Columbus
TexasHighways
The Daytripper Gets Rejuvenated in Mineral Wells
The year 1880 was a momentous one for the town of Mineral Wells. It had been settled only three years prior, and early residents were already fed up with hauling water from the Brazos River 4 miles away. That’s when a well driller discovered an aquifer full of mineral-rich water underlying this sloping, timbered landscape. The rest is history. By the 1920s, the town was famous for its rejuvenating bathhouses and bottled mineral water, drawing celebrities such as Judy Garland and Clark Gable, along with the outlaws Bonnie and Clyde. Located an hour west of Fort Worth, the rural town’s economy is still underpinned by its rich natural resources. Soon Mineral Wells will have even more visitors; it’s only 30 minutes from the entrance to Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, which is set to open this year.
Texas Sheepdog Trials Are the Ruff-est Sport You’ve Never Heard Of
Donna Rock’s eyes follow the three Dorper sheep as they make a tight curve at the base of a mesquite tree 300 yards in the distance. They turn in unison to the south, their hooves cleaving the clover and bunchgrass that mottle the pebbly frozen soil. A triangular metal whistle pursed between Rock’s lips blows shrill notes downrange; a 5-year-old border collie named Emily comes into view, a speeding black speck on the horizon, flanking the flock on the left. The dog hears Rock’s whistle—from 250 yards away now, and in the face of a gale-force wind from the north—and expertly interprets the instructions to keep the sheep moving.
Who Needs Venice When There Are Gondolas in Irving?
Gliding across Lake Carolyn in Irving, I sip a flute of sparkling cider while watching suburbia unfold around me. Runners whiz by, apartment dwellers lounge on balconies, a man and his Great Pyrenees stroll along the sidewalk—the dog curiously staring at me. There’s even another man with his phone out, taking photos of me as I float by, making sure to walk across a small bridge to get a shot as I make my way underneath. Normally I’d be alarmed at the staring but seeing as I’m in an authentic Venetian gondola complete with a singing gondolier in the middle of a Dallas-Fort Worth urban lake, I get it.
Shorty’s in Port Aransas Is a Blast From the Past
Musician Jim Dugan grabs a Seagull acoustic guitar from his Ford F-250 diesel pickup in the gravel parking lot at Shorty’s Place, ready to play his standing Sunday gig at the new location of the wood-frame bar that has been a local institution in Port Aransas for almost eight decades. He chats with loyalists who gather on its deck, shielded from the bright afternoon sun by a mesh awning. They sip cheap bottles of Lone Star or partake of the bar’s signature “Golf Shot”—an invigorating concoction of whiskey, coconut rum, banana liqueur, and Red Bull. Without a formal introduction, Dugan launches into “Bloody Mary Morning,” substituting “Port Aransas” for “Houston” in the lyrics of the Willie Nelson standard, bringing chuckles and applause from the flip-flop-clad crowd.
The Top 50 Recordings in Texas History
And he specifies that his list is greatest recordings, not songs. That means influential melodies like “The Entertainer” by Texarkana’s Scott Joplin doesn’t make the list. Sure, that song created a ragtime revival in the 1970s as the theme of The Sting, but Joplin passed away in 1917 before ever recording it.
Brighten Up Your Road Trips with the 2024 Wildflower Forecast
Last summer, months of brutal temperatures and drought parched Texas, baking the landscape into a crisp dead brown. But as spring dawns across the Lone Star State, those fields are once again blooming with wildflowers. The explosion of color along highways and pastures is due to the rains that arrived...
Capturing the Spirit of Townes Van Zandt in Fort Worth
It’s a blustery, dark, cold January day at an old cemetery in Dido. Were it not for the two Texas Historical Commission markers and the signage for the United Methodist Church, this ghost town 40 minutes northwest of downtown Fort Worth on the shores of Eagle Mountain Lake would be all but imperceptible to passersby. The cemetery occupies a couple of acres, its lake view now obscured by a golf course. In front of the cemetery, a sign reads: No Benches, Smoking, Alcohol, Glass Containers, Trees, Plants, Items on Grass.
Eating With My Ghosts
A Whataburger regular finds comfort in combo meals. No. 11 Combo: Grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato, no mayo, no Whatasauce. Diet Coke. I may be slowly going pescatarian—bacon and chorizo don’t count in my mind—but you will have to pry my favorite Whataburger order out of my cold, dead hands. No place else has anything like it, especially not a fast-food chain with a drive-thru that’s reliably open 24 hours a day. The chicken breast is tender, juicy, marinated, grilled. The veggies are crisp and fresh. It’s served on a toasted wheat bun. I’m not a fan of most condiments, and this sandwich doesn’t need them.
A Texas Bouquet
This article is from the Texas Highways archive. It first appeared in the June 1974 issue. As part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we’re revisiting early stories from the magazine. Mother Nature was no fool when she signed on the Texas Highway Department 40 years ago to help cultivate...
Mastering the Fort Worth Burgers Trail
As you might’ve guessed from its nickname, beef is a big part of Cowtown’s identity. From the post-Civil War stockyard days all the way to the annual Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival—which has a full day is dedicated to burgers (Burgers, Blues and Brews) —the folks of Fort Worth are fanatical about their bovine. I got a firsthand taste of this back in 2022 when I was invited to judge the first annual Cowtown Burger Showdown at the River Ranch Stockyards, where 100 chefs vied for the title of North Texas’ best burger purveyor. That brief glimpse was enough to incite some overdue revisits. Today, I can confidently say that Fort Worth is the biggest sleeper burger destination in all of Texas. Here, just a sampling of sizzling standouts to get you started.
Editor’s Note: The Primrose Path
The first bluebonnet and second wildflower cover of Texas Highways, shot by Jack Lewis, featured a hillside in Central Texas. The photo credit acknowledged “the bluebonnets have given in to the summer heat, but the tranquilizing appeal of this scene is timeless.” The cover story detailed summer blooms that could still be found across the state, including sunflowers, horsemint, and red yuccas.
Good Line Beer Co. Dazzles on the Dust Coast
Beyond West Texas’ ranch-style manors and Seventh Day Adventist churches, past the Caprock’s monolithic, ever-revolving windmills, and across the cosmic plains of lotebush and shin oak, there is a destination: the Texas Dust Coast. Lubbock. Hub City. A place as dry as Spoon frontman Britt Daniel’s vocals.
Longtime North Texas Chain El Chico Serves Warm Memories
It’s now accepted wisdom within the state: The words “hot plate!” roared by a server is something of a culinary covenant guaranteeing Tex-Mex transcendence. As soon as that steaming dish hits the table, you just know it’s going to be good. El Chico. 503 I-30, Rockwall.
TexasHighways
1K+
Posts
4M+
Views
Texas Highways is the Official Travel Magazine of Texas, and your ultimate guide for exploring the Lone Star State's people, places, & wide-open spaces.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.