the Waco Kid?
I have to admit it – the main reason I put Waco on my “tour de Texas” was because of one of my favorite movies, Blazing Saddles.
I got a great campsite at Midway Park overlooking Lake Waco. Midway Park is a Corps of Engineers facility. It was scenic and well-maintained.
This was the view from my campsite the day I arrived.
That night, I did some research on what I wanted to see and do while I was in Waco. Unfortunately, two of the items on my list were closed on the day I hoped to visit. So, my first stop was to the tourism office, which was right next to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. When I finished at the tourism office, I headed right over there.
One of my reasons for wanting to go to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum was to learn about them. In retrospect, I think that wasn’t a great idea. It would be kind of like going to Pro Football Hall of Fame to learn the rules of football.
The receptionist sold me my ticket and told me that the movie about the Rangers was just starting. The movie was produced by the History Channel, and so it had some good production values. But, it seemed like their mission was to report on all the Texas Ranger events that had tarnished their reputation.
I left the movie hoping that I never meet a Texas Ranger.
Then, looking around the museum, it seemed like it was guns…
guns,
and more guns.
I guess it’s going to take more than a driver’s license to make me a real Texan.
There were some nice bronzes in the museum.
And some wooden horses for the kids to sit on.
There was also a gift shop.
There were genuine leather goods handmade in the Texas Prison System.
And toys for boys and girls.
George Erath was an immigrant from Austria. In addition to being a solider, he was also a surveyor and drew up the original street grids for Waco and other towns in Texas.
My next stop was one that I had been looking forward to: Magnolia Market at the Silos! It is a store run by some wonderful HGTV personalities, Chip and Joanna Gaines.
I really enjoyed their show, called “Fixer Upper” back when I had cable. Unfortunately, since I don’t have cable in my life on the road, I haven’t seen it recently. If you haven’t seen it and you have cable, look it up.
And, no, I didn’t see them while I was there.
There were lots of people at the market, though. In fact, there were so many people there that it made the news that night.
Now, this will post more than a month after the fact, but the day I visited was Presidents’ Day. I spoke to some shoppers while I was in the bathroom line that had driven up from San Antonio for the day. Another way to tell I’m not a real Texan. I wouldn’t drive three hours one way to go shopping.
I took a photo of some other visitors and they took one of me. You have to have a photo, or how do you know it really happened?
I loved the merchandise for sale. What a gracious store! It was so crowded that I really don’t have pictures of the beautiful things for sale, but you can find them online, if you care to look.
I did manage to grab a shot of some vintage metal letters left over from old neon lights.
I mentioned the gracious touches. Well, in the rest room they have a candle burning and supplies you would want if you needed to change your baby’s diaper.
Not only do they have a changing table but the actually supply liners for the table and a can to dispose of the diapers – and signs to help you with knowing where things are.
Outside the store, there is a large play area.
Not only is there an area to play, but they supply balls, hula hoops and corn hole games.
A lot of the toys were in use, so the bins were mostly empty. It goes to show you that the store was really busy!
Ringing the play area are food trucks.
There were some interesting offerings.
They have also provided an area to sit and enjoy the food from the food trucks.
They have renovated an entire block and they have more projects coming. There were workers there putting in footings for something in front of the silos, and a small brick building says “Coming in 2016”.
I’d love to return to see what they are working on!
My next stop was the Waco Suspension Bridge. My HISTORY Here app plotted me a route right to it.
Imagine my surprise when I found a herd of Texas Longhorns there.
Okay, bronze longhorns, but something like twenty-five of them along with three cowboys on horses. What an enormous sculpture grouping – and it wasn’t mentioned in any of the sources I checked. Waco ought to promote it! I would have made a point of seeing it.
But, back to the bridge.
It was completed in 1870 and at the time it opened it was the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi. It was a crossing on the Chisholm Trail, which moved cattle from Texas to Kansas. Imagine that! Cattle used to cross the Brazos on this bridge. This bridge and the railroad, which arrived shortly thereafter, made Waco a commercial hub of the region.
The cables were supplied by the John Roebling Company, the builders of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge didn’t open until 1883, although construction started in 1870. Maybe it is better said that the Brooklyn Bridge builders used the company that built the Waco Suspension Bridge.
These days, this bridge is purely for pedestrians. Standing on this bridge, I think I could count seven bridges spanning the Brazos. Transportation is no longer at the premium it was when the cattle drives took place.
The river is a great source of recreation. In addition to the river walk and the statues, there is boating.
And fishing
I thought I might find padlocks on the bridge, like I’ve found on other bridges, but there weren’t any. I did find fishing bobbers hanging on cables, though.
Not nearly as romantic.
The statues were really impressive.
They were larger than life-size.
Texans take their Confederate history seriously.
You can see CSA on the pouch of this cowboy.
You can see how much larger than life-sized these sculptures are!
All the cattle are branded with Waco’s city logo.
My next stop was lunch, and it was a recommendation given me by the lady in the tourist information office. I went to The Homestead at Brazos de Dios just outside Waco.
Homestead Heritage is an agrarian- and craft-based intentional Christian community. Its literature stresses simplicity, sustainability, self-sufficiency, cooperation, service and quality craftsmanship. My first stop was the Cafe.
I was taken by the chalk drawing inside the restaurant. They had many interesting items on the menu, but I opted for something I hadn’t had in a while: falafel.
After lunch, I set out to visit the various buildings where they were practicing their crafts. The buildings were old buildings from around the country that had been dismantled and reassembled in the community.
There was a woman inside working on finishing baskets. She also told me of the classes they offer.
My next stop was the fiber house.
They were teaching weaving. They also have spinning classes. And they sell what they produce.
The Gristmill came from New Jersey, and it is still in operation.
They depend on an artificial source of water to power the mill, though. This appeared to be a recirculating fountain. After the water went down the sluiceway and turned the waterwheel, it was pumped back up to make the trip again.
My next stop was the potter’s house.
I had never seen a standing wheel before!
With their concentration on traditional methods, I was surprised that there were only electric wheels. I would have thought that they would have kick wheels.
They had an inviting display of their wares. I was taken with the pieces that look like baskets made of clay.
And what would an old-time place be without a blacksmith shop?
They were between projects, but very friendly.
And then there was the Gift Barn – just in case you missed an opportunity to purchase things earlier. They also had furniture, quilts and other things.
After enjoying all that Brazos de Dios had to offer, I headed back to Midway Park.
I got there in time for another glorious sunset. The next day, on to Austin!