Description From The Publisher

Texans are passionate about this signature sandwich, and photographer/writer Rick Vanderpool has become, in his own right, the Hambassador of Texas. In 2006, Rick undertook a quest to find and photograph the best Texas burgers, traveling over eleven thousand miles and visiting over seven hundred Texas burger joints. Since that time, he has continued his travels, sampling the finest the Lone Star State has to offer. He’s also picked up some fellow enthusiasts willing to share their own tasty tales along the way. From Fletcher Davis’s 1885 Athens creation (recipe included) and the Cheeseburger Capital of Texas in Friona to Whataburger #2 in Corpus Christi and Herd’s in Jacksboro, join Rick and his “Hamburger Helpers” on their journey celebrating the history of the original Texas hamburger.

More Info

The book starts out by painting a picture of the origins of the hamburger in Texas. There are several chapters dedicated to hamburger history. Rick’s research was quite broad going way beyond historical facts. Part of the brilliance of the book is that it contains so many stories, descriptions, and recommendations from people located all across the state of Texas. How else can one person write a book about Texas hamburgers? I learned this years ago: when traveling the best advice for places to eat usually comes from the locals.  Rick incorporated plenty of advice from many friends and acquaintances to write a book full of information on burger joints from across the state of Texas. This book is fun, informative and a valuable resource.

Texas hamburger joint enthusiasts will want to read “The Texas Hamburger: History of a Lone Star Icon”. This text could end up being a classic resource book for Texas road trip travelers. I guess it’s my practical side that makes me see things this way–beyond the art and prose of the author, this book is a road trip journal and potential resource for any of you charting the less-traveled byways and destinations.

Check out the Facebook page and you can buy a signed copy of the book here. 

Note: Image of cover art provided by and Copyright (c) Rick Vanderpool.

Cleburne State Park, Cleburne Texas

I visited Cleburne State Park this past weekend, Saturday, April 24, 2010. The wildflower display was great! Really, just about the best I’ve seen in years. In the fields, along the trails, especially the Spillway Trail.

Right now seems to be the time to go see wildflowers in North Texas. I guess you never know when the peek is for wildflowers until it’s passed, but my guess is it’s right now. If I was going to guess a little more, I’d guess the other area state parks, Mineral Wells, Meridian, and Ceder Hill State Parks are also looking wonderful, as are the roadsides along the way.

Here’s a link to a news release about Major Construction, Restoring and Improving Cleburne State Park. This article contains a link to a more extensive list of renovations under way and scheduled to begin in the near future.  Oh, I forgot another local park, Lake Whitney State Park.

So, that’s about it. Click on these images for a slide show view of all three images.

Spillway Trail at Cleburne State Park

Cleburne State Park, Cleburne Texas

Chase A. Fountain, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Texas Parks and Wildlife is forecasting a good year for wildflowers! After several below average seasons, the odds are good for a great showing this year.

This from their 3/23/10 News Release titled: Wildflowers Starting to Pop Up Across Texas

AUSTIN — Someone forgot to give Texas wildflowers a wake up call, but they are slowly rising from their winter slumber and promise a dazzling display in coming weeks.

In most parts of the state, a colder-than-average winter has gotten the wildflower season off to a slow start, but Texas Parks and Wildlife Department botanists predict a great year after the last several lackluster, drought-impacted years.

Chase A. Fountain, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

“It should be a really good year from what I’ve seen in the field due to all the rain, but some recent cold, cloudy weather might delay spring flowering a week or two,” says TPWD botanist Jackie Poole. “Look for good displays at places like Enchanted Rock, Inks Lake and Palmetto state parks where sandy soils contribute to a good mix of species. LBJ should have several fields filled with bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush soon.”

Recent reports from other TPWD botanists traveling highways such as U.S. 183 and Texas Highway 84 in warmer South Texas climes around Gonzales and Victoria indicated strong showings of bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, tickseed, Drummond phlox, toad flax and baby blue eyes.

In parts of central and northeast Texas, Texans are already being treated to the colorful blooms of such flowering trees as redbuds, peach, pear and Mexican plum. Judging from the profusion of pink blooms on peach trees recently spied around Fredericksburg and Stonewall, barring late spring freeze like the one that occurred last year, peach lovers are in for a stellar season.

Some Wildflower Related Links

Brenham Texas Wildflower Watch

TxDOT Wildflower Reports

And, Don’t Forget

Chandor Gardens Spring Fling Weekend 2010 - Saturday, April 3rd 9:00am-6:00pm and Sunday, April 4th 1:00pm-4:00pm.

Chandor Gardens welcomes the 2010 season on April 3 & 4 with the annual Spring Fling Weekend. Admission for April 3rd is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for ages 6-18 and 5 and under get in free, these prices include all of Saturday’s scheduled activities. On April 4th we roll back admission prices to just $1.00 per person, the original amount it would of cost to tour the gardens more than 3o years ago.  Read all about this event on their web site.

The other item of interest that arrived in the mail box recently was for the “How-to” Camping Program Coming to North Texas State Parks This Spring. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) is setting up how-to workshops for people wanting to learn to camp without the initial investment in equipment. For $55 per family of up to six you get outfitted and guided for the weekend. Scheduled parks are:  Ray Roberts Lake near Pilot Point, Dinosaur Valley in Glen Rose, Lake Mineral Wells, Lake Tawakoni near Wills Point, and Cedar Hill near Dallas. These are all state parks, by the way.  This program has its own web page, the Texas Outdoor Family page at TPWD, with event calendar and more information.

A recent state park study revealed that only one third of visitors bring children along on their state park visits. The Texas Outdoor Family program and several other initiatives at TPWD are efforts to get children involved with the outdoors. Kids that grow up in urban areas have fewer opportunities to be involved with nature and the outdoors. This program has dates in North Texas from late March through May 2010. This is an opportunity to get the family outdoors for a weekend of exploration and discovery for $55 plus the cost of food and transportation. Not for everyone, but interesting to some I imagine.

Looking for something different to do with family and friends this holiday season? Consider a road trip to discover the beauty and solitude of Big Bend Ranch State Park. Or, you can opt for the creature comforts of home with a stay at one of three featured state parks with cabins, or a yurt at Abilene State Park. Holiday events are offered at many state parks including Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site. Pull out your planning calendar and get ready for this holiday issue of the State Parks Getaways E-Newsletter!

Some of this I knew about, some I didn’t. For example, I’ve known about the three cabins on the rim at Palo Duro Canyon State Park for some time, but it was the first I’d heard of the annual tree lighting at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historical Site.

This got me to thinking about annual holiday events close to Dallas and Fort Worth. It’s nice to get away for a day to have some fun and relax. Many communities in this part of Texas have annual festivities to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season. Sometimes the celebration is centered around the history or cultural heritage of the community, and you have an opportunity to learn something while also having fun.

What follows in a list of several locations and events I’m aware of. Some of them I’ve attended in the past, others are future projects. Presented in no particular order. If you have a favorite holiday road trip destination near the DFW area, please share it with us by posting a comment. Thank you, and have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

Granbury Texas is a popular destination in this area. This time of the year, the historic town square is beautifully decorated.  Granbury has an annual Candlelight Tour of Homes. They have historic homes, decorated for the holiday season, that open their doors to the public for the Candlelight Tour, and they also offer entertainment and re-enactments on-site. The homes on the tour change each year, but expect to see the inside of a few grand historic homes and possibly the courthouse and other historic properties around town. Combine this with live entertainment and great dining options and your bound to find something you like.

Denton Texas has the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival on the Thursday following Thanksgiving.  From the event web site:

Come capture the true spirit of a small-town holiday celebration! The 21st Annual Holiday Lighting Festival on Denton’s downtown square kicks off with a sing-along and the lighting of the community Christmas tree. Twinkling lights, choirs, bell-ringers, dancers and the aroma of spicy hot cider will transport the child in you to memories of Christmas past. Take a spin in a horse-drawn wagon, have your child’s photo taken with Santa, or participate in interactive arts and crafts activities that will forge memories for the entire family. Vote for your favorite cider as downtown businesses compete in the annual Wassail Fest.

I’m sure this event, dating back to 1988, is grand fun. It’s always in the middle of the week though. The historic town square and the courthouse are finely decorated, and there’s plenty of holiday cheer on other days of the week for those of us who can’t make it on Thursday. I’ve talked about the Courthouse-On-The-Square Museum and the Historical Park of Denton County elsewhere on this site. The decorations are great. Try to include some time after dark in your trip plan.

Clifton Texas, the Norwegian Capital of Texas has the Norwegian Country Christmas, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the first Friday in December, and the annual Norwegian County Christmas Tour on the first Saturday in December from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Norwegian culture and local history on display.

From the Clifton Chamber of Commerce web site:

Heritage Village at The Armory in Clifton City Park will offer a number of artisan demonstrators, arts and crafts, as well as Norwegian and German homemade sweets, treats, and German sausage. The Bosque Memorial Museum’s exquisite collection is highlighted by special displays and the nationally acclaimed “Horn Shelter” display. The annual Gallery of Trees will be set up at the Bosque Conservatory featuring an array holiday trees and decorations, and a wide variety of other displays.

A stop on the tour will be at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at Norse. Local story tellers at the church will answer visitor’s questions about the early history of the Norwegian settlement in Bosque County. The next stop on the tour is at the Old Rock Church outside Cranfills Gap where various entertainers will be performing throughout the day. The early history of the settlers can be seen in the regal church sitting on the hill with no modern luxuries such as electricity or air conditioning. Heating of the church is still done with the large wood stove that stands in the corner of the church.

Texas artist, George Boutwell, has a studio in Clifton Texas.

Sundance Square in Downtown Fort Worth has plenty going on this time of the year. Annual events, live music, theater — plenty of entertainment options. The Christmas tree is huge, holiday decorations splendid, street scene festive. This historic district in Downtown Fort Worth has plenty of old architecture and an amazing range of shopping and entertainment options. Maybe dinner and a romantic carriage ride through the holiday-decorated streets of Sundance Square is your idea of a good time.

Tell me about your favorite holiday road trip.

Sam

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Hancock Park’s Pool is different. It is a bit of Lampasas history, constructed in the very early 1900′s, and a summertime recreation spot for every kid that grew up here since that time. It’s importance is also enhanced by the fact that it is one of very few free-flow pools in the state, possibly the oldest pool. It is fed by a large spring and, although it is occasionally plagued with inherent problems that come with that territory, such as low flow and occasional turbidity, it is very special. Special enough that, as Lampasas tries to discover what reasons make it special enough to warrant tourism, the old pool seems to stand out as one of the best.

This and an email I received from the Texas Parks and Wildlife folks got me to thinking, people are looking for a good road trip destination that includes a swimming hole. It’s hot, it’s getting closer to the end of summer. I’m thinking myself, I want to go have a good swim in a classic Texas swimming hole.

I’ve already made my mind up about where I’m going. I thought it might be nice to link to some good sources of information for those who are still trying to decide. That set of links follows.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department just published, on their web site, a list of the 10 best swimming holes in state parks. Now, limiting the list to just state parks stifles the choices a little, but as you look the list over you may recognize some of the best swimming destination in the state.  Some of them aren’t that far away from DFW, like for instance Tyler State Park and Possum Kingdom State Park. Their list also includes some real classic Hill Country river swimming destinations.

The Texas Highways’ web site has a real classic list of road trip swimming holes in the state. This list was originally published in 1998. I remember I had the magazine, and when I finally threw it away I tore the pages out that had the swimming holes article and kept if for another five years. Realize this list is a little outdated and you may want to verify destination information before packing up the car and taking off. Thing is, most of these places are rivers or pools filled by springs. I’m pretty sure the Frio River hasn’t declared bankruptcy in the Great Recession of 2009, and you can bet Krause Springs isn’t operating under Chapter 11 protection either.

Texas Escapes has excerpts from Chandra Moira Beal’s 1999 book, Splash Across Texas. The focus is on Central Texas and the Hill Country. A little hard to navigate since the book excerpts are woven into the content of their site. Still worth a look and they have some options for those looking for a more obscure swimming hole. Again, check the current information to be sure the spot is still good.

That’s my list of swimming hole resources. Hope someone finds it useful. Please consider enjoying your late summer swimming road trip in a pool that’s been popular for generations with folks here in Texas.

Sam

Ellis County Courthouse

Texas has a grand variety of historic county courthouses. Many of these historic county courthouses exist today, in part, because of an act passed in 1881 by the Texas legislature authorizing counties to sell bonds to finance the construction of new courthouses. This change of state law combined with the prosperity that followed the Civil War and Reconstruction eras gave birth to what is commonly called the “Golden Era” of courthouse building in Texas.

In the years between 1880 and 1900 many Texas counties built imposing new county courthouses. Typically these buildings sat at the center of the town square and were symbolic of the soundness of the town and local government. These courthouses were built in strongly expressive architectural styles. French Second Empire and Romanesque Revival architectural styles were most prevalent during this era. Both of these forms express old world grandness and permanence through form. Without a doubt, permanence was just what the average citizen longed for after the uncertain decades of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Texas county courthouses were added to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered Properties list in 1998. Texas responded by creating the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program in June of 1999. In the decade that followed many old county courthouses have been preserved, restored, and modernized thanks in large part to several rounds of funding provided for by the Texas Legislature.

Today, North Central Texas has more than its share of golden era courthouses. These buildings are both pleasing to see and interesting historically. Over several years I have visited many of these grand old public buildings. I’m sharing here my understanding of these persevering Texas landmarks.  If you find my coverage of this subject less than complete, I encourage you to look beyond my work. There’s a wealth of information available to those interested in the history of Texas county courthouses. Most of all, these wonderful old structures are all here today — available to drive by and see at your leisure, just as they have been for over 100 years.

More information on Historic County Courthouse.