April 2013 - Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine

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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 ThunderRoadsTexas.com
wounding several others. The town was built on Christian values, with the railroad offering free town lots to any Christian communion that would built a church. Ennis became the northern division headquarters for the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, providing water and machine shops for the railroad yards. As part of the agreement, Ennis had to build three lakes, with the last not completed until 1940. Between 1910 and 1915, the BURNET • 30 th Annual Bluebonnet Festival (sign) • Bluebonnet Capital of Texas (sign) • County courthouse • County jail • Historic Burnet Square • Fort Croghan Museum Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD! railroad tried to move their headquarters, but courts upheld the agreement, forcing them to stay in town. By then, the Texas Midland Railroad arrived in town, Ennis’ second rail line. Eventually, both railroads were acquired by the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, which abandoned the tracks between Ennis and Kaufman after frequent washouts in the Trinity River bottoms. This left one railroad, the Texas and New Orleans, which then was merged into the Southern Pacific, which still rolls through the town. One historical fact I find interesting/ funny… in 1873, the Temperance Council was established to provide an alternative to “drunken carousing”. Guessing that era in Texas was tough times, requiring many-a-drink! What’s our excuse today? By the 1990s, Ennis was part of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area and became a highly industrialized region… where before they were primarily agricultural with a chamber of commerce slogan, “Where the Railroads and Cotton Fields Meet”. While in Ennis, there are plenty of places to visit: the Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum, offering a fascinating collection of train memorabilia; the Texas Motorplex race track, which draws crowds for their NHRA racing; the 85 Speedway dirt track; a healthy Historic District (small town USA), with antique and craft shopping in abundance; and, of course, festivals. Ennis hosts two of note, the Annual National Polka Festival and the reason for its inclusion in this map, the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival (April 20-21, VisitEnnis.org). This year, Ennis celebrates 62 years of the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, with over 40 miles of mapped riding offered by the Ennis Garden Club (Facebook.com/ EnnisGardenClub). These are the oldest such trails known in the state, with tens of thousands of visitors making the trek for an astounding wildflower show. Typically, the Garden Club suggests you make plans for the third week of April. Of course, that third week also includes the Festival. They encourage visitors to check their website for bluebonnet and wildflower bloom information. The festival offers all the normal small-town charm and hospitality, full of activities. Visitors will find arts and crafts, bluebonnet souvenirs (of course!), bluebonnet trail maps, food, children’s activities, and live music. Additionally, on that Saturday, there is an Antique American Independent Auto Show (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) and the Ellis County SPCA Adoption Trailer will be onsite for pet adoptions (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.). On a final note, we address a commonly held misnomer, that picking bluebonnets is illegal in the State of Texas. This is false. There are no laws prohibiting the picking of bluebonnets. However, there are laws addressing trespass on private property and damaging or destroying rights-ofway. So go ahead… pick some flowers! Just be careful not to trespass, dig up whole clumps, or trash the beautiful common areas while doing so. Another caution, please be aware of your safety at all times. Park well off the roadway, don’t walk across busy highways… and beware of snakes and fire ants; they love bluebonnets, too! That ends our hunt for the bluebonnet. We hope you take lots of pictures and share them with us and our other readers. And, of course, be sure to submit pictures to earn your FREE Points Across Texas patch! For more reader submitted bluebonnet photos, check out our Thunder Cam pages! Points Across Texas Qualified Destination List April 2013 Ride Map CHAPPELL HILL • “Heart of Bluebonnet Country” (sign) • Bluebonnet Festival (sign) • Chappell Hill Museum • Historic Downtown • Chappell Hill Methodist Episcopal Church • Circulating Library • Chappell Hill Public School • Female College Bell • Isaac Applewhite house • Statecoach Inn • Old Rock Store • Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery ENNIS • Bluebonnet City (sign) • Texas Motorplex • Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum • 85 Speedway • Historic District (downtown) • National Polka Festival • Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival • Bluebonnet Trails map • Ennis Garden Club (sign or member with shirt) The Texas State Flower – the Bluebonnet (motorcycles/motorcyclists in front of fields of bluebonnets is always nice!) Quick Rules: • Locations/items must be easily identifiable in the photo. Signs are best (cities, events, mountains, parks, etc.), but some are self-explanatory (like Prada Marfa, a mural, the bank vault, etc.). • Your AND/OR your bike must be in the picture. • Photos must be emailed to PaT@ThunderRoadsTexas.comor can be posted on our Points Across Texas Facebook page (Facebook.com/PointsAcrossTexas). • Deadline for 2013 photos is January 15, 2014. April 2013 H Page 19 RIDE MAP
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April 2013 - Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine

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