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Entering Cuero
from the north on Hwy 183 / 77A. The road becomes Esplanade. On both sides
of the road are palms, oaks and yucca representative of the varied vegetation
of DeWitt County. The county, we are told, contains the most varied soil
types of any county in Texas. As it was explained to us, "DeWitt County
is to soil what Llano County is to rock."
Esplanade is one of Cuero's
two major streets; the other being Broadway. Main Street at Esplanade is the heart
of the Historic Downtown Business District and begins the area of antique and
specialty shops. Resplendent with 19th century architecture, this is a wonderful
place to take a stroll and soak up the local flavor.
The Chamber of
Commerce is located three blocks south of Broadway at 124 E. Church Street
(361-275-2112) in the beautiful 1915 post office building.
Cuero has
over 50 buildings on the National Register and three Historic Districts.
|
| | Turkey
Trot
Photo
courtesy TXDoT |
Turkeyfest
Turkeyfest is
the second weekend of October
Chupacabra
by Mike Cox ("Texas
Tale" 10-24-07 column)
Does a zoologically unknown, blood-sucking creature prowl the South Texas mesquite?...
Whatever the hairless creature is, it has stimulated the local economy a bit and
given Cuero international
name recognition. The initial Associated Press story on the critter got worldwide
play, all the major broadcast and cable networks have done stories, and the Discovery
Channel has filmed two segments on the mysterious animal. The Canions agreed to
display the head at the annual Cuero Turkey Fest and it drew quite a crowd...
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The
history of Cuero is
interwoven with that of Indianola.
Many Cueroites moved here from there, dismantling their homes and hauling them
by ox-cart to escape the hurricanes that obliterated that one time rival to Galveston.
The DeWitt County Museum, 312 Broadway, housed in the Bates-Sheppard
Home, is among those that were shipped board by board and reconstructed in Cuero
after the 1886 hurricane.
The museum is also home to the
DeWitt County Wildflower Association during the month of April.
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Wildflowers
in DeWitt County
The DeWitt County Wildflower Association is an indefatigable bunch of Cueroites
who every April share their wildflowers with those of us who live in counties
that are wildflower deficient. Gathering and arranging specimens in
The DeWitt County Museum, arranging bus tours and furnishing guides
for visitors is just a small part of what they do. Every year they publish
the Lanes and Byways April Journal, an informative guide on the
best viewing areas and anything and everything pertaining to wildflowers.
A New Wildflower
Texas Highways Magazine's June 1998 issue noted
the discovery of a new wildflower by Derek Muschalek, a local naturalist who became
interested in flowers from his interest in birds and now we hear he is paying
attention to butterflies. Could this be the man to fill Roy Bedechek's long
vacant shoes?
Tiffany
Ley; How DeWitt County Officially Became Wildflower Capital of Texas
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A
Sample DeWitt County Driving Tour
Arneckeville
Head south on Hwy 77 (Esplanade) and cross the railroad tracks. You
will see a sign for Arneckeville. Follow the arrow and watch for the signs on
your right. There will be two of them.
After leaving the Cuero
city limits you'll notice a few miles of feathery trees on your right and down.
These are Cypress trees along the banks of the
Guadalupe River.
After you've gone about seven miles from town,
start looking for a sign on your right for Zion Church Road. The sign is
next to a cattle guard, the first of three that you will cross to reach the cemetery
and church. This Lutheran Church and its cemetery has been the anchor
of this German settlement since 1868. If it looks familiar, you may have seen
it in statewide publications. It is a favorite of photographers. |
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Yorktown
Yorktown is
southwest of Cuero on Hwy 72 and in addition to their own wildflower program
there's a hiking/biking trail along Coletto Creek next to the Yorktown Historical
Museum in the historic 1848 Eckhardt Building. Inside the museum see
the piano that survived both Indianola hurricanes. On the corner of Main and Eckhardt
Streets. |
| | Cemetery
in Arneckeville
TE photo |
Getting
There
The drive
to DeWitt County is a pleasant trip in itself,
take time to enjoy: |
Getting
there from Houston - 135 miles
Book Your
Hotel Here & Save:
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Getting
There from AUSTIN - 94 miles
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Your Hotel Here & Save:
Austin
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An easy drive with some pleasant diversions, Hwy 183 takes you right to
Cuero without switching
highways. Major towns of Lockhart and Gonzales are conveniently placed at
1/3 intervals.
Lockhart
is barely 30 minutes from Austin so you may want to eat a light breakfast to sample
some of the barbecue that Lockhart is famous for. Two of these restaurants
are within one block of the square and one is right on the highway just South
of town.
The impressive 1894
courthouse is one designed by Alfred Giles of blue limestone trimmed
with red Pecos sandstone. The Chamber of Commerce has a complete brochure,
with points of interest as well as a good city map.
On
the way to Gonzales you'll pass through Luling,
a textbook example of a railroad town, famous for its Annual Watermelon Thump
(June, last Thur-Sat). The Luling Chamber of Commerce address is
421 E. Davis, Luling, TX 78648. 830-875-3214.
Continue past I-10 to Gonzales,
"The Lexington of Texas". I don't know how this motto sits with
the citizens of the town of Lexington in Lee County. But we all know (or should
know) what they mean. Lots of history here. One of J. Reily Gordon's
courthouses
from 1894 graces the center of town and the old jail houses the
County Historical Museum. This city is certainly a destination in itself.
Their Chamber's number is 830-672-6532.
Getting
There from SAN ANTONIO -
85 miles
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Your Hotel Here & Save
Seguin
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You can drive directly to Cuero
on Hwy 87 which is a pleasant, unhurried and scenic trip or if you've
read or seen "True Women" by Janice Woods-Windle you may decide
to take I-10 East to old US 90 and enter Seguin
which is the setting for the popular book and TV movie. The book has certainly
generated interest here and tour brochures are available to show homes and sites
featured in the book. Contact the Seguin Chamber at 427 N. Austin,
78155. 830-379-6382.
From Seguin continue on Hwy 90 to Gonzales.
Lots of history here. One of J. Reily Gordon's courthouses from 1894 graces
the center of town and the old jail houses the County Historical Museum.
Contact Gonzales Chamber of Commerce at 830-672-65632.At Gonzales you'll take
Hwy 183 South for the last one third of the trip.
|
Forum
Your information
on Cuero is very helpful to this Chamber doing its job.
... We have
more to offer the tourist today than we did three years ago ... Turkeyfest is
the second weekend of October and Ruby Begonia, our racing turkey, can now claim
'Fastest Turkey in the World' as she beat Paycheck, Worthington, MN's bird last
October.
Our Cuero Heritage Museum, located with the Chamber in the Federal Building, now
has a permanent exhibit 'Cuero Talks Turkey' which features pictures and memorabilia
from past Turkey Trots (1912 and later) and 29 years of Turkeyfest.
Our downtown historic district has new shops and is a wonderful area
architecturally. .....
Thanks for helping us to show that life in Cuero
is the way life ought to be! - Sincerely, Sara Post, Executive Director, Cuero,
Texas 77954. April 12, 2002
.....I've
been enjoying the articles about my beautiful hometown and am glad to know that
other nature lovers and travellers are discovering our hidden treasure. - Teresa
This page first published 1998
© John Troesser
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