it, the San Marcos-based writer finally got the chance to visit the statues at amusement center Lucky Land for “Guarding Eden” (Page 26). The story focuses mainly on the terracotta army, but much of the park features creations of owners Nida and Jack Lee. “Some of these exhibits are hard to explain,” Head says. “One area consists of statues—think robots or Transformers—made from recycled car parts. And then there are about a dozen large-scale, whimsical painted backdrops, which make for one-of-a-kind, goofy photos. I defy…

For this photo of Good Things Grocery in Lockhart, photographer Melanie Grizzel sought to show owners Taylor and Austin Burge while also capturing their storefront’s surroundings on the Caldwell County Courthouse square. “I really wanted to show the community of it—how close they are to other shops, what a fun place it is to walk around,” says Grizzel, who lives in Austin, about 30 miles north of Lockhart. The Burges started selling groceries inside their other Lockhart business, Chaparral Coffee, during the pandemic. Finding a demand for local produce, meats, and prepared foods—such as homemade pimento cheese—they opened Good Things Grocery in the nearby town of Martindale in late 2020, followed by this Lockhart location on Commerce Street in December 2021. Read about Good Things and other mom and pop…

Want even more events delivered to your mailbox? Get a free subscription to the quarterly Texas Highways Events Calendar at texashighways.com/eventsubscription BIG BEND COUNTRY DEL RIO Noches Musicales Through Aug. 5 Held every Friday from June through August, Noches Musicales includes dancing, music, and food trucks. Bring your own chairs and drinks. Brown Plaza, 302 Cantu St. 830-768-2287; lacasadelacultura.org DEL RIO First Friday Art Walk Aug. 5 Del Rio presents a monthly art walk that leads visitors through the art galleries and art district downtown. The event also offers food trucks, vendors, and music. Downtown Del Rio, South Main Street. 830-775-3551; drchamber.com VAN HORN Mountain View Golf Tournament Aug. 20-21 This two-day, two-man tournament also offers barbecue. Mountain View Municipal Golf Course, 1000 Golf Course Drive. 432-283-2628; vanhorntexas.org GULF…

Nida Lee was days away from losing the treasure of a lifetime. Lee owns Lucky Land in Houston, a winsome outdoor display of Chinese historical and cultural sites she opened in 2017. Six years before Lucky Land’s debut, construction on Grand Parkway forced the closure of Forbidden Gardens, a beloved Chinese historical attraction in nearby Katy. The exhibits, including about 6,000 terracotta soldiers, were sold to the public. Despite the massive liquidation, thousands of pieces, including hundreds of soldiers and horses, were abandoned. “Many were broken,” Lee says. “They were just lying there. I dreamed about the soldiers; they all came alive. When I woke up, I asked my husband if we could get everything that was left.” They did—right before the bulldozers came. The soldiers and horses they acquired…

4 Number of Texas towns named after presidents of the Republic of Texas 14 Number of names submitted to the U.S. Postal Service when Tarzan won the vote 0 Frog population in Frognot at the town’s naming, according to legend Dime Box, founded 1869-1877 This town is named for the mail delivery system it used before a government post office opened in 1877. Patrons would leave outgoing mail and a dime—in lieu of a stamp—in a box inside the post office in Brown’s Mill, the town’s former name. Bug Tussle, founded in the 1890s One explanation for this name is that a swarm of bugs spoiled the fun at an ice cream social. Another is that bored picnickers would watch bugs tussle. A third account details two residents arguing over changing…

15 Mom and Pops Shopping at Buc-ee’s is a ritual for many travelers in need of a break from Texas’ long stretches of highway—and pickme-ups like Beaver Nuggets. In our May 2021 issue, we published a story on the Lake Jackson-based convenience store chain, and our social media lit up with comments from readers telling us about their favorite one-stop shops, from Stuckey’s, to Irving-based 7-Eleven, to lesser-known spots. That got us thinking: Why not highlight the smaller, often independently owned and family-run stores that provide essential goods and services to their communities? In this feature story—a whopping 26 pages and roughly 7,000 words—we present 15 “mom and pop” shops that hit the spot. We enlisted nine writers to showcase geographically diverse places outside of the major cities. We also…

With a population of close to 50,000, Keller is now a substantial Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, but it was a small rural community when this photo was taken in about 1915. Sent in by reader Guy Choate, of San Angelo, the photo shows his great-uncle Andy Choate’s blacksmith shop, which was located where the Main Street Depot stands today at 204 S. Main St. in Keller. Andy is standing at right, with his brother Tim Choate at left. The man in the middle is unidentified. Guy said his great-uncles were born in Jamestown, Tennessee, as was Guy’s grandfather, Wade Choate. “Wade was something of a rambler, and in 1903 he took off and walked to Texas,” Guy said. “The family sent my great-uncle Tim to fetch him back home. Tim caught…

As you explore, you’ll find an amazing range of relaxation and adventure, natural beauty and urban culture, fine art, fine dining, small-town charm and big-city amenities… but what you will remember most is the warm, West Texas hospitality. MIDLAND–Drop by Midland’s trendy downtown for a cocktail, luscious pizza, stylish shops or a game of chess in Centennial Park. There is no end to what downtown has to offer. visitmidland.com Aug 25-28 - Midland County Fair Sep 10-11 - SeptemberFest FORT STOCKTON–Lodging, Dining, Entertainment and History. Experience our Visitor Center, Historic Sites, Museum, Fort Grounds, Golf Course, and Unique Shopping, West Texas style. historicfortstocktontx.com Sep 18 - Fort Stockton Community Theatre Barrio Fest Oct 15 - Big Bend Open Road Race ALPINE–Natural beauty, unique nightlife and shopping, and a grand…

This is so beautiful in every way. I would recreate this group for girls all around Texas. What a wonderful father. @georgiabluedesign Distant Relatives Oh man [“Root to Stem, Nose to Tail,” June], I could get lost in these meals. Cindy Ward Shared Heritage This is incredible [“We’re Still Here,” June]. Thank you for sharing their story, and power to the Karankawa people. @robynpost Family Tradition I remember my dad and grandpa putting salt in their beers back in the day [“A Dash’ll Do Ya,” June]. @kgrovetx Country Living I was born in Perryton and lived there till we moved away when I was 9 [“My Hometown: Perryton,” June]. I remember huge snowdrifts. It was a great place to be a kid back in the ’40s and ’50s. Sue McGregor,…

Driving down highways dotted with signs declaring peculiar town names conjures the thought: “What’s the story behind that?” With more than 1,200 incorporated municipalities and over 2,400 unincorporated communities, Texas boasts a fair number of towns with head-scratching names. “Place names don’t just happen,” Edward and Jean Callary wrote in the 2020 book Texas Place Names. “They have a reason and a purpose.” The names of most Texas towns are derived from local legends or specific people and cultures. For example, the ghost town of Bankersmith at the Gillespie-Kendall county border is named for Temple Doswell Smith, who established the First Bank of Fredericksburg in 1887 and was known as “Banker Smith.” In Marfa’s case, the name was inspired by a character in a novel: Marfa Strogoff in Jules Verne’s 1876…

Granbury is a perennial favorite among Dallas-Fort Worth weekend wanderers thanks to local efforts that began in the 1970s to revitalize the Hood County Courthouse square. Located less than an hour’s drive southwest of Fort Worth, Granbury initially attracted visitors with antiques shops and tea rooms that brought new life to the town’s charming limestone buildings. Today, however, the quaint vibe has given way to a modern feel enlivened by wine tasting rooms, boutique inns, and live music venues. A short walk from the tree-lined shores of Lake Granbury, the downtown’s lovingly restored buildings house a variety of diversions for a small town retreat. Sidewalks tend to get busy on weekends, while weekdays prove pleasantly lazy. Any day of the week, Lake Granbury draws water enthusiasts to enjoy jet ski,…

Sporting a cowboy hat, creased blue jeans, a shiny belt buckle, and a confident strut, comedian William Lee Martin is a presence. He commands the stage, telling stories like a goofy friend who just wants to make you laugh after a long day. Growing up in Blue Mound, Martin started writing at age 5—not jokes, but songs and stories. After attending the University of Texas at Arlington, he drew upon his knack for storytelling in an advertising career. But the nascent comedian felt unfulfilled. Following his grandmother’s advice, he tried comedy, starting under the name “Cowboy Bill” Martin in 1996. He was headlining shows within three years, and by the mid-2000s, he’d opened shows for country singers Loretta Lynn and George Strait. Martin refined his act on cruise ships, selffinanced…