Glen Rose's Dinosaur World Adds New Exhibits
We still haven't made it up to Glen Rose to see Dinosaur World but it has been on our travel wish list since it opened this spring. Now we've got some more good reasons to visit: the Texas location of Dinosaur World (there's also one in Kentucky and one in Florida) has added two new life-sized replica skeletons in its indoor museum. Now you can check out a Triceratops and a Stegosaurus skeleton replica on your next visit.
Location: 1058 Park Road 59
Glen Rose, Texas
Phone: 254-898-1526
For More Information: • visit
www.dinoworld.netLabels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 4:36 PM
Messina Hof Plans 31st Annual Harvest Celebration
It's almost time for the
31st annual Harvest Celebration at Messina Hof in Bryan. Get ready to stomp some grapes!
This year's harvest events are:
Moonlit HarvestFriday, July 18, 2008
Here's your chance to pick and stomp grapes, get a souvenir t-shirt to imprint with your purple feet, and enjoy a Vineyard Cuisine dinner at The Vintage House. Price: $69.95 plus tax and gratuity.
Harvest DaytimeSaturday, July 19, 2008 – Sunday, August 17, 2008 (Saturday and Sunday only)
You'll have your choice of four options at different prices:
Option 1: All day activities: including picking, stomping, t-shirt, lunch, food and wine pairing seminar
8 a.m.
Price - $69.95 plus tax and gratuity on Saturdays
$59.95 plus tax and gratuity on Sundays
Option 2: Picking, stomping plus t-shirt
8 a.m.
Price - $39.95 plus tax and gratuity
Option 3: Picking, stomping and lunch
8 a.m.
Price - $39.95 plus tax and gratuity
Option 4: Food and wine pairing seminar
1:30pm
Price - $19.95 plus tax and gratuity
Murder Mystery DinnersSaturday, July 19, 2008 – Saturday, August 15, 2008
All Murder Mystery Dinners begin at 6:30 PM and cost $69.95 plus tax and gratuity.
Mystery Dinner themes:July 19 - “Pirate Murder Mystery”
July 26 – “Celebrity Celebrations”
August 2 – “Storm Survivors”
August 9 – “Case of the Missing Matchmaker”
August 15 – “Murder on the Mound”
Harvest Vintner’s DinnersFriday, July 25, 2008 – Saturday, August 16, 2008
All Vintners’ Dinners begin at 6:30 PM. Cost of the dinners range from $69.95 to $125 plus tax and gratuity.
Harvest Vintner’s Dinners:
July 25 – French Chateau Wines
August 1 – Beringer Wines
August 8 – Terlato Wines
August 16 – Grand Finale – Italian Wines
For more information or to register:• call (800) 736-9463 ext. 34.
To reserve a Harvest Festival package:• visit
http://www.messinahof.com/docs/MH_%20Harvest_Reg_Form_08.pdfFor information or reservations for the Villa Bed & Breakfast at Messina Hof:• call (800) 736-9463 ext. 22
Labels: Festivals, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 4:13 PM
Willie's Place Set to Open This Week
The long-awaited opening of Willie's Place (as in Willie Nelson) will take place later this week in the town of Carl's Corner near Hillsboro. You might be familiar with this facility; it operated for many years as a truck stop named Carl's Corner on the southbound side of I-35. After an extensive renovation and expansion, it is now reopening as Willie's Place at Carl's Corner. It's appropriate that the reopening take place on the July 4 weekend because in its Carl's Corner days, this was the setting for several of Willie Nelson's famous picnics.
The events kicked off on June 30 with a sold out private benefit but the coming days bring several public events. On July 1 and 2, the facility's Whiskey River Saloon will be host to David Allan Coe & Ray Wylie Hubbard from 8pm to midnight.
On July 3 in the Willie's Place Theater, the day will be filled with free music. Here's the schedule at present:
10am Mike Siler
1pm Heather Myles
6pm Merle Haggard
8pm Ray Price
10pm Willie Nelson
Along with three stages, Willie's Place has a restaurant, gift shop and general store, facilities for truckers, and Willie's biodiesel fuel.
For More Information:• visit
http://www.biowillieusa.comLabels: Festivals, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 9:37 PM
Arlington Promotes Staycation
Arlington has long been a top summer vacation destination thanks to Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, the Rangers Ballpark at Arlington, and lots more, but this year the city is promoting another good reason to vacation in the Metroplex: the "Staycation." With the price of gas and food on the upswing, vacation budgets are being pinched...but can still go a long way when you vacation close to home.
The Package: The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau has come up with the Staycation Central Package. The Staycation Central package allows guests to choose their dates and from a myriad of hotel options, ranging from budget to full-service.
The package comes with coupons, a free visitors guide, a map and more information about Arlington and its incredible vacation values. The only way to buy a three-day Six Flags Over Texas park pass, which is interchangeable between Six Flags and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is with a package on http://www.arlington.org.
Price: Vacation packages start at only $59 a night, quad occupancy, two-night minimum stay, based on availability.
For more information:• call (817) 265-7721 or (800) 433-5374
To book a vacation directly:• call 1-866-656-FUNN
• visit
www.arlington.org/staycationLabels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 9:12 AM
51108: Frisco Heritage Museum Opens
The newest museum in Texas has opened its doors; the Frisco Heritage Museum showcases the history of Frisco in a two-story, 18,000 square foot complex.
Dedicated to highlighting the City’s history, the two-phase $5.5 million project is the focal point of Frisco Junction. The interactive museum featuring hands-on exhibits will allow visitors to understand how the early citizens of Frisco lived, worked, and played.
A living village has been recreated with replicas of the Lebanon Baptist Church, a one-room school house, a log cabin, the Smith Muse house, and the Frisco Train Depot.
Frisco CVB Executive Director Marla Roe says, “The Heritage Museum enhances our other cultural offerings, such as the Texas Sculpture Garden, and is the first of several museums under development that will fill Frisco Junction.” Plans call for an expanded 12-acre Museum of the American Railroad to move to Frisco within the next year.
For more information:• visit
www.friscomuseum.comFor More About Frisco:• visit
www.visitfrisco.com• call 877-GO-FRISCO
Labels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 4:42 PM
Crawford Prepares for Worldwide Attention
With a population of under 800, tiny Crawford is preparing for worldwide attention this weekend thanks to the wedding of President Bush's daughter, Jenna. The wedding will be a private one held on the Bush ranch but businesses in town are preparing for numerous visitors, fielding calls for availability in area B&Bs, and stocking store shelves with wedding memorabilia. This video covers the many efforts underway in town this week:
Labels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 1:15 PM
World Turns Its Attention to Crawford for Wedding
This Saturday, the attention of the world will turn to tiny Crawford, Texas as President Bush's daughter Jenna takes her vows at the Prairie Chapel Ranch just outside of town. See our
Crawford section for information on the small town.
Video: Jenna tells the Today Show why she selected Crawford as her wedding location:
Labels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 10:28 AM
POTD: Pompeo Coppini Statue in Gonzales
This statue which commemorates the first shot fired in the fight for Texas independence stands in Gonzales, Texas. The 1910 work was sculpted by Pompeo Coppini, the Italian-born and Florence-trained sculptor who later came to Texas and today is buried in San Antonio.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 4:45 PM
3112008: Messina Hof Plans Annual Harvest Celebration
Bryan's Messina Hof is celebrating its 31st anniversary annual Harvest this summer. The event will take place from July 18 to August 17, 2008 and includes a full schedule of activities, from hand-picking grapes to vintner's dinners.
Events: Moonlit Harvest Friday, July 18, 2008
This second annual Moonlit Harvest will kick off the first harvesting of the grapes as guests pick grapes from the vineyards, then stomp them at sunset on Friday, July 18, 2008. Guests also receive a Messina Hof Harvest souvenir t-shirt to imprint with their purple feet after stomping. After the grapes have been crushed, visitors enjoy a multiple-course special dinner at The Vintage House Restaurant
Harvest
Saturday, July 19, 2008 – Sunday, August 17, 2008 (Saturday and Sunday only)
Murder Mystery Dinners
Saturday, July 21, 2008 – Saturday, August 18, 2008. (All Murder Mystery Dinners begin at 6:30 PM) Mystery Dinner themes are as follows:
July 19 - “Pirate Murder Mystery”
July 26 – “Celebrity Celebrations”
August 2 – “Storm Survivors”
August 9 – “Case of the Missing Matchmaker”
August 15 – “Murder on the Mound”
Harvest Vintner’s Dinners
Friday, July 25, 2008 – Saturday, August 16, 2008. (All Vintner’s Dinners begin at 6:30 PM). Harvest Vintner’s Dinners are as follows:
July 25
August 1
August 8
August 16 – Grand Finale
Location: Messina Hof Winery is located at 4545 Old Reliance Road, Bryan.
For more information:• call (800) 778-9463 ext. 34.
Labels: Festivals, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 3:39 PM
392008: Bush Library Plans Easter Egg Hunt
You may not be in Washington, DC for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll but you can take part in a presidential Easter egg hunt thanks to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. On Saturday, March 15, the library will host an Easter egg hunt for ages 7 and under. The fun starts at 9:30am with the egg hunt starting promptly at 10am at the library (and it will take place rain or shine).
The event will include plenty of family fun including face painting, storytelling, an egg roll, egg toss, and even photos with the Easter Bunny. You'll find parking at Research Park and can access the museum via Research Drive, Discovery Drive or John Kimbrough Boulevard. There's also a drawing for prizes; entry forms can be found on
the library website.
Labels: Festivals, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 9:01 AM
POTD: Hare, Texas
You may not be familiar with the community of Hare, located about 45 miles northeast of Austin (and east of Taylor). The community, which many say was named for the many cottontails here, only has a population of about a dozen people today but is home to the colorful Pancho and Lefty's Bar, popular for its karaoke and its eight-pound burger challenge (four pounds of which is hamburger meat, the rest is cheese, lettuce, pickles and a jumbo bun.)
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 3:01 PM
POTD: Downtown Smithville
We're not sure if this "ghost" sign in downtown Smithville is genuine or just a relic from a previous movie shoot (the town was the setting for the Sandra Bullock film "Hope Floats" and is currently the setting for a new Brad Pitt movie.)
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 2:30 PM
22908: Brad Pitt Movie to be Filmed in Smithville
Brad Pitt and Sean Penn will be shooting a movie in
Smithville starting in March and already central Texas is buzzing with talk of Angelina and Brad sightings (the latest was in Bastrop). The movie will be titled "Tree of Life" and we haven't heard a lot of details yet but we'll keep you posted.
This isn't the first time Hollywood has come to the small town of Smithville; in the 90s it was the setting for the Sandra Bullock film "Hope Floats."
Labels: Prairies and Lakes, Texas celebrity travel
posted by Paris & John @ 3:06 PM
POTD: Dime Box
Named for the postal box where early residents could drop a letter and a dime for postage, the central Texas town of
Dime Box remembers its heritage with a dime in a box. This recreation of a Liberty dime is located on FM 141.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 3:26 PM
POTD: Hillsboro Visitors Center
In Hillsboro, the MKT Depot (the Katy Depot) now serves as the home of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce and Hillsboro CVB. Stop in for brochures and maps and to look at the collection of railroad memorabilia.
Labels: Photo of the Day, POTD, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 1:49 PM
Grapevine Plans Valentine's Train Excursion
Looking for something unique...and uniquely Texan...to do on Valentine's Day? Check out the Grapevine
Vintage Railroad’s Sweetheart Express. Starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, couples will board the historic train at the Cotton Belt Depot in Grapevine, located at 705 South Main Street.
Even before the trip, the romance is in the air thanks to strolling violinists on the train platform.
The special train excursion also features hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, followed by a romantic dinner and dancing at River Ranch in Fort Worth Stockyards. During the return trip from the Stockyards to Grapevine, passengers will receive special gifts of chocolates and a rose.
When: Feb. 14, 2008, departing at 6 p.m. and returning at 11:45 p.m.
Price: Tickets are $65 per person and $125 per couple and may be purchased in advance online or by phone.
For More Information:• visit
www.gvrr.com• call (817) 410-3123
Labels: Festivals, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 4:24 PM
UFOs Turn Spotlight on Stephenville
Things are usually pretty quiet around Stephenville, a small town about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth, and Dublin, located just a short drive from Stephenville. But these communities have been jumping lately thanks to UFO sightings, the last reported about January 8. It took a few days for the news to catch on but now the word is out and the small towns are overrun with national and international press with coverage ranging from the Larry King Show to the Washington Post.
For more information on the unusual sightings in the night skies over Stephenville and Dublin, check out these articles
Dallas Morning News and
Southwest Texas LIVE!. The latter includes a podcast with the Mutual UFO Network, a group that has come to the area to research the event.
Update: CNN has now posted a
video about the Stephenville and Dublin event with witness photos.
Labels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 9:14 AM
Texas's Newest Resort Opens in Grapevine
Just a little over a week ago, the newest resort in Texas opened its doors in Grapevine. Great Wolf Lodge® sounds like it will be a real family favorite (much like the Great Wolf Lodges already are in Niagara Falls, Williamsburg, the Poconos, Kansas City, and other locations.) We haven't had the chance to visit this new property yet but look forward it. (If you have stayed at this resort, please drop us a line and let us know how you liked it or, better yet, share your experience with everyone by
submitting your travel report to our Roaming Readers section.)
The 402-suite lodge (look for another 203 suites by the end of this year) has lots of the usual resort amenities--spa, themed restaurants, a fitness room--but the real attraction here is its indoor waterpark. Bear Track Landing™ is the name of the 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, kept at a constant 84-degrees year-round. The waterpark is exclusively for guests at the resort so there are no long lines for the seven pools and 11 waterslides, including the enclosed six-story, Howlin’ Tornado™, extreme funnel ride and a 12-level interactive treehouse waterfort. And for summer guests, there's also the 84,000-square-foot Raccoon Lagoon™, featuring two tube slides, a recreation pool, family whirlpool, and patio area with private cabanas.
Grand Opening Rates: Through May 22, the resort will be offering a special grand opening rate; a Family Suite begins at $199 per night, including waterpark passes.
Location: Great Wolf Lodge is located on 52 acres along US Highway 26, seven miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
For more information:• call 1.800.693.WOLF (9653)
• visit
www.greatwolf.comLabels: Austin, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 3:04 PM
POTD: World War I Doughboy, Flatonia
This World War I Doughboy statue stands in Flatonia in front of the American Legion hall. Erected in 1989, the sculpture was the work of local sculptor Gene A. Mikulik, Sr., himself a member of this American Legion post. The doughboy portrayed is Willie J. Migl, US Army, World War I.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 5:15 PM
Messina Hof Planning Bridal Show
Did the holidays bring an engagement to someone in your family or one of your friends? If so, check out the bridal show being planned by Bryan's Messina Hof Winery & Resort, one of the state's top wineries. The winery has 10 different venues for ceremonies, showers, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties and other bridal events; they can host events for up to 300 guests.
The bridal show, which is being held Saturday, January 20, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will have information on everything from decorations to photography and will also include desserts, cheeses, hors d’oeuvres and, of course, plenty of Messina Hof wine tasting.
For more information:• call (800) 736-9463
• visit
www.messinahof.comLabels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 3:42 PM
Valentine's at Messina Hof
Sure we're just packing up the Christmas ornaments and haven't finalized plans for New Year's yet...but it's still not too early to start thinking about Valentine's Day! There's a lot of demand for Valentine's Day activities and accommodations, so we're already getting word of activities around the state.
We just received word about a fun cooking party at Messina Hof Winery & Resort. This is no typical cooking class, though; you'll learn how to create the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner at Messina Hof's Aphrodisiacs Cooking Party. The event takes place February 7 and, in addition to learning to cook a meal that pleasures the taste buds, participants learn the importance of eating at a small table and choosing the right flowers for the tabletop.
Looking for accommodations? The Villa Bed & Breakfast at Messina Hof is offering a Valentine Package complete a choice a Messina Hof vintage wine, Chocolate Tuxedo Strawberries, a dozen roses, a Chocolate Tattoo Body Paint Kit, a rose petal bath and roses spread over the bed. Winery sunset tours are also available upon request.
For more information:• visit
www.messinahof.comLabels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 11:34 AM
New Year's Eve Party Planned for Messina Hof Winery
It' not too early to start thinking about New Year's Even plans; word of a special event at Bryan's Messina Hof Winery & Resort just came into our offices. On December 31, Messina Hof will host a New Year's Celebration. Adorn your favorite pirate costume on New Year’s Eve for a “Pirates of the Caribbean” adventure guaranteed to be a treasure. The event includes a feast fit for the Captain and crew of Messina Hof Winery & Resort; you'll ring in the New Year at their lagoon with music and dancing as well as casino games.
For More Information:• visit
Messina Hof Winery & ResortLabels: holidays, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 6:03 PM
POTD: Palm Shaded Santa in Luling
Luling gets in the holiday spirit with its Texas-sized Santa standing beneath towering palm trees.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 2:29 PM
POTD: Collins Street Bakery, Corsicana
With Christmas just around the corner, things will be cranking into high gear soon over at the Collins Street Bakery in Corsicana. Since 1896 this fruitcake has been a Texas holiday favorite; two Collins Street Bakeries in Corsicana sell the cakes as well as many other baked goods.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 2:10 PM
POTD: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Ammannsville
In the small farming community of Ammannsville, the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is one of the region's famous painted churches. On the exterior, it appears much like many Texas churches of the period. Inside, however, an elaborately painted interior recalls the churches the Czech immigrants left behind in their homeland.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 8:50 PM
Messina Hof Winery Hosting Halloween Dinner
Still looking for something to do for Halloween? Here's a unique event: a Halloween murder mystery dinner at Messina Hof Winery and Resort. “The Disappearance of Death” will include an elegant dinner (and, of course, wine) and an evening of fun.
Menu: The menu will include hocus pocus duck wontons to start, abracadabra asparagus and artichoke salad, Harry Houdini’s hickory grilled beef tenderloin for the main course, and presto pumpkin-vanilla cheesecake for dessert.
Date: Saturday, October 27, 2007
Price: $69.95 per person (plus tax & gratuity)
Location: Messina Hof Winery & Resort
4545 Old Reliance Rd.
Bryan, TX 77808
For more information:• visit
www.MessinaHof.comLabels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 2:00 PM
POTD: Muster Oak in La Grange
Located on the northeast corner of the square, Muster Oak in La Grange is one of the most famous trees in Texas. Here in 1842, Captain Dawson mustered his troops for an ill-fated battle in the war for Texas independence. Since that time, the tree has served as a muster site for Fayette County troops in conflicts ever since.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 9:21 AM
POTD: Painted Church, Ammansville
This photo of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, one of the painted churches near Schulenburg, shows the light pink interior which makes it distinctive. The church is open to the public and is located in the small community of Ammansville.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 11:05 AM
POTD: Antiques Week in Warrenton, Texas
Tucked between La Grange and Round Top, the community of Warrenton is a quiet burg most of the year...until Antiques Week, that is. Every October and April, this community--and every community from Warrenton all the way north to Carmine--bustles with antiques shoppers and sellers.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 2:39 PM
POTD: Smithville, Texas
Like many Texas towns, the railroad was an important factor in the development of Smithville. Today the train tracks still run through this community southeast of Austin which remembers its train heritage at a downtown railroad historical park and museum complete with cabooses, this Katy depot, and exhibits on train history.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 9:46 AM
POTD: Hostyn Grotto
Located at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn, Texas, this grotto draw many visitors. The structure was built in the 1920s by Czech settlers who constructed the grotto as a replica to the famous grotto at Lourdes, France. The grotto is located right beside the road; you'll find parking behind the church. Be sure to get out and walk to the grotto for a look at the structure and the adjacent stations of the cross; the hilltop location also offers good views of the surrounding countryside. To reach the grotto from La Grange, travel south on US 77 to FM 2436.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 10:33 AM
Lake Tawakoni State Park Becomes a Star Thanks to Spiders
You may not have heard of Lake Tawakoni State Park, located near Wills Point, before now but since late August the state park has been a media star.
National news coverage--on everything from CNN to FoxNews to the Discovery Channel. The coverage brought over 3,300 visitors to this 376-acre park on the shore of Lake Tawakoni, 50 miles east of Dallas, over the Labor Day Weekend.
Why all the attention? Spiders...or, more specifically, spider webs. Not just any web but a truly Texas-sized web that spanned several acres.
"When I first saw it," said Park Superintendent Donna Garde, "I was totally amazed. What ran through my mind was that this looked like something out of a low-budget
horror movie, but I was looking at something five times as big as what you'd see on a Hollywood set."
Stumped as to the web's origin, the initial consensus of arachnologists and entomologists who saw an online photo of the web sent by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist Mike Quinn was that it may have resulted from a "mass dispersal" event. In such an event, millions of tiny spiders or spiderlings spin out silk filaments to ride air currents in a phenomenon known as "ballooning."
Quinn collected a sample of spiders August 31 from in and around the gigantic web and took them to Texas A&M University in College Station for analysis. Entomology Department researcher Allen Dean identified 11 spider families from the sample.
Quinn described the Lake Tawakoni web as "sheet webbing" since it covers a large area of trees, which is more typical of a web spun by a funnel web spider rather than the classic Charlotte's web, or orb web, like that produced by long-jawed spiders. He speculates that the park's spider population exploded due to wet conditions this summer that resulted in an abundance of midges and other a small insects upon which the spiders feed.
Those wet conditions brought about the end of the web phenomena, however; a heavy rainstorm knocked down much of the huge web.
"So far," Horner said, "we have been informed of webs of this nature occurring in Florida, California, Canada, Italy, Ohio and now Texas. In all cases, they appear to have been produced by tetragnathids, but have other species associated with them."
Superintendent Garde said Sept. 5 that the crowds coming to see the wondrous creation had slowed to a trickle, and that they were not being allowed to access the nature trail due to the sloppy conditions.
"It was fun, but we were really tired," Garde said. "The spiders are great little guys. They put our park on the map."
For More Information:• visit
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lake_tawakoni/• visit
http://www.Texasento.netPhoto © Joe Pase, Texas Forest Service
Labels: Prairies and Lakes, State Parks
posted by Paris & John @ 3:34 PM
Hollywood Comes to Bartlett
We were driving through the small town of Bartlett, northeast of Georgetown, the other day when we found the downtown area blocked by huge trucks and film crews. Hollywood had once again come to Bartlett. It's not the first time; the farming community has also appeared in
Stars Fell on Henrietta and
The Newton Boys.
This time, the antiques shops that line the town's main street will provide a dramatic backdrop for scenes in the upcoming movie
Kings of The Evening. Starring Tyson Beckford and Lynn Whitfield, the Depression-era saga is also being filmed in Austin.
Labels: Prairies and Lakes, Texas celebrity travel
posted by Paris & John @ 9:29 AM
Mt. Vernon Displaying Rare Bird Treasures
Looking for a day trip with some educational fun? Check out the display at the Franklin County Historical Association's Fire Station museum in Mt. Vernon, Texas.
The Oological exhibit highlights more than 150 bird eggs alongside information about each species. (Oology is the study of eggs, especially those of birds.) An egg from the extinct Carolina parakeet and one from the extinct Passenger pigeon are the rarest in the collection.
According to Cliff Shackelford, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ornithologist, "To my knowledge, there is not another museum in the world that has the Carolina parakeet or Passenger pigeon egg on public display."
In addition to the eggs' rarity, they also offer visitors a glimpse into history. Prior to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, collecting bird eggs was a popular hobby. Mt. Vernon's collection can trace its roots back to a taxidermist in Ohio who collected the majority of the eggs in the late 1800s. The eggs eventually found their way into a Texas collector A.W. Nations' possession.
"He was a lepidopterist, one who studies butterflies, and had had a well preserved collection of more than sixty Texas butterflies," said B.F. Hicks, Franklin County Historical Association Board of Directors member. "Mr. Nations had his butterflies and the egg collection, as well as a mammoth bone, and some mounted heads. It seemed he had plans of having his own private mini-natural history museum."
Today the entire collection is on public display in Mt. Vernon.
Located in a renovated fire station from the 1940s, the oological display was constructed according to state-of-the-art Smithsonian standards with fiber optic lighting and a specialized air filtration system. Visitors can also view the century-old butterfly collection, as well as other pieces of the museum's collection. Computerized additions to the bird-egg display are scheduled for installation when funding permits.
Hicks said all of the museum's items on display are in some way connected to Texas, making this opportunity a unique way to learn about the state's wildlife. Mt. Vernon is also a great location to get outdoors and see some of the avian species first-hand.
"They have more birding and wildlife viewing sites listed on our state's wildlife viewing trail system than any other community its size," said Shackelford. "There are more than a dozen bird watching sites within a thirty-minute drive from downtown."
More information on the Mt. Vernon Fire Station Museum can be found on the Franklin County Historical Association Webpage or by calling 903-537-4760. Birding and wildlife trail maps can be located through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Website.
For More Information:• visit
http://www.fcha-online.org• visit
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails/ Labels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 12:02 PM
Stagecoach Days at Fanthorp Inn State Historical Site
Hop a ride on a replica stagecoach and tour the 1850s stagecoach inn at Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site in Anderson during Stagecoach Days. The event will include cowboys, cowboy poetry, and dulcimer music.
When: February 10, 11am-3pm
Admission: $1 for Texas State parks Pass members; $4 for others, $2.50 for children 12 and under
For More Information:• call 936-873-2633
Labels: Prairies and Lakes, State Parks
posted by Paris & John @ 11:55 AM
Fredericksburg
