April 2013 - Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine

RIDE MAP
Dog Parade
Starting northwest of Austin, in Burnet, with the 30 th Annual
Bluebonnet Festival (April 12-14; BluebonnetFestival.org)
in the Texas Hill Country. Burnet is situated around the
intersection of Highways 29 and 281. We’ve covered Burnet
in two other issues (December 2011, “Texas Hill Country
Lights” and June 2012, “A Little Bit of Everything…”), but
never really talked about the history of this small “main
street” Texas town.
In 1852, the area was originally known as Hamilton or
Hamilton Valley, named for John Hamilton a prominent
landowner. When it was time to apply for a post office,
there was already another town named Hamilton in Texas,
so the citizens voted to name the town after the county,
Burnet. The name comes from president of the provisional
government of the Republic of Texas’ David G. Burnet. In
1847, the Texas Rangers had a station in the area to protect
residents from Indian raids. In March 1849, the station
was closed and Fort Croghan took its place, continuing to
provide security for the burgeoning small town.
It is the county seat for Burnet County, so the Points
Across Texas county courthouse and historic jail, along
with the “capital” designation, give riders three qualified
photo opportunities – more than half way to the free patch!
Burnet is considered one of the best places for viewing
wildflowers. After receiving the “Bluebonnet Capital”
designation, the chamber of commerce decided a festival
was in store! It has grown to see over 30,000 attendees
and adding new activities each year. Events include a
scholarship pageant, pet parade, Grande Parade, 5K run,
carnival, dog house races, wiener dog races, children’s
bike decorating contest, birding and wildflower show,
rubber ducky race, gunfighters shoot out, air show, arts
and craft vendors, live music, food, drink, and more! Check
out their schedule and plan your trip accordingly.
For other attractions while in Burnet, look up our June
2012, “A Little Bit of Everything…” available in archive on
our website (ThunderRoadsTexas.com).
Heading out of Burnet on Highway 29, catch Highway 183
Page 18 H April 2013
Dog House Races
Weiner Dog Races
... continued
South (toll) just east of Liberty Hill. North of Austin, take
Highway 45 (toll) around to pick up Highway 290 East; skirt
on the bypass of 290, south of Brenham, to catch FM 1155
North into Chappell Hill.
Air Show
Chappell Hill claims to be
the “Heart of Bluebonnet
Country” and hosts a longstanding
festival as well.
This year they celebrate
their 49th year (April 13-14,
ChappellHillMuseum.org)
with more than 250 juried
exhibitors, delicious countrystyle
food, live music,
children’s activities, tours of
the historic community, and
more. The event was voted
#7 as “Most Popular Festival
in Texas” by Texas Highways
Magazine. Proceeds
from the festival help the
Chappell Hill Historical
Society with preservation of
the community’s history and
historic buildings.
Chappell Hill was founded
in 1847 by Mary Hargrove
Haller, granddaughter of Robert Wooding Chappell, for
whom the town was named. It sits in the heart of Stephen
F. Austin’s original colony in Texas. Today, the small Texas
town offers a colorful history and year-round hospitality
and charm. Main Street has been designated as a National
Register Historic District, meaning visitors can enjoy
beautiful past-era architecture… if you like that kind of
thing! It remains one of the best historically preserved
towns in Texas.
Being in Washington
County, the “Birthplace
of Texas”, the town
played an integral part
in the history of the
Republic of Texas. All
kinds of historic homes
and markers are in
abundance in the area.
In 1867, the small town
was hit with a yellow
fever epidemic that
almost wiped it out.
The area was rebuilt
with Polish immigrants
in the 1870s. In 1933,
as a result of the
Great Depression and
stock market crash in
Bluebonnet Festival - Chappell Hill
1929, banks across
the US were ordered
closed by Franklin D.
Roosevelt. In Chappell
Hill, the Farmers Bank of
Chappell Hill refused to
close its doors. Today, the
small town enjoys a healthy
Stagecoach Inn of Chappell Hill
tourist trade, attracting
visitors with restored historic
homes, the Bluebonnet
Festival, the Scarecrow
Chappell Hill Bank
Festival and an interactive museum.
Among other things to do/see before setting out on your
steed, a selection of buildings on the National Register of
Historic Places: the Chappell Hill Methodist Episcopal
Church (circa 1901), Chappell Hill Circulating Library
(circa 1912 Colonial Revival style), Chappell Hill Public
School and Chappell Hill Female College Bell (circa
1927), Isaac Applewhite house (circal 1852), and the
Stagecoach Inn of Chappell Hill (circa 1850, Greek
Revival style). Also of note to visit is the old Rock
Store (folk-art wall hangings), the Chappell Hill Bank
(formerly the Farmers Bank of Chappell Hill mentioned
above; operating in its current location since 1907), and
the Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery.
Heading out of Chappell Hill, continuing North on FM
1155; a little over two miles out, turn left on County
Road 83/South Meyersville Road. There are a few tight,
zig-zag turns before you hit Highway 105, where you’ll go
right, heading east. In Navasota, pick up Highway 90 North
and in Madisonville, catch I-45 North. Ennis is just located
off I-45 North, just before reaching Dallas city limits.
We’ve never covered Ennis in a ride map before, so get
ready for some historical information, sights to see, and,
of course, a highlight of the Bluebonnet Trail and related
festival!
Established in 1871 and named for Colonel Cornelius
Ennis (a railroad official of the Houston and Texas Central
Railway), the small town was created as most towns of
the era, by the railroad that bypassed other towns in the
process. However, unlike other railroad town histories,
this one resulted in violence. The citizens of the bypassed
town, Burnham, attacked Ennis, killing one citizen and
Bluebonnet Festival - Chappell Hill
Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery
Isaac Applewhite House
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