RURAL TEXAS Towns Where Time Has Stood Still - Far Off The Interstate
I visited some rural Texas towns that have changed little in the past 60 years.
Towns visited:
Commerce, Texas
Ladonia, Texas
Honey Grove, Texas
Whitewright, Texas
Trenton, Texas
Leonard, Texas
Farmersville, Texas
Travel Vlog# 142
TEXAS: Dying Towns Full Of Widows & Widowers (All Nearing Ghost Town Status)
I visited these Texas towns: Deport, Bogata, Clarksville & Detroit.
Travel Vlog 234
Day Trip to Seminole Canyon ???? (FULL EPISODE) S9 E11
On the edge of Texas lies one of the least traveled -- but most historic -- areas in the state. Sure, Seminole Canyon may be in the middle of nowhere, but it's got all the adventure, eats and history of the bigger towns in Texas!
Learn how Seminole Canyon was formed over 100 million years ago and see artifacts left behind by the first Texans at the Visitors Center. You can also learn more about the rock art in the caves.
Towering 270 feet above the turquoise waters of the Pecos River, the Pecos High Bridge is the tallest in Texas. Take in the entire bridge from the Pecos River rest stop overlook or really get a thrill and drive across it!
While you’re in this part of Texas, you gotta stop by old Judge Bean’s Jersey Lilly Saloon. See the original saloon where the “Law West of the Pecos” held court and the opera house he built in honor of the famous singer Lillian Langtry. Next door at the Visitor Center, see even more of his artifacts.
Besides being an amazing hiking site, Seminole Canyon is also home to dozens of rock paintings left behind by prehistoric peoples. Take a guided tour of Fate Bell Shelter to see the oldest rock art site in all of North America, dating back 4000 years, as well as the shelters where they once lived with smoke spots marking the ceiling and the remnants of their grass mat beds.
The Witte Museum hosts guided tours of the White Shaman Preserve, an active archaeological site that is the site of ancient cooking pits and significant rock paintings from over 3000 years ago! Though the interpretation of the paintings are still a mystery, these rock paintings are so cool to see!
True, Tacos Rosy may be one of the only restaurants in the area, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t got some of the best tacos Texas has to offer! All of the tortillas are homemade (so you already know it’s good) and come made to order. I suggest their specialty, tacos tapatios — which is rolled and fried tacos doused in crema and topped with cabbage and tomatoes!
J&P BAR AND GRILL: The other restaurant in Comstock is just as delicious! They make a mean Chicken Fried Steak with homemade gravy, but the real legends are their massive hamburgers with fresh-ground meat. For a little kick, get “The Devil Burger” which comes with fresh jalapenos, pepper jack cheese and jalapeno cilantro mayo!
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Day Trip to Waxahachie ????⛪️ (FULL EPISODE) S11 E9
Maybe you can't pronounce it, but that doesn't mean you can't trip it and have an incredible time. From the history, to the food, to the passionate people carrying on traditions. It’s time you make your own TRIPSAHACHIE!
Organized and run by the locals, this is the best place to learn about life(ahachie) in town. Take a trip back in time and learn about the historic figures of Waxhachie and Ellis County.
And while you’re in downtown for the museum be sure to look closely at the Ellis County Courthouse and see if you can spot all the carved faces hidden among the stones!
See some familiar (and spooky!) faces at Sandra McKee’s recreated Munster Mansion. She scoured the 1960s television show “The Munsters” to build this exact replica and fans of the show will notice that not one creepy, crawly thing is out of place! You’ll even find Spot hiding out under the stairs!
This place is so good, apparently folks are coming back from the dead to dine here. While you enjoy your fried catfish, check out the giant binders up front of unexplained activity within the little 1865 Victorian home, or if you’re especially lucky, maybe you’ll just have your own paranormal experience…
It’s pretty clear that Matt Pittman was born to be a pitmaster, and now he’s here to teach you his smokey ways. Head to his downtown store to pick up some of his delicious meat rubs, or join him for a full on “service” of Meat Church (in his own backyard!) to see firsthand how he cooks up some of the most delicious ‘cue in the state.
Settle in for a game of airsoft on the largest airsoft field in Texas, complete with buildings, battlefields and vehicles. If you’ve never played it, air soft is similar to paintball, but cooler because it doesn’t hurt as much and the ammo is cheaper. So what are you waiting for…take a shot!
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Hot Air Balloon Ride in Longview, Texas (Incredible View!)
Longview, Texas is known for its Hot Air Balloon Festival, so kick off your 2020 with a ride from Balloon Adventures USA. The views are stunning as you take a tranquil Hot Air Balloon ride over the Balloon Race Capital of Texas. It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that needs to be on your trippin' list this year!
Watch the full Longview, TX episode on our website HERE:
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Small Town Series! Gladewater, Texas. An Antique lovers dream town!
Hi fellow wanderers! Join us as we spend a fun day exploring Gladewater Texas! We had great time checking out some of the shops and older homes. If you like antiquing you might like this small town. We even met a local that wrote an International bestseller! We hope you enjoy seeing just some of the things Gladewater has to offer. See you out there!
WBW ????
TEXAS: Forgotten Small Towns On The Hidden Backroads
I visited these small Texas towns: Wortham, Tehuacana, Coolidge, Hubbard & Malone.
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Travel Vlog 279
East Texas Road Trip: Texas Travel Series
East Texas is a wonderful place filled with history, unexpected beauty, and of course, plenty of nature. We took a road trip to explore some spots. There are so many great places to visit in East Texas to visit.
One of our favorite parts was just the chance to go camping in nature with the pine trees, except instead of a tent, we stayed in the Trophy Nissan Pathfinder. Between camping in at Martin Dies Jr State Park and just relaxing, we found so much peace out in nature.
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Day Trip to Mt. Pleasant ???? (FULL EPISODE) S8 E10
You may not find any mountains in this Northeast Texas town, but your day trip through is sure to be pleasant... With legendary eats like sushi and cheesecake, a flight history all its own and a beautiful nature park, this is one town that's full of surprises!
Why did the chicken cross the road? Probably to see the giant Bo Pilgrim head… Unfortunately, since we filmed this episode, the head has been removed, but the building is still there. The famous chicken producer Pilgrim’s Pride was actually started in this neck of the woods (Pittsburg, TX to be exact!).
At the Mid America Flight Museum, you’ll find 3 dozen vintage planes owned by collector and pilot Scott Glover…and the best part? Unlike other museums, you’re encouraged to TOUCH these military and commercial planes.
Stop by the Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum in an old train depot to discover who Pittsburg locals say really built the first airplane and see the Ezekiel Airship, that allegedly beat the Wright brothers to flight in 1902. Sure, it’s all speculation, but it’s definitely worth figuring out for yourself.
The hottest lunch spot in town is also the only place to get sushi in this part of the state. Yes, maybe East Texas sushi sounds like a disaster, but try a few of MAAK’s rolls filled with fresh fish and you’ll be hooked! Try the signature roll with tuna and salmon or the Texan roll with fried beef, cream cheese and green onion!
For a mid-afternoon snack, head to Laura’s Cheesecakes, a hometown bakery so good that it ships all over the country! Try the Texas-shaped Turtle Cheesecake for a tasty trip through the state.
Pittsburg Hot Links serves up a local delicacy that are kind of hard to explain, but are addicting once you try them. These hot links aren’t barbecue and each person has a different way of eating them, but whether you eat them with hot sauce, crackers, chili or cheese, you’ll find that they hit the spot.
Head to Lake Bob Sandlin State Park with a variety of outdoor activities to see some of the most beautiful sights in this part of Texas. If you hit it in the fall, you’ll find that the leaves have turned a stunning bright orange and red. In the warmer weather, this park’s great for swimming, and year round it’s an awesome place to mountain bike!
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Antique Capital RV Park — Gladewater, TX
Welcome to Antique Capital RV Park.
500 South Loop 485, Gladewater, TX 75647
(903) 845-7378
Gladewater is the Antique Capital of East Texas!
Antique Capital of East Texas
Gladewater, Texas has become known as The Antique Capital of East Texas because of its quaint old buildings and its Main Street downtown antique district. As flea market junkies and antique chasers, we were thrilled to discover this beautiful town on US Highway 80 just off Interstate 20.
For more videos of other Texas areas:
San Antonio Area:
The Alamo San Antonio
Air Force Security Forces Museum
US Air Force Airman Heritage Museum
US Army Medical Directorate Museum
Fort Hood:
3rd Cavalry Museum
1st Cavalry Division Museum Part 1
1st Cavalry Division Museum Part 2
1st Cavalry Division Museum Part 3
Other Areas:
LaGrange, Texas
Fire Museum of Texas - Beaumont
Santa Fe Depot - Temple
Cadillac Ranch
Historic Hico Texas
Larry’s Old time Trade Days
Fort Bliss Museum & Old Ironside Museum
Littlest Skyscraper Wichita Falls Texas
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American Auto Trail-Dixie Overland Highway (Big Sandy to Gladewater TX)
This video travels a section of U.S. Highway 80 in eastern Texas, starting in the town of Big Sandy and traveling east to Gladewater.
For more of our American Auto Trails and Slow Travels guides, available in print or eBook format, use one of the links below:
Camera: Sony Active Camera FDR-X3000
Vehicle: “Tempest” 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Image Credits
Big Sandy Station (Texas Railroad History
Dixie Overland Highway Map (American Roads
Colonel Ed Fletcher (Federal Highway Administration;
Fletcher Group (American Roads
Gladewater Oil Derrick Postcard (Tyler, TX
Route Map (DeLorme Topo North America)
Music Credits
Bohemian Beach/Chris Naugen
Old Vienna/Endless Love
The Bucket List/Quincas Moreira
Sweet Release/Dan Lebowitz
Corndogs in Santa Monica/The Great North Sound Society
Endnotes
(1) Long, Christopher; “Big Sandy, TX”; Handbook of Texas-Texas State Historical Association;
(2) Weingroff, Richard F.; “U.S. Route 80 The Dixie Overland Highway”; Federal Highway Administration;
(3) Texas, A Guide to the Lone Start State; Hastings House, New York, 1940.
(4) Lane, Christina; “Gladewater ISD sells Old Bear Stadium”; Longview News-Journal;
Day Trip to Kilgore ????️ (FULL EPISODE) S13 E6
We bet you've heard of Kilgore and their Rangerettes (America's original drill team!), but did you know you can also eat authentic Hungarian food there, too? Kilgore will surprise you with its delicious food, rich heritage, and unique museums. Head on out to east Texas and find out for yourself!
The mission of the Texas Broadcast Museum is to collect, preserve, and showcase the history of electronic communications, educate, and entertain patrons of all ages, and to maintain a library of historical documents and media. Everyone who visits will find something to interest them in 8500+ square feet of collected memorabilia!
Gussie Nell Davis was asked in 1940 to create a show for halftime that would keep fans in their seats, and thus, America’s first drill team was born! The Rangerettes are legendary for a very good reason, and you can learn all about why when you visit their museum on Kilgore College’s campus.
Did you know that Kilgore lies at the center of the most productive oil field in US history? At one point, on “The World’s Richest Acre,” there were more operating oil derricks on one street than anywhere else in the world.
In the land of Texas where brisket is king – at this joint – the RIBS reign supreme. They’ve been smoking and serving them up to hungry customers since 1939. In fact, at one point, ribs was the only thing on the menu. They’ve since expanded to a full blown restaurant with incredible food.
As the only Hungarian restaurant in Texas, Brigitta’s is truly unique. Head here for some delicious food seasoned with real Hungarian paprika – you haven’t had real paprika until you’ve tried it! Don’t miss out on Hungarian classics like cabbage rolls and chicken paprikash.
East Texas mountain biking is unlike biking anywhere else, and for the outdoor enthusiast, it’s a must. Biking this trail means getting muddy, executing jumps, and generally having a great time.
This park pays tribute to the town’s oil boom days with 24 wells that pumped more than 2.5 million barrels of oil over a 30 year period.
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Kentucky & West Virginia Road Trip
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Welcome to the official channel of United States tourism. Our goal is to inspire people from around the world to explore all the exciting travel possibilities in the United States. Watch our videos and discover it, all within your reach.
Tempest Stay & Play
Located next door to one of the top golf courses in Texas, our stay and play feature three bedrooms, 2 and one-half baths. With to die for views of not only the course, clubhouse but also one of the state's largest American flags!
Gladewater Museum in East Texas - Lois Reed on Big Blend Radio
Covering the history of Gladewater, the Antique Capital of East Texas, this episode of Big Blend Radio was recorded onsite at the Gladewater Museum with docent Lois Reed. Gladewater was founded by the Texas and Pacific Railway Company in 1873, and became an oil boom town during the early 20th century. It’s known for being a base during Elvis Presley's early career, and also as the town where Johnny Cash wrote I Walk the Line.
Louisiana's US 80 Byway
When Sunday drives were a novelty and highways had picturesque names instead of numbers, the Dixie Overland Highway took motorists all the way from Georgia to California. In 1926, the highway was renamed US 80. Today, Louisiana has dubbed a 105-mile stretch of the roadway in the northern part of the state the Historic US 80 Dixie Overland Byway. Drivers along the route, which begins in the charming town of Ruston and ends at the Louisiana/Mississippi state line, can drink in vistas of verdant farms and forested landscapes. Learn more at
A perfect 24 hours in #SanAntonio, Texas. Save this to plan your trip. #travel
So much to do, so much to see ???? Discover the tastes and traditions of San Antonio, Texas ????????????????????
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Day Trip to Longview ???? (FULL EPISODE) S11 E4
This is a place where Texas traditions mix with small town charm to create one truly unique day trip. Stay for a while and take in this long view.
This is one adventure you’ve gotta check off your bucket list and there’s no better place to do it than in the “Balloon Race Capital of Texas.” Take a tranquil ride through the skies, and get a longer view of the town.
Take a step back in time at this local museum where you can learn about the surrounding towns, Exhibits include the Wild West and one of the largest collections of Caddo pottery in Texas!
Learn about one of the most innovative engineers the US has ever seen at this musuem. He is the one who invented the giant machines that helped build roads and connect people. The exhibits are an amazing testament to one man’s journey to pursue his dreams, no matter how big they are!
This place does the classics really well, but what’s even cooler is that they’re also putting a twist on your traditional favorites, with bodacious options like burnt end boudin and taco sausage. Yum!
East Texas may not be what first comes to mind when you think of authentic Italian food — but it should be. Owners Rudy and Mariam started serving family recipes at the local farmers market, and it was a hit! Now you can gorge on handmade lasagna and dangerously good tiramisu at their brick-and-mortar restaurant.
No visit to East Texas is complete without an afternoon spent at “Redneck Disneyland.” The amusement park rides are replaced with bouncing ziplines and jerry-rigged waterslides, and the resorts with cabins, but the overall effect is the same: pure euphoria.
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Visiting a 4 mile drive through daffodil garden in Texas!
Visiting a beautiful daffodil garden! A fun drive on a 4 mile dirt road through land devoted to naturalizing daffodils. Loads and loads of daffodils at Mrs. Lees Daffodil Garden, 21600 County Rd 3103, Gladewater, TX 75647.