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The Bastropian 2013-14 7

IndexAdvertisers directory............................91Antiques................................................55Bus Routes.............................................38Churches...............................................86

County Guide...........................................8Dining.......................................................74Entertainment.........................................26Events.......................................................20Fishing......................................................14

Golf..........................................................18History......................................................34Introduction..............................................7Libraries....................................................32Lodging...................................................84

Museums..............................................30Outdoors..............................................10Senior Center........................................32Shopping..............................................55Walking Tour........................................40

Visitors InformationBastrop CountyChambers of CommerceBASTROPBastrop Chamber of Commerce927 Main St., Bastrop, Texas 78602Phone: (512) 303-0558Fax: (512) 303-0305www.bastropchamber.com

ELGINElgin Chamber of Commerce114 Central Ave., Elgin, Texas 78621Phone: (512) 285-4515Fax: (512) 281-3393www.elgintx.com

SMITHVILLESmithville AreaChamber of Commerce100 First St., Smithville, Texas 78957Phone: (512) 237-2313www.ci.smithville.tx.uswww.smithvilletexas.net

It is with great pride that w

e welcome you to Bastrop

County! Lets hope that as

you

read this letter you are sitti

ng back and enjoying our re

laxing pace. Maybe you are

sitting

by the beautiful Colorado R

iver or alongside one of ou

r lakes. Maybe you are stre

tched

out beneath one of our tall

pine trees or under the bran

ches of a wide oak tree. You

could

be sipping coffee at one of o

ur restaurants or maybe pro

pped up in a comfy bed in o

ne of

our lodging properties. I co

uld also guess on a golf cou

rse, a park bench, by the swi

mming

poolthe list can go on an

d on. The good news is we h

ave plenty of wonderful pla

ces for

you to be and we are glad th

at you have found one of th

em!

If you arent lucky enough

to be in Bastrop County to

day please know that our

wel-

come mat is always out. We

invite you to choose us as a

destinationone that we th

ink you

will not easily forget.

Maybe you arent a visitor a

t all, but one of the lucky ful

l-timers that is just interested

in

what else you can do to enh

ance your opportunities. Are

nt you lucky!

Bastrop County has a long

history of hospitality on

e in which we take great pr

ide.

Stephen F. Austin probably

had the rst organized tour

ism campaign for Bastrop C

ounty.

He encouraged folks to com

e and enjoy the beauty that

he had found. We are grate

ful to

those that began the process

of growth in our Lost Pines

area of Central Texas so cl

ose to

Houston, Austin and San A

ntonio and yet, even now, a

world away.

We honor and preserve the r

ural character of our county

, as we offer every convenien

ce

found in our neighboring me

tropolitan areas.

So, take a good look at th

e wealth of information off

ered in this informative visi

tors

guide. Read about some of

the locations and opportunit

ies. Take a chance on a mom

and

pop unique restaurant or s

hop. Walk, bike, paddle or

drive down some trails less t

raveled.

Find the art, recreation an

d entertainment that ts yo

ur interests you really ca

n nd

something for everyone.

Youll want to wave back to

everyone that will naturally

be waving at you it is just

the

way we like to do our busin

ess in Bastrop County.

Thanks for visiting Bastrop

County stay awhile wed lo

ve to have you!

Adena Lewis

Tourism Coordinator

Bastrop County, Texas

Bastrop County is filled with beauty and history as depicted in this photo taken by Bastrop Advertiser assistant editor Terry Hagerty that shows glorious roses in the forefront and court-house buildings in the background.

On the cover

A message fromAdena Lewis

Bastrop County Tourism

Coordinator

Editor: Cyndi WrightAdvertising: Debbie Denny

Assistant Editor: Terry HagertySports Editor: Chris DukesStaff Writers: Erin Green

Sarah AcostaClassifieds, Subscriptions:

Ginny PickeringProduction: Angel Rosa

The Bastrop AdvertiserTexas Oldest Weekly Newspaper

Since March 1, 1853Semi-Weekly Since Sept. 5, 1977

The Bastropian 2013-14 is the official visitors and newcomers guide published annually by The Bastrop Advertiser. Copies of the guide are available throughout the year while supplies last at The Bastrop

Advertiser office, chamber of commerce offices and selected businesses and points of interest.The Bastrop Advertiser is published on Thursdays and Saturdays by Austin Community Newspapers, a division of Cox Newspapers at The Bastrop Advertiser, P.O. Box 459/908 Water St., Bastrop, TX 78602.

Phone: 321-2557, Fax: 321-1680 / Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 pm. Monday through Friday.The Bastropian is a copyrighted publication of The Bastrop Advertiser.

News:[email protected]

Retail Advertising: [email protected]

Classified Advertising:[email protected] Deadlines for Thursday:3:00 p.m. Fridays for the following

ThursdayAdvertising Deadlines for Saturday:

3:00 p.m. Wednesdays for the following Saturday

Deadlines subject to change for designated holidays

Enjoy your visit -

and stay awhile!

8 The Bastropian 2013-14

Welcome

HoSPITAlS

Bastrop offers a wide variety of fun things to do, including some that are a little quirky. But are all activities you can do for little or no expense. Try out some possibilities from the following list that local well-known historian and author Ken Kesselus helped compile.n Start at the Visitor Center and Museum at the corner of Pine and Main streets. Enjoy the videos and make sure you see the old fire engine and the 1931 aerial photograph of Bastrop, much of which remains the same. Ask if they have information about bridge spitting, and observe the cool bridge spitting T-shirts on display. Pick up a copy of the nar-rative for the Medallion Walk.n Leaving the museum, turn right and head south, following Main Street south until it passes under the bridge. At the top of the hill, stop and go over the very high river bluff and enjoy the view of the river. Just south is the place where the old San Antonio Road crossed the Colorado and provided the impe-tus for the town of Bastrop. Look back toward town and pretend you are Stephen F. Austin in 1821, seeing this place on his first trip to Texas and envisioning it as a great place to build a town.n Beginning to work your way back north, go under the bridge again and stop at Ferry Park. Swing while contemplating what the big art piece might represent.n Look back toward downtown and note the fork in the roads at the Masonic Lodge left is Main and right is Water. Take Water Street two blocks to the 1884 courthouse, with the copper dome. Go in and check out the great historic photographs on the walls. See if the

old district court room on the second floor is open. If so, imagine Atticus Finch at the trial in To Kill a Mocking Bird. Afterwards, go to the 1891 red-brick jail next door. It is now used for offices, but remains essentially the same as when it housed prisoners upstairs and served as a home for the sheriff down-stairs. Walk up the iron stairs to check out the cells, and imagine what it must have been like for the temporary residents.n Leaving the jail, head west on Pine Street back to Main. Walk along Main for two blocks, checking out the old buildings and imagine what the area would have looked like before automobiles and electricity changed the complexion of what was the only location of businesses 100 years ago.n Continue north a few blocks to Tracys Drive in Grocery, at the Cedar Street inter-section. Check out the interesting decor of this six-decades-old institution. Ask the clerk to cut off a hunk of rat cheese to munch on while observing the interplay between work-ers and customers. Ask who is Tracys favorite nephew. Before you leave, buy a banana and a package of saltine crackers (broken down from a regular box of four and sold cheap). You will need these for the next two activities.n Retrace your route to Farm Street and turn right. Head down the hill to Fishermans Park. Follow the road to the river and find some very fat ducks, being careful because the city council has declared them protected fowl. Open the box of crackers and begin feeding. Walk upriver a few hundred yards to find a small sand bar. Have a rock skipping contest. If you are interested in learning more about

protected fowl, continue back on Farm Street several blocks past Main to check out the area between the railroad tracks and Highway 95. Look for the wild, ownerless chickens run-ning loose. These are objects of a 2009 con-troversy that resulted in the city councils passing a special ordinance protecting them from harm. Note the name of the street you are on. Take a picture standing under the banners that warn drivers to watch out for the protected chickens in this unique sanctuary.n Go back to the Main Street and shop at the cool stores. You dont have to buy anything, but you will be tempted. Stop at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets for a break at Lock Drug. Step up to the old-time fountain. Present your banana and ask them to make a banana split for you. Or maybe just get an old fashioned ice cream cone.n Get out your copy of the narrative for the Medallion walk along Chestnut Street. Start at Main and walk east, noting the unique de-signs on the medallions and reading about the history they represent. See if you can spot any mistakes. Note the fire station on the left and the meaningful statue of a fireman res-cuing a child. Think about the forest fire that caused so much damage east of town in 2011. Give thanks for firefighters everywhere. When you reach the city hall, stop in for a bathroom break and to see the photos on the wall. Cross the street to check out the convention center and follow the north-side medallions on your way back to Main Street.n Continue west of Main, walking out on the old 1924 bridge. Holler something funny at the people on the river walk below. Imag-

ine what you would have seen standing there during the 1935 flood when water came within a few feet of the road bed. Go out over the water and spit into the river. (Be careful to miss kayakers and tube-floaters.) Later, ask a resident if this qualifies you for membership in the International Society of Bridge Spit-ters, of which Opie Taylor is the international Chief Expectorator.

No money necessary for fun while visiting Bastrop

Bastrop County visitors and residents who find themselves in need of medical attention can put their treatment in the hands of two of Central Texas biggest health care names: St. Da-vids Healthcare and Seton Healthcare Family.

St. Davids emergency center - Bastrop

Opening in June of last year, the St. Davids Emergency Center - Bastrop is a full-service, stand-alone emergency department thats open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The center is under the medical direction of Dr. Corey Jones, who has more than 10 years of experience in the field, having previously served as chairman of emergency medicine and medical director at St. Davids Medical Center in central Austin.

The center is staffed by experienced, board-certified emergency room physicians and trau-ma-certified nurses and features the equipment to handle emergencies ranging from sports in-juries and snake bites to respiratory distress and heart attacks to strokes and head injuries. They

also provide outpatient X-rays, CT scans, ultra-sounds and lab draws with notes from a physi-cian. Between October 2012 and April 2013, the center administered more than 650 free flu vac-cines.

In its first ten months of operations, the St. Davids Emergency Center provided care for nearly 12,000 patients, transferring approxi-mately 1,200 of those to a full-service hospital for further treatment.

St. Davids Emergency Center - Bastrop is located at the site of the former Lakeside Hos-pital, 3201 Texas 71 East in Bastrop. Their phone number is 512-816-2300, while their website can be found at stdavids.com under the Loca-tions & Facilities tab.

Seton Smithville Regional Hospital

Located off Texas 71 just east of downtown Smithville, Seton Smithville Regional Hospital offers a diverse range of services, from diagnos-tic imaging to physical therapy to intensive care,

in addition to emergency treatment and inpa-tient and outpatient surgical procedures.

Seton Smithvilles commitment to providing good treatment for patients begins before they even walk through the door. At the end of 2012, the hospital ER launched a new, online registra-tion system designed to cut down waiting times for patients with less severe injuries or ailments.

Instead of waiting in the ER to get treatment for a sprained ankle or other non-life-threaten-ing complaint while higher priority patients are treated, residents can log in to SetonER.com and designate an arrival time to allow them-

selves to wait in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible before coming to the fa-cility. The system is designed to recognize key symptoms and patterns in order to recommend that patients seek immediate care in the emer-gency room.

In addition to the hospital, Seton operates Seton Riverbend Home Health and Towers Nursing home in Smithville.

Seton Smithville Regional Hospital is locat-ed at 800 E. Texas 71 in Smithville. Their phone number is (512) 237-3214. Look under Our Lo-cations at www.seton.net for more information.

Two big names in medical careSeton Smithville Regional Hospital800 Texas 71 EastSmithville, Texas 78957(512) 237-3214seton.net/locations/seton_smith ville_regional_hospital/

St. Davids emergency center3201 Texas 71 EastBastrop, TX 78602(512) 816-2300stdavids.com/locations-facili ties/emergency-center-bastrop.aspx

ScHool DISTRIcTSn Bastrop school district: 512-321-2292; bastrop.isd.tenet.edun elgin school district: 512-281-3434; elginisd.netn Smithville school district: 512-237-2487; smithvilleisd.orgn mcDade school district: 512-273-2522; mcdadeisd.info

GoveRnmenTn Bastrop: 512-332-8800; cityofbastrop.orgn elgin: 512-281-5724; elgintx.comn Smithville: 512-237-3282; ci.smithville.tx.usn Bastrop county: 512-332-7201 or 512-581-4000; co.bas-trop.tx.us

If you need help


outdoors

The Colorado River is one of Bastrops most popular destinations for recreation-al canoeists, adventurous hikers and es-pecially for those looking for a full day of family fun.

Whether strolling along the June Pape River Walk at Fishermans Park in Bastrop or fishing off the pier at Smithvilles Riv-erbend Park, the beauty of the Colorado is all-inclusive.

Its such an alluring river, in fact, that a portion of the river was recognized in 2007 as the El Camino Real Paddling Trail by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

In 2008, the Wilbarger Trail, a new section of the paddling trail, was dedi-cated. The trail flows through a unique geological formation that bisects Calvert Bluff just upstream from Bastrop.

The Colorado River is rated as a Class I river, meaning it has very few hazards and is appropriate for beginners there are no severe whitewater rapids or other ma-jor hazards, but there are a few points in the river where the water moves swiftly or where there are minor rapids, or where a downed tree that has fallen into the river may cause some trouble.

There are a variety of different trip lengths available that are short enough to be appropriate for tubing, a popular Texas pastime. But most trips are too long for a tube and a canoe or kayak is the pre-ferred method.

Both allow easy maneuvering through the gentle waters and offer an excel-lent opportunity to sneak up on wild-life since there are no motors allowed. The banks are, for the most part, heavily wooded, meaning that the sounds of the city soon disappear and are replaced by the calls of birds and the rippling of the water. The roads that cross the river, or come near to it, are few and far between and it is easy to feel instantly transported to another time.

While the banks of the river are private property, there are occasional gravel bars and islands that offer an opportunity to get out and stretch the legs or spend an overnight campout.

The time of the trips varies with the speed of the river flow and the length of the trip. There are five- and six-mile trips that take a few hours, 14-mile trips that can take most of a day and even 26- or 38-mile trips that generally require planning for an overnight campout somewhere along the way.

El Camino REal

Paddling trailThis wide, slow-moving six mile trail

will take you approximately 1.5 - 4 hours, depending on flow and stops for picnics or enjoying the scenery along the way.

The trail was officially named in 2007, but it has always been a beautiful float

and the perfect ride for those looking for a half day on the river.

Only three other cities in Texas have received the prestigious trail designation. The El Camino Real Paddling Trail starts at Fishermans Park and ends at Lost Pines Recreational Trails near Tahitian Village. The El Camino Real Trail connects with the 14-mile Wilbarger Paddling Trail, which originates at the FM 969 bridge in Utley and will connect with the four-mile Red Bluff Paddling Trail, which will start at Lost Pines Recreational Trails and end at ColoVista. Directions to take-out point: from Highway 71, look for the light at the junction of Loop 150 and Tahitian Drive on the east side of Bastrop. At light for

Loop 150 and Tahitian Drive turn south onto Tahitian Drive. Follow 2.2 miles to end of road. Turn right onto Riverside Drive and continue for 1.8 miles past golf course and equipment shop onto gravel road (bearing left). Entrance to LPRT will be on left. Follow loop trail to river access point, look for Paddling Trails kiosk.

The paddle trail is named for the El Camino Real de los Tejas, a land trail run-ning between Mexico and Nacitoches, La., more than 300 years ago. The trail, which crossed the Colorado River at Bastrop, was well-beaten by such his-torical figures as Moses Austin and his son, Stephen F. Austin, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett and Sam Houston. This trail was

made possible through a partnership be-tween Texas Parks and Wildlife Depart-ment, city of Bastrop, Bastrop Economic Development Corporation, Bastrop Visi-tor Center, Bastrop County Water Control and Improvement District No. 2, Discover the Lost Pines, Rising Phoenix Adven-tures, Environmental Stewardship, Pines & Prairies Land Trust and LCRA.

To learn more about the paddling trails visit,

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/inland/bastrop or www.lcra.org./community/ecodev/crt/river_users_guide.html.

Planning a river tripOne of the most important elements

of any river trip is planning ahead. Here are some tips to make your trip more en-joyable while staying safe:n Consider the weather when planning your river trip. Texas weather can change rapidly, particularly during the spring. Floods can occur quickly. The National Weather Service broadcasts continuous weather information, but to receive these transmissions you need a special weath-er radio. Frequencies used for broad-casts are 162.400 from Austin to Bastrop, 162.500 from Bastrop to Eagle Lake and 162.425 from Eagle Lake to the Gulf.n Research as much information as pos-sible about the stretch of river you wish to boat or canoe. Large-scale USGS top-ographic maps and aerial photographs are available from a number of sources including government agencies, particu-larly the Texas Natural Resources Infor-mation System (TNRIS) and map stores.n Call the LCRA for recorded lake and river information at 512-473-3333 or 1-800-776- 3333. This information can be used to determine if releases are being made from upstream dams to estimate how long your trip may take.n Decide on the length of your float trip and identify legal access points for launching and take out. For most people, 10 river miles are more than enough for a day trip. Know your abilities and limita-tions. Always plan to complete your run by dark.n Be sure to lock vehicles at both put-in and take-out locations and dont for-get your car keys. Become familiar with your take-out location by walking down to the river and taking note of signs or other landmarks. Whenever possible, talk to someone who has previously run that stretch of river.n Do not travel alone. If possible, have at least two boats per outing. At the same time, try to avoid mixing faster craft with slower ones. Always let someone know where you are going and your approxi-mate return time.n Leave pets, firearms and valuables at home.

Colorado River - Bastrops get away from it all hot spot

The Colorado River Bridge sets a beautiful backdrop for recreational fun.

What better way to spend the day than by relaxing at the river and feeding the ducks at Fishermans Park.


outdoors

Bastrop state ParkWhether youre looking for a getaway

close to home or youre visiting the area, Bastrop State Park is a great option. The park, located east of downtown Bastrop on Highway 21, offers hiking, swimming, golf-ing, camping and much more.

The park rests of 5,926 acres in the fa-mous Lost Pines, an isolated region of lob-lolly pine, cedar and oak trees.

The design of the park, which was built in the 1930s mostly by workers with the Ci-vilian Conservation Corps, served as the ba-sis of the style of all Texas state parks.

On Sept. 4, 2011, the park was closed due to the Bastrop County Complex Fire, which ultimately burned as much as 96 per-cent of the park and threatened cabins and most other park structures, most of which were ultimately saved.

Since that time, restoration efforts have gotten under way and many community groups and students from elementary school up through colleges and universi-ties, have contributed time and manpower to plant new seedlings to help restore the Lost Pines.

Before the fire, the park had started a series of capital improvement projects to replace roofs, improve accessibility and upgrade facilities and infrastructure to the parks cabins and camping facilities.

Each of the 14 cabins in the park come equipped with air conditioning, fire-place, kitchen with microwave, refrigera-tor, stovetop, waist-high grill outside and a bathroom with sink, toilet and shower.

The cabins also have new roofs the old ones were replaced after the fire.

The cabins accommodate two to six peo-ple each; one cabin is fully ADA-accessible. Reservations can be made in advance by calling the states central reservation system at 512-389-8900.

Other facilities have tent and RV camp-ing areas with ADA accessibility and up-graded bath and toilet facilities. Visitors will also find an 8.5-mile hiking trail with primi-tive camping permitted without fires.

The Lost Pines Lodge accommodates eight people in air-conditioned and heated comfort. The lodge has a stove, refrigerator, oven and bath facilities. For larger groups, a group camp is available which can ac-commodate up to 90 people. The facility in-cludes four dorms.

There is also a heated combination din-ing and recreation hall, which can accom-modate 90 people and is furnished with tables, chairs, refrigerator, stove and outside barbecue pit.

The park also features a 365,000-gal-lon swimming pool, with a liner that was replaced last year; the poolhouse features a new roof and showers. A snack bar is lo-cated inside the facility and picnic tables are located nearby.

The park has opportunities for back-

packing, camping, climbing, picnicking, hiking, biking, canoeing and fishing.

A 10-acre lake at the park is stocked with perch, bass and catfish for anglers of all ages to test their skills. A fishing license and en-trance fee is required.

For more information, call Bastrop State Park at 512-321-2101 or call park informa-tion toll-free at 1-800-792-1112.

Buescher state ParkBuescher State Park is located two miles

northwest of Smithville just off Highway 71 on FM 153. The park is just east of Bastrop State Park and the two are connected by Park Road 1C.

The scenic 12-mile long, winding, hilly road between Buescher and Bastrop state parks is an ideal setting for a scenic bike

ride, but should only be used by experi-enced cyclists.

A variety of campsites, cabins, shelters and pavilion locations are available.

There are 35 campsites with water, which may be rented for $12 per night and 32 campsites with electric and water hook-ups, which start at $17 per night and may be rented weekly or monthly during non-peak times.

The park offers three cabins, housing a maximum of four people each for $75 per night.

Two screened shelters are available with picnic tables, electric outlets, lights and water nearby. A fire ring and an up-right grill are also available for $25 per night.

Two premium screened shelters are available with ceiling fans, electric outlets, picnic tables, smoker/grill and fire ring. The shelters, which are winterized during cold months and are ADA-compliant, rent for $45 per night.

A group recreation hall with kitchen and a capacity of 100 is available for $250 per day Saturday and Sunday and $200 per day Monday through Friday.

A group picnic pavilion with tables, electricity, fireplace and restrooms nearby are $40 per night.

The daily entrance fee for those 13 and older is $4 per day. There is a $2 charge for ages 13 and older who want to drive on Park Road 1C only.

State park season passes are available for $70 for one pass or $85 for two passes.

The park was created in 1936 with 318 acres of land donated by Emil and Eliza-beth Buescher. After Emil Bueschers death, his heirs donated an additional 318 acres.

Today, the park offers more than 1,000 acres of scenic area, including land ac-quired by the city of Smithville.

The park is adjacent to the MD Ander-son and UT Cancer Research Center.

El Camino Real once ran near the park, connecting San Antonio de Bexar with Spanish missions in East Texas.

Original park improvements were made by workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps and their work may be seen today in various locations around the park.

The park has 7.5 miles of hiking trails through a variety of terrain, including dense forest cover and provides prime na-ture study.

The park offers a wide range of activi-ties, including a 25-acre lake that is stocked with crappie, bass, perch and rainbow trout. Boats are permitted on the lake, but not gas powered motors. The park does offer canoe rentals. There is no launching ramp and the lake is kept at a consistent level with a water well pump.

For more information, contact Bue-scher State Park at 512-237-2241.

State parks inexpensive way to get back to nature

Want to get away from it all, close to home? Bastrop State Park offers rental cabins, as well as other camping facilities.

Bastrop State Park offers a wide variety of outdoor pursuits, including hiking, camping, fishing and canoeing.

Bastrop County is home to a total of 32 lakes, but the abundance of fishing holes can be found at Lake Bastrop, the Colorado River or in the ponds at two of the beautiful state parks. All four water havens are located less than 15 miles away from downtown Bastrop.

Lake BastropRecently rated one of the top 10 bass

lakes in the state by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Lake Bastrop was created in 1965 as a power plant cooling pond.

Lake Bastrop is a high-quality bass lake, heavily stocked with Florida largemouth bass. Bass can be caught all year long, but the best bass fishing is February through June.

During hot weather, fishing in the early morning is best. Later in the day, use deep diving baits. In cool weather, crank (rogues or spinner baits), jigs and spoons are good.

For the night fisherman, lights are per-mitted. Use minnows for crappie.

Some fishing restrictions do exist for Lake Bastrop. In addition to a Texas fishing license, fishermen must adhere to maximum limits on largemouth bass caught at the lake.

Black stripe bass, largemouth bass, crap-pie, channel catfish, yellow and flathead fish, perch and blue catfish inhabit the lake and are abundant in supply and size.

Rainbow trout are not stocked at Lake Bastrop because the water is heated by use at the power generating station, making the lake too warm for trout to survive.

The 906 surface acres of water make up

a comfortable lake. There are plenty of hot spots with ample places for fish to thrive.

The lake is located on FM 1441 outside of the Bastrop city limits. To get to Lake Bastrop, head north on Texas 95 and take a right on FM 1441.

The Lower Colorado River Authority controls Lake Bastrop. Visit www.lcra.org for more information.

Colorado RiverIts hard to miss the Colorado River,

flowing through the heart of Bastrop. Fish-ing, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking and

photography are just a few of the pleasures that can be enjoyed on or near the river.

Fishing the Colorado is pleasant and productive for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Because the river is so lightly fished, there is an abundance of Guadalupe bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel and flathead catfish and perch.

Additionally, because of the nature of the river, it is relatively easy to determine where the fish are located.

Just look for deep holes and areas with structure, such as brush logs and sub-merged rocks.

Some fishermen feel that the rivers fish are less lure-wise, and not as cagey as game fish in more heavily-fished areas.

If you are interested in wetting your line in the Colorado, there are four public access points and fishing piers in Bastrop County.

The most convenient to Bastrop is Fish-ermans Park at the west end of Farm Street, walking distance from downtown. There is shore access as well as a launching ramp.

Wooden docks are also good places to pick a spot for a folding chair. Picnic and restroom facilities are available in the park.

To the east of Bastrop is the Smithville boat ramp, located where Texas 95 crosses the Colorado River.

Smithvilles ramp is approximately 13 miles east of Bastrop on Texas 95. The access road is on the northeast side of the bridge.

To the west of Bastrop on FM 969, near Utley, is the Utley Bridge.

Below the Utley Bridge is a boat ramp and fishing area. The bridge is approximate-ly six miles west of the intersection of Texas 71 and FM 969.

The Colorado River is best navigated in a flat bottom boat, canoe or raft. Gas and electric powered motors are allowed.

Life vests are recommended, especially for weak swimmers and children. The best tackle for river fishing is lightweight spin-ning or casting rods or fly rods for the more experienced angler.

Buescher and Bastrop state park pondsFor the angler with more exotic tastes,

the pond at Buescher State Park is stocked with rainbow trout. The best time to catch rainbow trout is during the winter. During the summer, the heat makes the trout list-less and unwilling to bite.

The best trout bait is salmon eggs and/or canned corn on a small perch hook. Fly-fishing is not very successful because of the lack of moving water.

A fishing license is not required of anyone who fishes from the pier or shore-line inside a state park. Statewide bag and length limits apply whenever fishing and each park requires a daily entrance pass. Both park lakes also stock perch, bass, crap-pie and catfish.

Since there are no boat ramps, anything that can be carried to the water such as ca-noes, kayaks and anything with a trolling motor is permitted. Neither park permits gas-powered boats.

Feel like getting out and enjoying nature in a developed - but still completly natural - area? There are many places like that in Bastrop County. Two of the most enjoyable are McKinney Roughs and the Lost Pines Nature Trails Project.

McKinney RoughsMcKinney Roughs is a 1,100-acre nature

park where characteristics of four ecosys-tems - Post Oak Savannah, Blackland Prai-rie, East Texas Piney Woods and a riparian zone - converge to create an unusual blend of natural resources. Located just west of Bastrop on Texas 71, McKinney Roughs is home to hundreds of plant and animal spe-cies living within the rolling box canyons, wildflower meadows and lazy river bends of the Texas Colorado River.

McKinney Roughs is a day use park where visitors can explore close to18 miles of trails by foot or horseback (bring your

own horse) or take part in one of the parks many community programs. At the Visitors Center, pay your entrance fee and get the latest trail information. Peruse the gift shop and learn about the areas indigenous spe-cies through interactive exhibits and why the river is the reason for the presence and protection of this natural area.

There are plenty of events going on at McKinney Roughs, including: natural sci-ence programs, special event facility rental, challenge course, river trips and an awe-some summer nature camp.

For information or reservations call 512-303-5073 or 800-776-5272, ext. 8021 or check the website at lcra.org/parks and look for McKinney Roughs under developed parks.

Lost Pines NatureTrails Project

The Lost Pines Nature Trails Project

is a multi-phase project to develop recre-ational biking and walking trails on a 30-acre tract of land along the Lower Colo-rado River, adjoining and connecting 60 acres known as the Pines & Prairies Land Trust Colorado River Refuge. This ongoing project includes restoration of the wetland and riparian habitats, restoration of the ex-isting trails, and continued development of ADA accessible trails on the property. Once completed, the two projects will en-compass nearly 90 acres of towering ripar-ian forest land, wetlands, springs, majestic bald cypress, pecan trees, and unusual geological outcroppings along three miles of serene river frontage.

To get to the nature area, drive through Tahitian Village to Riverside Drive, turn right, drive past the golf course and bear left onto gravel road.

For more information, check environ-stewardship.org.


ouTdooRs

Get out and enjoy nature

Let the nature child inside of you out for a day - find one of the local trails to become one with Mother Earth. Pictured, strolling along a trail at McKinney Roughs.

Lake Bastrop rated a top 10 bass lake in Texas by TPWD

The pond at Bastrop State Park is a popular spot for a family fishing adventure.


outdoors

City of Bastrop ParksThe City of Bastrop has a variety of parks

and recreational options. There are inviting opportunities for a cookout, a pickup bas-ketball game, enjoying a picnic or launch-ing a canoe trip down the Colorado River, and an amazing new Splash Pad, located in Fishermans Park.

Fishermans Park is perhaps the best known and most popular among Bastrops city parks. Located along the banks of the Colorado and a stones throw from down-town Bastrop, the park offers a 10-foot-wide lighted sidewalk known as the June Pape Riverwalk that runs nearly a mile through the park to Ferry Park beneath the old Loop 150 Bridge, also known as the old iron bridge. The riverwalk is a popular spot for Bastropians looking to catch an early morn-ing jog before work, take a leisurely stroll during the lunch hour or get in a workout over the weekend.

Also featured at the park are a multi-pur-pose field for baseball, softball and soccer, plus a basketball and sand volleyball courts, a playscape, two pavilions, a boat ramp, picnic tables and benches. The addition of

a splash pad graces the park and adds to its amenities, all of which helps the park play a big role in hosting many community gather-ings and events each year.

During the holiday season, for exam-

ple, the park hosts the impressive River of Lights, featuring Christmas-themed scenes and exhibits with music and a wonderland of lights that fascinate all who view it up front and personal or viewing the beauty

from the old iron bridge.Bob Bryant Park is notable for 4,200 feet

of nature trails with benches, an observa-tion deck and a canoe launch/fishing pier. The park is at the intersection of Charles Street and Schaffer Boulevard in the River-side Grove subdivision and has horseshoe pits, a sand volleyball court, swings and a multi-purpose field. Weekends often find the park hosting pickup football or soccer games with its abundant grassy areas.

Because of its access to the west side of the Colorado River, Bob Bryant is also a popular spot for those looking to cast a line in the water and see what bites. And, like Fishermans Park, Bob Bryant is a perfect launching point for adventurous souls seek-ing to take a canoe excursion down the Col-orado River toward Smithville, where swim-ming and camping on sandbars are possible at many turns.

Ferry Park is located at the intersec-tion of Water and Main streets at the south end of the Riverwalk and features a small playscape, one of the citys first outdoor art

Bastrop offers many great parks

Playgrounds, such as this one at Bob Bryant Park, offer the opportunity for fun and exercise in a relaxed setting.

ElginElgin parks are popular gathering

spots that retain a bit of history while of-fering plenty of fun for youth and adults.

Veterans Memorial Park, located in downtown Elgin at 109 Depot St., is one of the most popular parks in Elgin. It is also known by locals as City Park and the focal point for a multitude of com-munity gatherings and celebrations. The park honors veterans of WWI (with a field canon and plaque) and was built on the site of the old railroad depot in the 1930s.

Bring the family to some of the popular events, such as the Movies in the Park and Music in the Park series and Elgins Chile Pepper Fiesta. Visitors can relax in the wooden gazebo or on one of 12 benches that sit under the rows of large crepe myr-tles that have become one of the parks signature features.

The picturesque Elgin Memorial Park at Texas 95 and Main Street encompass-es 26 acres of rolling land covered with hundreds of elm trees and sits adjacent to the Elgin softball and baseball fields. Also included on its grounds are two sand volleyball courts, a playground, three ten-nis courts, barbecue grills and a covered pavilion that commonly hosts parties and

events. The park is the site of the annual Western Days Celebration and Firemens Barbecue Cook-Off and the annual Elgin

Community Easter Egg Hunt.The citys largest park is Shenando-

ah Park and Greenbelt, located west of downtown Elgin on 1490 North Avenue C. The park is 40-plus acres and includes soccer fields, picnic tables and benches as part of the first phase of its construction, begun in 2003. Future developments, part of the citys Open Space Master Plan for 2011-2021, include adding park lighting and vehicle parking and improving the connectivity of walking trails.

Morris Memorial Park is located on North Avenue C on the grounds of the former Morris Hospital. The park, which

covers 14 acres and is one of the most popular in the city, was constructed in 1996 and features an outdoor swimming pool, basketball court, playground equip-ment and a pond surrounded by a hike and bike trail, several picnic tables and other amenities. (For pool hours during the summer, see the citys website:www.elgintx.com and click on the tab Parks & Rec.)

Free wireless Internet connections are available and a pool at the park is open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Elgin Independent School Dis-trict uses the pool for its swim team.

Thomas Memorial Park is a 12-acre park located two blocks off McDade Road at 411 Madison St. Built in the 1970s, it is loaded with amenities including a baseball field, a playground, restrooms, a pavilion, picnic tables and a conces-sion stand. Numerous additions and im-provements have also been made in re-cent years, including a nine-hole disc-golf course, a volleyball court and playground equipment, expanded trail system and parking lot, renovated bathrooms and ad-ditional picnic and barbecue areas.

Five parks offer many recreational opportunitiessee BAstroP, page 36

see PArKs, page 36

The pool in Morris Memorial Park in Elgin is a popular place during the summer.

Elgins Memorial Park has playscapes for youngsters.


outdoors

Yearning to practice your swing in Bastrop County? Not to worry, there are several excellent courses available for your pleasure.

The Pine Forest Golf Club is uniquely situated in the hills and valleys along the Colorado River in Tahitian Village, located at 636 Riverside Drive.

Desgined by Bill Martindale and Dan January and completed in 1979, the 18-hole facility has been privately owned for the past 20 years.

The goal has always been to provide a public course that is affordable and fun to play.

The course is a challenge from the up tees at 4,966 yards or the back tees at 6,569 yards. It has practice areas, a fully-stocked pro shop and a snack bar providing break-fast, lunch and a great hamburger. They gladly host group outings and tournaments are willingly hosted.

Memberships are affordable for individ-uals, corporations, driving ranges and on a trial basis.

The Pine Forest Golf Club offers the larg-est ladies golf association in Bastrop Coun-ty.

The individual player can also find a game with various groups most any day of the week.

More information can be obtained by calling the pro shop at 512-321-1181 or by visiting pineforestgolfclub.com .

Wolfdancer Golf ClubWith a growing reputation as one of the

most exhilarating public golf courses in the Southwest, Wolfdancer offers players three distinct terrains on which to test their game: rolling prairie land, a heavily wooded ridge-line and a river valley dotted with native pe-can trees.

Wolfdancer Golf Club, whose name pays tribute to the local Tonkawa heritage of Central Texas, rambles over a dramatic stretch of terrain dotted with oak, cedar elm and pecan trees and cut by the Colorado River, which dramatically frames the right side of layouts superb finishing holes.

Created by Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, the 7,205-yard, par-72 Wolf-dancer golf course opened in June 2006 and makes the most of the terrains natu-ral beauty. Wolfdancer Golf Club, a public course, occupies some 150 of the sprawling 405-acre Hyatt Lost Pines, which opened in June 2006 as well.

Wolfdancer Golf Club recently became a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in January 2012. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses awards certification to recognize golf courses that

protect the environment, conserve natu-ral resources and provide wildlife habitats. Achieving certification demonstrates a courses leadership, commitment and high standards of environmental management.

Wolfdancer Academy of Golf offers in-dividual instruction and family and group clinics by PGA certified instructors. Wolf-dancer Academy of Golf was established to promote and deliver a unique one-on-one customized golf learning experience.

Annual memberships are available. Un-limited golf, use of driving range and prac-tice facility, as well as discounts on other golf and resort amenities are included in family and individual memberships.

Check wolfdancergolfclub.com or call 512-308-WOLF for more information.

Lost Pines Golf CourseOriginally built in 1937 on land donat-

ed to the state by the city of Bastrop, this

unique golf course is surrounded by pine, cedar and oak trees. The course, located in Bastrop State Park, originally opened as a nine-hole course and was considered one of the best nine-hole courses in the state for many years.

The other nine holes were added to the course in the summer of 1998. The addi-tion was squeezed into 35 acres, but even with the small area, the back nine presents quite a challenge. Par for the course is 71, and it contains four sets of trees. Distance for the white tees is 5,729 yards and for the blue tees is 6,152 yards.

In 2011, Bastrop State Park was dam-aged by a wildfire that destroyed 5,900 acres, but the golf course was among the 1,000 acres spared.

Lost Pines has a fully-stocked golf shot and snackbar with cold sandwiches, drinks and snacks.

Check lostpinesgolfclub.com or call 512-321-2327.

Originally built in 1937 on land donated to the state by the city of Bastrop, Lost Pines Golf Course is sur-rounded by pine, cedar and oak trees. It was mostly spared from the 2011 wildfire that ravaged the Bastrop State Park.

With a growing reputation as one of the most exhilarating public golf courses in the Southwest, Wolfdancer offers players three distinct terrains on which to test their game: rolling prairie land, a heavily wooded ridgeline and a river valley dotted with native pecan trees.

Bastrops Lost Pines Golf Course has a sprinkler sys-tem to keep the greens lush through most of the year.

Dont forget your clubs when you come to Bastrop County


events

Depending on the time of year you ar-rive in the area, you just might stumble upon one of the countys annual and plentiful - celebrations. In Bastrop, Yes-terfest celebrates the citys unique history and Homecoming is the time for class re-unions, a big parade, carnivals and fun. The weeklong Jamboree is the granddaddy of celebrations in Smithville. Elgins big events are Hogeye and Western Days, and in McDade, its the Watermelon Festival. Whether its celebrating the arts, the past or the community, these festivals provide fun for the whole family.

BastropnMartin Luther King Day The Bastrop County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King each year on the third Monday of January. The celebration ro-tates between the cities of Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville. In 2014, the 25th annual Bastrop County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Walk for Peace, Jus-tice, Equality and Non-violence will be in Elgin. The theme continues to be Re-member! Celebrate! Act! A Day On..Not a Day Off! For more information, call Dock Jackson at (512) 308-2213 or Bettye Lof-ton at (512) 963-2721.n Yesterfest Held all day long the last Saturday in April, the cultural celebra-tion of Yesterfest is a tribute to Bastrops pioneer past. This festival has musical entertainment, food, historic reenact-ments, staged gunfights, demonstrations, cowboy roping, dancing, a petting zoo and a full days entertainment. Sponsored by the Downtown Business Alliance and the Bastrop Opera House, Yesterfest cel-ebrates Bastrops early cultures. Organiz-ers turn downtown Bastrop into a replica of the town as it existed in the past and participants are invited to dress from many eras and explore Bastrops historic district. To find out more, call Debbie Denny at (512) 321-2557.n Bastrop/Smithville Relay for Life This event, which benefits the American Cancer Society and its Bastrop chapter, is held in April or May. The Relay is made possible by volunteer effort and involves two days of walking, running, camping out and playing games. However, the big-gest emphasis is on honoring cancer sur-vivors and remembering those who have lost their fight. Groups of people of all ages band together under their own cre-ative banner and historically high school students have been actively involved in the relay, which takes place at Erhard Field on Hill Street.n Juneteenth The third weekend in June is set aside in Bastrop to celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the day Texas slaves learned of their eman-cipation. In 2013, the celebration will be held June 13-15. The event kicks off this

year with a community wide worship service at the Providence Tabernacle on Thursday. Fridays schedule will feature the Bastrop Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee with soul food, awards and historic mo-ments along with dancing and music at the new convention center in a distinc-tively uptown type evening. Saturday is the big day with the grand parade which starts at 10 a.m. at Bastrop High School at the corner of Hill and Cedar and makes its way down Main Street. The Blue Flame Cruisers are hosting the annual car and motorcycle show at the Bastrop City Hall Parking lot from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The grand finale is a free street dance fea-turing the Blue Mist Band held downtown on Main Street for the enjoyment of the entire community. For more information, call Dock Jackson at (512) 303-2213 or go to Bastrop Juneteenth Celebration on Facebook.n Patriotic Festival The first Saturday of July is the date for the Patriotic Festival. In 2013, the parade and fireworks display is Saturday, July 6. The Patriotic Festival is an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebra-tion, complete with live band music and fireworks that locals and visitors enjoy from both the Fishermans Park and the Old Iron Bridge spanning the Colorado River. Beginning around 6 p.m., people start streaming down to Fishermans Park to enjoy the events. Many bring blankets or lawn chairs for their families, and food vendors are on hand. For more informa-tion, call the Bastrop Chamber at (512) 321-2419.n Pet & Pals Parade Local pet-lovers bring all sorts of animals, from dogs to rabbits to turtles to meet at the Bastrop County Courthouse, parade down Main Street and end at the Bastrop Public Li-brary, where snacks and prizes await.

Animals are dressed in red, white and blue to celebrate our countrys birthday. This relatively new parade is held in con-junction with the Patriotic Festival and is sponsored by the Downtown Business Al-liance.nHomecoming Parade and Rodeo Traditionally held the first weekend of August, graduating classes hold reunions and everyone comes home to Bastrop to watch a parade, dance the nights away, enjoy a rodeo and visit with friends and family. In 2013 Homecoming runs Aug. 1-3.

The rodeo is one of the best-attended events of Homecoming. It is held on May-fest Hill on Loop 150, behind the Ameri-can Legion hall and across the street from

the Bastrop State Park entrance.Theres plenty of beer, country danc-

ing and live music for adults and a car-nival for the youngsters. A dance follows each rodeo performance. Then theres the Saturday Homecoming parade, one of the largest parades in Bastrop. Floats from throughout the area roll along Main Street to the delight of spectators, young and old. There is typically a CASI chili cook-off held in conjunction with Home-coming. Returning this year will be a special assembly of classes. The classes will gather at the new Bastrop Conven-tion Center and Exhibit Hall for reunions, food and fun. The Bastrop Homecoming Committee organizes the event and posts updates on their Web site, www.bastro-phomecomingrodeo.org.n Colorado River 100 This marathon canoe race and adventure challenge runs from Fishermans Park in Bastrop to Co-lumbus and is the only 100-mile canoe race in Texas. The race this year will be held August 31st. This is a 36-hour race, with set cut-off times, for the dedicated canoeist wanting to test their mental and physical strength while enjoying some of the best views the river has to offer. Cash prizes are available to the winners. For entry fees, sponsorship information or race information, visit www.colorador-iver100.com.n Downtown Halloween Family Festi-val This major downtown celebration for people of all ages is sponsored by the Downtown Business Alliance and offers thrills, chills and of course candy. On Halloween, Bastrops Main Street is trans-formed into a spooky stretch with games, a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating, cos-tume contests for multiple age groups and a haunted house. In the evening, live music livens up the streets. Even Main Street business owners tend to dress up for a ghoulish good time.n Bastrop Art on the Green. A Saturday in October. Artists and craftsmen from across the county and beyond unite for this annual event. Youll see great works of art and, better yet, meet the artists who created them. The event is now held at the new Bastrop Convention and Visitors Center.n Veterans Day Classic Car Show A much-anticipated downtown event that becomes grander every year, the Veterans Day Classic Car Show features a special march honoring local veterans and hun-dreds of classic cars and a few customized modern cars on display from one end of Main Street to the other, with many cars spilling onto side streets. Many out-of-state guests make an appearance with their specially restored vehicles and mo-torcycles, as well as people from through-out Texas. The Veterans Day celebration

Theres always something happening in Bastrop County

Any pet is welcome at the annual Pet and Pals Parade, held in conjunction with the July 4th celebra-tions.

The Bastrop Juneteenth celebration - and parade - is a great time to celebrate a milestone in Texas history.

see events, page 22


EVENTSalso features food booths, bands and a street dance. The 2013 event is set for Nov. 9 and is sponsored by the Downtown Business Alliance.nHarvest Art Fest The annual Harvest Art Fest is always held on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving and is a grassroots effort benefiting the Bastrop Association for the Arts. Local artists show their wares and there are 25 to 30 artists of every kind. Offerings include paintings, jewelry, pottery, leatherwork, T-shirts, hand-turned wooden bowls and more. In past years the fest was held at the Farmers Market on Chestnut Street. Call organizer Chris Klink, who has planned the event for more than 20 years, at (512) 303-9599 for updates.n River of Lights Shortly after Thanks-giving and until the New Year, Bastrop shows off lighted holiday displays on the June Hill Pape Memorial Riverwalk be-tween Fishermans Park and the Old Fer-ry Park. The Bastrop Chamber and local businesses sponsor nearly 100 light dis-plays to add a festive glow to the trail. The half-mile stroll down the trail is free, but you might want to bring a few dollars for the various nonprofits, including Bastrop Pink Santa, that adopt the trail on vari-ous nights.n Lighted Christmas Parade Set in 2013 for Dec. 14, this holiday evening staple is always a big draw. The nighttime lighted parade moves down Main Street and has featured the Bastrop Honeybears and high school band and other floats.

Santa Claus is also on hand for photos and hugs. In past years, choreographed dance performances delighted crowds after the parade. Sponsored by the Down-town Business Alliance, the parade be-gins at Bastrop High School and ends in historic downtown Bastrop. Stores typi-cally stay open late downtown during the month for Christmas shopping and many offer refreshments for guests.nHistoric Homes Tour Set in 2013 for Dec. 14, this event features homes and/or historical buildings that are open to the public. This is a popular event each year sponsored by the Bastrop County His-torical Society in which Bastrop residents and visitors can enter the old homes of Bastrop and look around while knowl-edgeable docents answer questions and point out architectural and historical highlights.

For more information, call the Bastrop County Historical Society at (512) 303-0057.n Bastrop Pedal through the Pines. First Saturday in March. A series of bicy-cle rides loop through Bastrop State Park and the scenic countryside. SAG wagons provide support for this all-ages event.

Smithvillen Fish Fry and Fun Night This event, held the first Saturday in February at the Smithville Recreation Center at 106 Gaz-

ley St., benefits the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department and the Smithville Noon Lions Club. Visitors and locals buy a plate of fish to support local community efforts.n Thunder on the Colorado Biker Rally During this festival, the quiet little town of Smithville gets much louder as the rumbling of hundreds of motorcycles can you say Harley? converge for three days of biker games, live music, dancing, artisan vendors, food and drink. You must be 21 or older to attend. The event is held the third weekend in March at Riverbend Park. In 2014 that would be March 14-16. The park is off Texas 71, about a mile past the Texas 95 exit into Smithville and just before crossing the Colorado River. Visit www.thunderonthecolorado.com. If you own a motorcycle, or are a motorcycle en-thusiast, or enjoy live music this event is

for you. Sponsored by the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce.n Jamboree Every town has its monster festival, and Smithvilles is Jamboree. The almost weeklong event celebrates with a Main Street parade, a pet show, carnival rides, live music, sports tournaments, a livestock show and sale, and plenty of country dancing. Jamboree is always held the week after Easter, beginning on Thursday and continuing on through Sunday afternoon. The 2014 event will be held 9-13. The bulk of it is celebrated at Riverbend Park (on the north side of Texas 71 as you drive into Smithville), but the Saturday afternoon parade is held in downtown Smithville, traveling down Loop 230 through the heart of downtown.A week before the parade, the Jamboree Queen is crowned and travels on a float a

week later in the afternoon parade spon-sored by the Jamboree Committee. The Jamboree is also a high school reunion week for Smithville, with many travel-ing back to their hometown to see old friends. Visit www.jamboreesmithville.com for more details and exact dates and times for events.n Smithville Fly-in and Luncheon Smithville is lucky enough to be the only town in Bastrop County with its own mu-nicipal airport. During this annual event held on the second Saturday in May, local families, aviation enthusiasts, and pilots gather at the Smithville-Crawford Munic-ipal Airport to watch air demonstrations, network, and enjoy lunch. The event is sponsored by the Smithville Area Cham-ber of Commerce.n Fourth of July Celebration Smith-ville residents celebrate Independence Day at the Smithville VFW at 557 Loop 230 N. with a parade, barbecue picnic, games and, of course, fireworks.n Casino Night If youre a fan of poker, craps, roulette, slot machines and black-jack, youll love this annual fundraiser in Smithville. For the dedicated poker en-thusiasts, the Chamber of Commerce has added a Texas Hold Em Tournament. The 2013 Casino Night will be held on Satur-day, July 27 at 6 p.m. at Smithville Recre-ation Center at 106 Gazley.n Citywide Garage Sale During this daylong event, homes throughout Smith-ville host individual garage sales and those outside Smithville city limits rent booths in the downtown Smithville area (along Main Street and Loop 230) offering their wares. Visitors are given free maps of garage sale locations (available at the Chamber of Commerce office located at First and Main Streets). In 2013, the event will be held Oct. 5. ( It is always held the first Saturday in October).n Texas Photo Festival Grab your camera and tripod and join the Smithville Music and Film Commission for a fun, educational adventure in photography on the second Sunday in October (the 2013 event will be held on Sunday, Oct. 13). Downtown Smithville becomes the backdrop full of live models, action shot opportunities, a runway fashion show, and charming, historic scenery for every skill level of photographer. This free event allows participants to grab shots within the Photo Zone and share them at the mixer at days end for a photo contest. For more information, contact the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce at 512-237-2313 or visit www.texasphotofestival.org.n Festival of Lights Smithvilles holi-day celebration takes place downtown and includes two arts and crafts shows, a lighted Main Street parade after nightfall, a childrens festival and live music from area musicians and choirs. This Texas-style Christmas celebration is always held the first Saturday in December. In 2013, the festival is Dec. 7. The festival begins

See EVENTS, page 24

Continued from page 20

The main requirement for entries in Bastrops Lighted Christmas Parade is lights and that makes for a beautiful sight on a chilly winters evening.

The Veterans Day Car Show has become one of the largest draws in the state for unique - and colorful - antique vehicles.


EVENTSat 9 a.m. with a 5K race. Food booths are also available to hungry patrons start-ing at 10 a.m. Santa Claus is available in front of the Chamber of Commerce for pictures throughout the day for pictures and is traditionally on the final float of the parade, waving to onlookers from his own fire engine. Other activities include a gingerbread house and gingerbread man making arts and craft events for children at the Smithville Recreation Center as well as races and games downtown. For more information, contact the Smithville Chamber at (512) 237-2313.

Cedar Creekn Cedar Creek Family Festival Held for the past five years during the last weekend in March or the first weekend in April, this event offers a free lunch, mu-sic, face painting, guest speakers, a pet-ting zoo, local vendors and a drawing. In 2012 the festival moved to the new Cedar Creek Park on FM 535. Speakers spotlight Central Texas and Cedar Creek. Silent and live auctions cap off the event. Con-tact Cedar Creek Rotary Club for more information.

ElginFor updated event information please vis-it the citys facebook page at City of Elgin Mayors office and website www.elgintx.comn Elgin Flea Market Days Held the first Saturday of each month from February through December, Market Days is held at the Elgin Memorial Park at Texas 95 North and Main Street (Loop 109). Ven-dors bring everything from flea market to garage sale to craft items at the park. For information on booth spaces to partici-pate in this event, call Aletha Kreb (512)-757-1819n Elgin Relay for Life The Elgin Relay for Life in 2013 is April 12th at Elgin High Schools Wildcat Stadium at 14000 Coun-ty Line Rd. This community event sup-ports the American Cancer Society and not only raises funds for research and pa-tient services, but also raises awareness and gives hope to those touched by can-cer and their families. For more informa-tion call Krista Marx (512) 632-2342.n Elgin VFD BBQ Cook-Off The Fire-mans BBQ Cook-off is held at Elgin Me-morial Park. For details contact the Elgin Volunteer Fire Department at (512) 281-4025.n Elgin Community Wide Garage Sale The first Saturday in May, a community wide garage sale is held for anyone wish-ing to participate. For information on how to get on the map contact the Elgin Courier at (512) 285-3333.n Elgin Juneteenth Festival June-teenth in Elgin commemorates the day Texas slaves learned of their emancipa-tion. To honor this event, Elgin celebrates the occasion the second weekend in June 6-8 with a pageant on Thursday at the El-

gin Middle School. Saturday starts with a downtown parade at 10 a.m., music, food and vendors in the Veterans Memorial Park, and a dance in the park Saturday night. For more information, call Bettye Lofton at (512) 963-2721.n Elgin Western Days In 2013, the 44th Annual Western Days Festival hits Elgin June 18-22. The Western Days Festival begins with the Miss Western Days Pag-eant at the Elgin High School cafeteria on Tuesday night. A different event is sched-uled for each night. Events include a car-nival at the Park and Ride at Elgin Me-morial Park Thursday through Saturday. Friday night a free dance is held at the tennis courts in Elgin Memorial Park. Sat-urday is the big finale starting at 10 a.m. with a parade down Main Street, then arts & crafts booths, live music, and kids ac-tivities in Elgin Memorial Park. For more information, see www.elgintxchamber.com and click on the Western Days link.n Elgin Fourth of July Peoples Patriot-ic Parade & Celebration Push, Pedal, Pull and Pets is the theme of the annual parade and celebration held each year on July 4. Line up at 9:30 a.m. and the parade is at 10 a.m. It is a fun event for children, pets, adults, seniors and veterans. Every-one is invited to walk down Elgins Main Street from City Hall to Veterans Memo-rial Park for the celebration. All non-mo-torized entries are accepted. Food and fun follow the parade with a short pro-gram and a Soap Box Derby exhibition by the local Cub Scouts. For more informa-tion, visit www.elgintx.com.n Elgin Beach Party - Held in Elgin Memorial Park on July 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Watermelon, waterslide, sand

castle building, lemonade: A Day at the Beach! For more information, visit www.elgintx.com.n Elgin Hogeye Festival The annual Hogeye Festival held in downtown Elgins historic district and Veterans Memorial Park is for the entire family and features food, kids activities, handmade arts and crafts, music by local bands and plenty of pig puns to go around. Popular events are the Lone Star Car Club Car Show, In A Pigs Eye Dart Contest, Gordon Swenson Memorial BBQ Pork-Off, Cow Patty Bingo, carnival, and the crowning of King Hog or Queen Sowpreme. This years Hogeye Festival will be Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.n Elgin Holiday by the Tracks Held the first Saturday in December, includes a day of shopping at the local downtown businesses, music and entertainment in Veterans Memorial Park, the Art & Ar-tisans Showcase, and an opportunity to shop at the area Christmas tree farms. In 2013, Holiday by the Tracks will be held Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For event info, call (512) 285-4515 or visit www.elgintx.com.

McDadenWatermelon Festival Perhaps the most popular of events in McDade, this annual festival is capped by a parade that winds its way through downtown McDade and past the McDade General Store. Held annually since July 1948, friends from all over pour into McDade for this event. In 2013, the event will be held all day on July 13. Come on out and see the huge water-melons entered in the contest from far and wide.

nMcDade Heritage Day In 2013, the celebration of McDades history will take place in October in downtown McDade. Call (512) 273-2566 for more details.

Paigen Drive-by Chicken Barbecue/ Drive-by Chile Locals refer to these two unique fundraisers for the Paige Volun-teer Fire Department as drive-bys be-cause some people make their purchase and then drive away. The Drive-by Chick-en Barbecue is held the last Saturday in April at the Paige VFD on Washington Street, which intersects U.S. 290, the main highway through town. The drive-by chili fundraiser starts at 5 p.m. on the last Sat-urday in January. You cant miss the sta-tion with its five bright red doors. Rabies vaccinations are also offered during the event, fire extinguishers will be for sale and refills are available for fire extin-guishers.n Paige Community Centers Trade Days This year Trade Days will be June 1 - always the first Saturday in June. Past Trade Days have featured everything from antiques to homemade pickles, noodles, cakes, plants and veggies. The center is on U.S. 290, about midway through the Paige community. Another Trade Days is held the first Saturday in November, but offers more Christmas-related items. Call (512) 253-6607 for more information.n Paige VFD Annual Barbecue Benefit The event is held on the second week-end in October. The 2013 event is Oct. 12-13. Local businesses donate items to be auctioned. The fire department is at 166 Washington St. in Paige, 1 block off of U.S. 290.

Rocknen Spring Festival Every year since the mid-1940s, Rocknes Sacred Heart Catho-lic Church at 4045 FM 535 has hosted two annual festivals, the first of which is Spring Festival, held the Sunday before Memo-rial Day. The spring festival features plant booths with spring flowers for sale, as well as numerous booths offering cakes and oth-er baked goods, and games for adults and children alike. The event concludes with a dance held at the church hall behind the main church building.n Fall Festival Always held on the Sun-day before Labor Day, the Fall Festival is similar to the Spring Festival in that it also brings people together for a large lunch. However, this celebration also features a live auction in which there are always a few head of cattle and specialty items up for bid on the patio behind the school. A dance also concludes this festival. Call (512) 321-7991 for more information on these Rockne fes-tivals.n String Prairie Fall Fest During the last Sunday in October, St. Marys Church, an offshoot of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, invites the community to their fall festival. The event is similar to the Fall Fest held be-fore Labor Day. The church is on St. Marys Road off FM 304 in String Prairie.

Continued from page 22

Theres plenty to do at Smithville annual Festival of Lights, but the trike races are a popular event and get even funnier as the trikers get older and older.


entertainment

Spend the day with the majestic animals that once ruled the earth for over 150 mil-lion years.

The Dinosaur Park features a unique outdoor museum setting. Compared to most museums that have dinosaur skel-etons, its realistic life-size dinosaur repli-cas show skin and color variations to give a better understanding as to how they looked when alive.

The statues range in size from the 2-foot long Compsognathus to the newly added 85-foot long Brachiosaurus.

The tree-lined nature trail through the Dinosaur Park offers visitors a look at fau-na similar to that of the prehistoric times - making it easy to imagine dinosaurs in their natural environment long ago.

How about a 10-foot Coelophysis or a seven-ton Triceratops staring you in the face with nothing standing in their way?

Do not worry, dinosaurs are extinct, re-member and you wont find them walking about the grounds. But you can find addi-tional birds, fossils and giant insects hidden along the route.

The park showcases 18 dinosaur repli-cas, each life-size and with realistic features. Each replica is custom-made and built to order. There is no dinosaur replica whole-sale shop, so the Nunez family hires custom sculptors to build each one.

Other activities include a fossil-dig sand pit for young aspiring paleontologists and a T-Rex head for some seriously frightening photo-ops.

There is also a playground, picnic area and gift shop stocked with dino-themed toys, games, books, shirts and much more for young dinosaur fans.

The Dinosaur Park is owned by Daniel

and Linda Nunez. In 2002, when their three-year-old son developed an interest in dino-saurs, they scoped out places they could bring their child that would be educational, yet fun and enjoyable.

They wanted a place where dinosaurs appeared to be in their own natural en-vironment, while also allowing the kids a space to run and play.

When we couldnt find exactly what we

were looking for, we decided to build the Dinosaur Park for our kids and for your chil-dren, too, Linda Nunez said.

Dino Park features realistic life-size dinosaur replicas

Avary Kelton, 4, isn t afraid to climb through T-Rex s mouth at the Dinosaur Park.

Home to over 500 rare and beautiful wild animals, the Capital of Texas Zoo is the largest and fastest growing zoo in Central Texas with well over 400 family members enrolled with yearly member-ships.

Come welcome one of their newest members, Tank the Hippo, who takes refuge at the zoo in his newly built habi-tat. Tank is a one-year-old baby hippo who will soon grow to a couple of tons.

You can also find a herd of guinea pigs stampeding through their low-walled en-closure while Moses the camel and Rajah the Bengal white tiger continue to enter-tain guests.

Within its intimate atmosphere, the zoos mission includes wildlife education and focuses on the conservation of en-dangered species, to provide visitors with a unique experience.

Some of the animals in the Capital of Texas Zoos collection are there on breed-ing loans and others are rescue animals. But zoo director Michael Hicks says the main focus of the zoo is on education.

According to Hicks, the Capital of Tex-as Zoo performs the second-most educa-tional outreach programs in the country. With more than 500 events each year, its only slightly behind the Jack Hanna-affili-ated Columbus Zoo.

Take a walk onthe wild side atcountys zoo

Zoo volunteer Julia Wood holds Avery, the Umbrella Cockatoo, at the Capital of Texas Zoo.

iF YOU GO:n TheDinosaurParkisopenweekendsyear-round,withadditionaldaysaddedforspringandsummer.Seecalendaronwebsitefordetails.n Admissioniscurrently$7perperson.Childrenundertheageof24monthsgetintotheparkforfree.n TheParkislocatedonUnionChapelRoadoffTexas71inCedarCreek.AfterpassingthetrafficlightatCedarCreekHighSchool,takethenextleftU-turnontoUnionChapelRoad.OncefacingtheHighway71RVParkturnimmediatelyleftandlookforthesignanddriveway.n Formoreinformation,call512-321-6262orvisittheirwebsiteatwww.thedinopark.com.

Playgrounds, athletic fields and open spaces abound in Bastrop Countys state and city parks.

For youth looking for other forms of entertainment in Bastrop, however, there are options such as the Lost Pines 8 Movie Theaters, Bastrop Skating Palace and the splash park in Fishermans Park.

moviesGet some popcorn and check out the

latest releases while enjoying state-of-the-art stadium seats at Schulman Lost Pines 8

Movie Theaters.Outside of movies, another popular ac-

tivity is the bowling alley that features 16 lanes with a cosmic setup, black lights and music.

The sports bar offers a fully stocked ar-ray of beverages, billiard tables, a ten-foot projection screen and close to a dozen smaller televisions for watching sports. Trivia and poker night also regularly take place at the bar.

The mini golf course features 18 in-door holes that can be played under black

lights and the arcade offers a wide variety of games. With such a variety of entertain-ment located beneath one roof, Lost Pines 8 has become a popular spot for hosting lo-cal birthday parties.

Splash PadThe Splash Pad Park encompasses an

area approximately one acre in size near the basketball court at Fishermans Park. Inside the splash pad area, water pours down and shoots up from nozzles on the ground.

Keeping it cool for the kids & adults

See ZOO, page 28

See DinO, page 28

The events range from petting zoo dis-plays to demonstrations with exotic reptiles, mammals and birds, each of which are fun and educational.

The zoo is also available for field trips, with discounts for schools within Bastrop County.

Weekend shows are available Memorial Day through Labor Day at 10:30 a.m. for the bird show, Wings and 2:30 p.m. for the fa-mous reptile show, featuring Mr. Slithers.

Tours are also available at 1 p.m. on Sat-urday and Sunday. Tour numbers are limited to 15 people, so it is recommended that you reserve a spot at least 48 hours in advance by email ([email protected]) or phone (512-657-2682). Pricing is $39 for adults and $29 for children under the age of 12.

You can feed lemurs and zebras, watch the staff feeding the big cats and every tour is different.

Beat the heat and plan to visit the zoo as the sun goes down. Hear a lion roar, a pea-cock call and all the rustling and moving creatures who call the night home. Many of the animals are much more active, and inter-active, at night, so bring your flashlight.


ZOO from page 26

Live music in Bastrop County continues to mushroom.

Two of the larger new venues that are proving popular are the Bastrop Brew-house and Papa Woodys Icehouse in Paige. The Brewhouse, in The Crossing be-hind Main Street (and bordering the Colo-rado River just below the Old Iron Bridge), features a large outdoor stage that began hosting both local and major Texas acts in fall 2012. It also features an in-house brew-ery.

Papa Woodys opened in January 2012 and features many well-known Texas musi-cians, such as Roger Creager, as well as lo-cal talent, such as The Watts Brothers Band.

Other music-hall mainstays continue to occasionally offer touring and local music acts such as Watterson Hall, The Lum-beryard, Gracies in downtown Bastrop and the newer Brendas 1441 Caf (on FM 1441). There are also many area bars, res-taurants, outdoor festivals and other com-munity-sponsored events that are often supplemented with music. Many of the lo-cal music standbys have also increased the frequency of their live music events.

And there are a fair amount of open mike nights such as at the Bastrop Amer-ican Legion Post, Ronnies One Oak (see addresses below) and Quoffers in Elgin, that offer amateurs a fun night of singing to programmed music and/or with veteran musicians doing the backing on instru-ments.

Listed below are many but not all of the live music venues around the county. Since entertainment venues sometimes open and close without notice, or revise their music schedules in the course of a month or year, other options for finding out about current live music happenings are the various chamber of commerce website listings for individual towns, checking local newspapers for weekly listings and watch-ing for music notices often pasted up on the windows of local businesses.

One Bastrop listing www.musicinbas-trop.com is centered around The Lum-beryards offerings, but also lists live music available at other spots.

Music venues:American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop

150, Bastrop; phone: (512) 321-5555. Kara-oke, live music

Bastrop Brewhouse, 601 Chestnut St.

(in The Crossing), phone (512) 321-1144, live music

Brendas 1441 Caf, 395 FM 1441, (512) 321-3199, live music

Charlies in Smithville, 1200 NE Loop 230, phone: (512) 237-3382, open mike, live music

Cindys Downtown, 931 Main Street, Bastrop, phone (512) 321-117; karaoke, live music

Grace Miller (Gracies) Restaurant, 706 Pine St. in Bastrop; phone: (512) 332-2991, live music

Lumberyard Music Hall, 1109 Main St., Bastrop; live music dates posted out front. See website for schedule: musicinbastrop.com.

Maxines on Main, 905 Main St., Bastrop; phone: (512) 303-0919; live music varies

Ronnies One Oak Bar, 816 FM 1441, Bastrop; phone: (512) 321-0016, live music varies

Quoffers, 117 N. Main St. in Elgin; phone: (512) 281-0999; live music and ka-raoke

Bastrop VFW Post corner Texas 21 East and FM 1441, occasional live music.

Bastrop Opera HouseOne of downtown Bastrops most popu-

lar draws especially for out-of-towners as well as locals, is the stately Bastrop Opera House, located on Spring Street. Simply stated, it is an historical gem that continues to be the focal point of theatrical produc-tions, as well as hosting other events, within the downtown area.

Its goal, says executive director, Ches-

ter Eitze, is to be an historic structure that draws attention to Bastrop because we market the dramatic arts.

To Eitze, the growth of the Opera House over the more than 25 years that he has been its director has mirrored the growth of Bastrop, beginning with vaudeville shows and short melodramas. Its repertoire gradu-ally evolved, adding more shows, childrens theater and classes, a dinner theater and fi-nally bringing big productions Camelot, Oliver! and The King and I.

Today, the Opera House puts on a va-riety of productions, including works that feature the talents of local writers. Some of the productions performed or announced for this year include Echoes of Ireland, written by local playwrights Nick and Bon-nie Collier; the cabaret collection Bastrop Salutes Broadway and a reprise of Al-waysPatsy Cline.

The flat floor and absence of fixed seat-ing gives the main Opera House space the flexibility to host meetings, luncheons, din-ners, and more. Its been used by a number of movie productions Eitze says theyre often scouted because crews are excited about an antique opera house, but when they see the floor and seating arrangements they realize they can use it as a base of op-erations, a place for extras to sign in, meals to be eaten and wardrobes to be stored.

Show schedules and event rental infor-mation can be found on the Opera Houses web page, www.bastropoperahouse.com. Shows typically run for four to six weeks on Friday and Saturday nights, with special performances held on Thursday evenings or as a Sunday matinee.

Live music scene thrives in countyThe Bastrop Brewhouse in The Crossing along the Colo-rado River in downtown Bastrop hosts many well-known Texas music acts, as well as local musicians.

entertainment

Upstart BastropUpstart has been telling stories about Bastrop for over a decade.

Upstart is a public access TV station (channel 10/99), a video produc-tion laboratory, and a network of artists and computer/digital wizards. Visit UpstartBastrop.com to watch hundreds of local videos and to learn more about how you can get involved and show your support! We

specialize in low-to-mid budget, high-impact videos. Going viral is the goal! Promote. Produce. Document. 100 percent local Bastrop.

Call 512-321-2496 or email [email protected] to schedule a visit to our almost 10,000 sq. ft. facility/headquarters. Rent the 7,000 square foot multi-purpose ARC for meetings, barbecues, rehearsals, movie screenings and more.

The Dinosaur Park opened at the end of 2005.

We enjoy adding and changing things each year as we continue to grow, she said. We hope that all families will enjoy our na-ture park as much as we do.

The Dinosaur Park is open weekends year-round, with additional days added for spring and summer.

Admission is currently $7 per person and children under 24 months get in free.

DinO from page 26

This is one of the largest dinosaurs to walk the earth, the Brachiosaurus at over 85 feet long. This is one of the new additions to the park but don t strain your neck looking up to him.


entertainment

There are plenty of ways to revisit the past in Bastrop County - and Bastrop and Paige are home to two of them.

Bastrop museum and Visitor Center

Bastrop has a new resource where visitors can explore a myriad of opportu-nities available in Old Town Bastrop and throughout the region. Residents - new and old - can learn about the history of Bastrop or get assistance for histori-cal or genealogical research, and tour-ists can find an excellent starting point in Bastrop. The new facility at 904 Main St. (the previous site of the Bastrop City Hall) was dedicated on Jan. 26, 2013 as a state-of-the-art visitor center and an historical museum. The 1930s building, originally a fire and police station, has been beautifully restored for its current use.

Since its establishment in 1952, the Bastrop County Historical Society has worked diligently to collect and preserve materials and documents related to the history of Bastrop and Bastrop County. Museum artifacts span more than 200 years - from when Native Americans for-aged through the area to the present. Six years ago, the BCHS established a new strategic plan. Its mission to pre-serve and promote the history of Bastrop County set a principal goal of instilling Bastrop history into every community activity and outlined several key objec-tives. Those included expanding the mu-seum and the diversity of participation in BCHS, engaging the local business community in efforts and increasing lo-cal tourism. The former visitor center was opened in the spring of 2006 in the Old First National Building.

Thanks to the support of the City of Bastrop, a federal appropriation and donations from a broad array of local businesses and individuals and several successful fundraising events, BCHS was able to open the doors this year in the new facility.

The visitor center is fully operational and is open daily in the heart of Main Street. The first museum exhibit titled The Colorado River has been installed. Future exhibits to be installed this year include El Camino Real, a Timeline Ex-hibit, the Lost Pines Exhibit and a com-bination Baron de Bastrop/Stephen F. Austin exhibit which will entertain, edu-cate and reenforce the knowledge that Bastrop history is Texas history.

Future exhibits planned as soon as funding becomes available include His-toric Homes, Settlers, Fight for Indepen-dence, Cotton, Cattle, Coal and World War II/Camp Swift. Visitors can see art-ist renderings of future exhibits and sev-eral temporary exhibits throughout the building. A popular exhibit is Bastrops f

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