Texas Backroads Weekly

A teapot that survived Ike: Galveston's most resilient resident. The Backstory In the West End of Galveston, standing out among the traditional stilted beach houses, sits a giant rusted iron tea kettle. Built in the 1960s, the Kettle House was originally intended to be a storage tank for an oil company, but a local craftsman saw something else in the steel. He bought the tank, cut out windows, added a wooden "handle" on top, and a "spout" on the side. For decades, it sat abandoned, a mysterious landmark for locals and beachgoers alike. Despite being made of heavy iron, it became a symbol of Galveston's quirky spirit. 📍 At a Glance Location: Mirada Road, Galveston, TX Survival: It has survived every major hurricane, including Hurricane Ike, without moving an inch. Current Status: It was recently renovated and is now a high-end short-term rental! Built to Last What makes the Kettle House a true backroads legend ...

A gathering place built on Coffee, Community, and Kindness. The Legacy of Madison and Tanner In January 2017, the lives of Audrey and Kevin McCleary were forever changed by the loss of their children, Madison (18) and Tanner (11), in an auto accident. But in the face of unimaginable tragedy, a movement of kindness was born. To honor their children's legacy of compassion and empathy, the McCleary’s started a 501(c)(3) non-profit called #spreadkindnessforMandT . They encouraged the world to perform purposeful acts of kindness—a movement that the Jourdanton community embraced with open arms. Why It Was Founded Audrey and Madison often joked about opening a coffee shop together. Today, Sunshine House Coffee is the realization of that dream. It’s a way for the McClearys to honor their children and give back to the community that rallied behind them. The name "Sunshine House" comes from the song “You Are My Sunshine,” which Audrey sang to her children. If yo...

The neon sign that has guided travelers to legendary pie since 1929. The Backstory If there is one place that defines the soul of the Texas Hill Country, it’s the Blue Bonnet Café . While many restaurants come and go, the Blue Bonnet has stood the test of time, serving hungry Texans since 1929. It hasn't moved far—only moving a block from its original location in 1946—and the recipes for their famous pies and chicken fried steak have remained largely untouched for generations. The café isn't just a place to eat; it’s a community hub. On any given Tuesday, you’ll find local ranchers in dusty boots sitting in the booth next to tourists from across the globe. It has survived the Great Depression, the building of the Max Starcke Dam, and the transformation of Marble Falls into a bustling travel destination, all while keeping its "small-town" heart intact. 📍 At a Glance Location: 211 US Hwy 281, Marble Falls, TX 78654 Region: Hill Country...

A shimmering testament to patience, persistence, and a lot of empty cans. The Backstory In 1968, John Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, decided he was tired of mowing the grass. He began by inlaying thousands of marbles, rocks, and metal pieces into concrete to create unique patio designs. But the project didn't stop at the yard. Over the next 18 years, John completely covered his home with flattened beer cans, pull tabs, and bottle caps. When asked why he did it, John famously gave the most "Texas" answer possible: he just thought it was a good idea, and it was cheaper than painting. Today, the house is preserved by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art and stands as a globally recognized symbol of outsider art and the ultimate DIY spirit. 📍 At a Glance Location: 222 Malone St, Houston, TX 77007 Region: Gulf Coast / South Texas Typical Timeframe: 45 minutes to 1 hour Vibe: Whimsical, met...

A retail cathedral for the Texas outdoorsman. The Backstory Located right off I-35 between Austin and San Marcos, Cabela’s in Buda is more than just a place to stock up on camping gear. Opened in 2005, this 185,000-square-foot facility was designed as an "educational and entertainment showroom." In a state where hunting, fishing, and hiking are central to the culture, this store serves as a massive tribute to the wild side of the Lone Star State. The centerpiece of the store is a towering, walk-through mountain covered in museum-quality taxidermy from around the world. For travelers driving the busy I-35 corridor, it has become a "must-stop" tradition to stretch their legs while marveling at the sheer scale of the displays. It’s one of the few places in Texas where you can see a polar bear, an elephant, and a Texas whitetail deer all under the same roof. 📍 At a Glance Location: 15570 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Buda, TX 78610 Region:...

Home to Big Al and Big Tex—two of the largest gators in captivity. The Backstory Deep in the salt-grass swamps of Beaumont, Gator Country serves as the premier alligator rescue in Southeast Texas. While most roadside stops involve inanimate statues, this one is very much alive. Founded with a mission to relocate "nuisance" alligators that find their way into backyard pools and golf course ponds, the park has become a sanctuary for over 450 reptiles. The stars of the show are Big Al and Big Tex . Big Al is a legend—nearly 90 years old, weighing 1,000 pounds, and stretching over 13 feet long. When he was caught, he was the largest alligator in captivity in Texas. That was until Big Tex arrived, an even larger giant at nearly 14 feet. These aren't just animals; they are prehistoric survivors that give you a chilling look at what has lived in the Texas bayous for millions of years. 📍 At a Glance Location: 21159 FM 365, Beaumont, TX 77705 ...

The museum as it stood in 1933—a true Texas survivor. The Backstory In 1933, J. Marvin Hunter—a writer, publisher, and historian—opened the Frontier Times Museum to house his growing collection of Texas relics. Hunter was a man who never met a story (or an object) he didn't like. While the museum started as a tribute to the pioneers of the Texas Hill Country, it quickly evolved into a world-class collection of the strange and the sublime. Located in Bandera, a town that proudly wears the title "Cowboy Capital of the World," the museum is a physical timeline of the American West. The building itself is a work of art, constructed from native stone and petrified wood. Inside, the walls are lined with thousands of items that Hunter collected or were donated by travelers passing through the hills, creating a "cabinet of curiosities" that feels like stepping back into a 1930s roadside attraction. 📍 At a Glance Location: 510 13th St, Bande...

Where the pavement ends and the Texas red dirt begins. The Backstory Deep in the heart of Central Texas, just outside of Waco, lies Crooked Creek Cycle Park . While most of our stops involve looking at history, this one is about making your own. This family-owned park has been a staple of the Texas off-road scene for years, offering over 1,000 acres of varied terrain that challenges everyone from weekend warriors to professional motocross racers. The history of Crooked Creek is rooted in the "open land" spirit of Texas. It was designed to be a place where the rules are simple: stay safe and have fun. It’s not a manicured city park; it’s a rugged landscape of rolling hills, dense woods, and the notorious Texas mud. Over the years, it has become a "must-visit" for anyone with a dirt bike or an ATV, serving as a sanctuary for those who prefer two wheels (or four) to a sidewalk. 📍 At a Glance Location: 4161 FM 56, Axtell, TX 76624 Regio...

A literal tower of memories hidden in a quiet Austin suburb. The Backstory In a quiet residential neighborhood in South Austin, tucked behind an unassuming small house, sits a three-story cathedral. It isn't made of stone or stained glass, but of lawnmower parts, car bumpers, circuit boards, and thousands of bicycle wheels. This is the Cathedral of Junk , a living sculpture started in 1988 by Vince Hannemann, better known to locals as the "Junk King." Vince didn't set out to build a tourist destination; he simply started building because he liked it. Over the decades, the structure has grown to contain an estimated 60 tons of "junk." It survived a major legal battle with the city in 2010 when building inspectors threatened to tear it down. Thanks to a massive outpouring of support from the community and a team of engineers who helped Vince bring it up to code, the Cathedral stood its ground and remains one of the few authentic pieces of "O...

A billion-dollar monument to football, art, and Texas-sized ambition. The Backstory In the world of Texas architecture, there is "big," and then there is AT&T Stadium . Opened in 2009 as the home of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones’s masterpiece was designed to be more than just a football field—it was built to be an entertainment cathedral. At the time of its completion, it was the largest domed structure in the world, a gleaming silver orb that locals quickly dubbed "The Death Star." The history of the stadium is a story of sheer engineering will. The two monumental arches that support the roof are a quarter-mile long, and the entire Statue of Liberty could fit inside the building with the roof closed. But the stadium’s most famous feature isn't the grass—it's the massive center-hung video board. Weighing 1.2 million pounds and stretching 160 feet wide, it was so large when it was first installed that punters accidentally hit it during gam...

A tribute to the VW Beetle, left to the elements in Conway. The Backstory If Cadillac Ranch is the crown jewel of Amarillo art, then Slug Bug Ranch is its rebellious, unpolished younger brother. Located about 30 miles east in the near-ghost town of Conway, this site features five Volkswagen Beetles buried nose-first at a jaunty angle. It was created in 2002 by the owners of a nearby Longhorn Station and Crutchy's Garage as a deliberate "parody" of the famous Cadillac installation to draw travelers back to their corner of the Panhandle. Unlike its predecessor, which is meticulously maintained and sits in a clean field, Slug Bug Ranch feels like a post-apocalyptic discovery. The cars sit beside an abandoned farmhouse and a crumbling gas station, offering a stark look at the "Mother Road" after the interstates took over. The Beetles have been stripped of their engines, interiors, and dignity, leaving only the rusted shells to serve as a canvas for pa...

A constantly evolving canvas of spray paint and steel. The Backstory Rising out of the flat Panhandle dirt like ancient monuments, the ten cars of Cadillac Ranch represent one of the most iconic "pranks" in art history. In 1974, a group of art hippies known as The Ant Farm teamed up with eccentric Amarillo billionaire Stanley Marsh 3. Their goal? To create a tribute to the "Golden Age" of the American automobile—specifically the evolution of the Cadillac tailfin. The cars (ranging from 1948 to 1963 models) were buried nose-first in the ground at the exact same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza. What started as a clean, colored installation quickly turned into a Texas rite of passage. Legend has it that the artists eventually realized people were going to scratch their names into the paint anyway, so they decided to encourage it. Today, the cars are covered in thousands of layers of spray paint, making the steel "skin" of the cars several i...

The iconic yellow facade of Amarillo’s most famous landmark. The Backstory Opened in 1960 by R.J. "Bob" Lee, The Big Texan Steak Ranch originally sat on the legendary Route 66. It was designed to represent the "Bigger is Better" spirit of Texas. When Interstate 40 opened and bypassed the old route, the entire building was moved by truck to its current location in 1970 to stay in the path of hungry travelers. The restaurant is world-renowned for the 72oz Steak Challenge . The tradition began when Lee decided to see which of his cowboy customers could eat the most. One hungry hand ate 72 ounces in an hour, and Lee declared: "From now on, anyone who can eat that much in an hour gets it for free." Since then, tens of thousands have tried, but only a fraction have succeeded under the watchful eyes of the digital timers. 📍 At a Glance Location: 7701 I-40 East, Amarillo, TX 79118 Region: Panhandle Typical Timeframe: 1.5 to...

Over 1,400 stories told through the medium of the commode. The Backstory What began as a creative way for a master plumber to mount deer antlers became one of the most famous collections of folk art in the United States. Barney Smith , a San Antonio legend, spent over 70 years decorating toilet seat lids with anything and everything he could find. His collection grew to over 1,400 seats, featuring themes ranging from NASA space missions to pieces of the Berlin Wall and even volcanic ash from Mt. St. Helens. Barney originally ran the museum out of his garage in San Antonio (where he would personally lead tours with a cane to point out his favorites). After he reached his late 90s, the collection was saved and relocated to The Truck Yard in The Colony. This move preserved his legacy, ensuring that these "porcelain plaques" stay together and remain free for the public to enjoy. 📍 At a Glance Location: 5959 Grove Ln, The Colony, TX 75056 Region: ...

Howdy, Neighbor. If you've spent any time driving across the Lone Star State, you know that the real Texas isn't found on the I-35 or the I-10. It’s found on the narrow strips of asphalt that wind through the Piney Woods, the Hill Country, and the high plains of the Panhandle. I started Texas Backroads Weekly because I kept finding myself pulling over. I’d see a tilted water tower, a grave in the middle of a road, or a coffee shop in a town with a population of fifty—and I realized these places have stories that are being forgotten as we all rush to get from Point A to Point B. What to Expect Here: The Monday Dispatch: Every Monday at 8:00 AM, I’ll drop a new "Field Note" about a specific stop I’ve found. Roadside Oddities: The weird, the tilted, and the "why is that there?" landmarks. Hidden History: The stories of the people and events that shaped these small towns. Small Town Fuel: The best kolaches, burgers, and caffeine fixes y...