Towns Along the Way

Gonzales: This idyllic town may only have a modest population of 7,202 (as of 2000), but it’s BIG in Texas lore. It’s home for the Memorial Museum and several historical residences. The Come and Take It festival takes place on the first weekend in October.

Shiner: This town of 2,070 proclaims to be the cleanest town in Texas! The Spoetzl Brewery is the main attraction as Shiner beer has been said to be “brewed with an attitude” and they boast to “drink all they can and sell all the rest”. Shiner's Half Moon Holidays occur on the first Saturday of July each year.

Moulton: Moulton welcomes you by letting you know that their little city (944 pop) has a big heart! On the last full weekend in July, they hold the Moulton Jamboree (so they’re not afraid of a little heat). You can go to their Polka Fest in March, or you can go to Kloesel’s Steakhouse on any given Friday or Saturday to try your hand... er... voice at karaoke.

Flatonia: Being an old railroad town, Flatonia has the only remaining switching tower in Texas. This community of 1,377 has a unique location in that it is both equidistant between Austin and Victoria AND between San Antonio and Houston. Flatonia has a nice museum called the Arnim Museum, and it has a theater called The Lyric.

Schulenburg: 2,699 call Schulenburg home, but many have heard of it and its Painted Churches tour. The town also has the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum and The Schaefer Observatory. It also has an attention-getting name for the local paper – The Schulenburg Sticker.

Weimar: Why not!? This place has 1,981 Weimaraners with a favorable female to male ratio, depending on who you are. The town is also an old railroad town, formerly named Jackson Station. Don’t get confused, however, when passing through since Post Office Street functions as the main drag while the post office itself is one street over on Main St.

Columbus: Columbus is a bit larger at 3,916. It was in Columbus that Sam Houston drilled his under-trained men for 6 days before burning down the few homes remaining there and continuing to San Jacinto. The Stafford Bank Building / Opera House is a very stately looking structure in town that was built in 1886. Lastly, there are 22 Columbus’s around the US and they assemble each year to discuss what it’s like to be a Columbus. This meeting is highlighted with the crowning of Miss Columbus USA, and in 2000, it was the Miss from Columbus, TX who won the crown.

Altair: This municipality doesn’t make it on every map, which is a shame because it was here that Andy Griffith (of The Andy Griffith Show fame), Marvin Tyler, and Sam Snead (golfing legend) went goose hunting in 1970. This excursion was broadcast on the television series, “American Sportsman." The town has an estimated population of 30… why this needs to be estimated is a good question, indeed.

Eagle Lake: Despite the famous hunt recounted above, Eagle Lake, home of 3,664, claims itself to be the Goose Hunting Capitol of the World. Ironically, eagles are not so common on the 1,400 privately-owned acres of Eagle Lake, but alligators are. Here, several railroad lines met together, largely as a result of dealings between Gamaliel Good and DeWitt Clinton Harris.

Wallis: On the first Saturday in October, Wallis and its 1,172 citizens are hosts for the Wallis Fine Rides Autofest. In its history, Wallis has been known by 3 different names. It was first called Bovine Bend before it was later named Wallis Station, in honor of J.E. Wallis.

Orchard: With 473 inhabitants, Orchard has a big family feel to it with many young children. Although unsuccessful in its attempts to grow fruit in the area in the late 1800s, Orchard did not let that small obstacle get in the way of claiming its great name.

Simonton: Although not incorporated until 1979, Simonton goes back to the 1850s. Around 1910-1915, it was one of the leading producers of potatoes in the United States. Simonton has seen growth due to people looking to stray from Houston (but not too far), yet it still numbers less than 1,000.

Fulshear: Churchill Fulshear, Jr. liked to breed and race horses. In the early 1900s, the town closely resembled towns in old westerns. Like Simonton, Fulshear has experienced a healthy growth rate this first decade of the 21st century and is approaching 1,000 in number.

Cinco Ranch: 32 miles west of Houston, the burgeoning community of Cinco Ranch (11,196 in 2000) is an official Houston suburb. It has parks, greenbelts, a golf course, a water park, a YMCA, a Beach Club, a big high school, and a very nice website!

Houston: The 2005 population estimate is just over 2 million. Known as the Bayou City for its earlier reliance on the Ship Channel and industry, it can be a concrete jungle when seen by car. On foot, however, you’ll appreciate a much different experience when you cruise through plentiful parks offering occasional views of the skyscrapers you’ll navigate through.