Texas – The Old Spanish Trail (O.S.T.)

The Old Spanish Trail Highway affectionately known in Texas as the “OST” is a 900 mile East-West pathway from Beaumont to El Paso established in the 1920’s. The highway route cobbled together some of the oldest roads and trails in the New Spain territory which were used prior to the 16^th century. Our travels will take us roughly along this historic highway system that girds the widest part of Texas. We’ll enter 5 of the 7 distinct state regions: Piney-Woods, Gulf Coast, South Texas Plains, Hill Country and Big Bend Country. Although most of the OST was swallowed up by the I-10 Corridor, many of the original sections still remain and pass through some of the most beautiful architecture and historic buildings in the country. These are the areas we’ll be exploring as we journey west through the land that has known such legendary characters as Davey Crockett, Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, Cabeza de Vaca, Hernan Cortes, the Franciscan Friars, the fearsome Apache and Comanche, and the indigenous peoples caught between them all. Texans are hugely proud of their history and there are no shortage of historical markers, sites, museums, re-enactments, restorations and events to not only “Remember the Alamo” but to remember all things Texas.

Beaumont, TX – the Gulf Coast Region

Welcome to Texas, Y’all! The Texas Welcome Center at Beaumont not only contained racks and racks of brochures and maps, it also provided a boardwalk into the swamp / marshland which surrounds this area. We were beginning to feel like we’d never leave the swamp! However, a few miles further west into the town of Beaumont, we noticed a drop in the humidity, Cajun restaurants were joined by Mexican and Tex-Mex places with tamales and breakfast burritos that kept us smiling!

Livingston, TX – the East Texas Piney Woods Region

In the heart of the tall pine forests of the Piney Woods Region, Livingston became our base for exploration. About an hour north of Houston and the O.S.T., it is centrally located to the Sam Houston and Davey Crockett National Forests, Lake Livingston State Park, Huntsville and the logging town of Lufkin, as well as the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s Reservation.

Sam Houston

Sam Houston is legendary in Texas. He is as memorialized here as Abraham Lincoln is in the North. And there’s a 67’ statue of him towering over the highway in Huntsville lest anyone in Texas forget. We visited both the Sam Houston statue park and the Sam Houston Museum to get to know this famous and revered Texan. Among his long list of accomplishments, he was the only person to ever have been governor of two states – Tennessee and Texas; statesman and lawyer; US Senator; led an army to defeat Mexican General Santa Ana after the Alamo; farmer; friend to many Indian tribes; and he was a key figure in the formation of Texas.

Hiking

The National Forests provide some great trails to explore including the Lone Star Trail. The dense understory and tall pines closed in around us as we ventured further along the paths, intensifying the heat and humidity. We set out at dawn on most days just to try to beat the record high temperatures Texas is experiencing. Some of the wildlife we encountered were wild hogs, deer, and familiar birds such as the woodpeckers, herons, and songbirds that we had seen in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Crawfish were also present along the trails or at least their funny mud nests were frequently near the banks of the rivers and creeks.

Lake Livingston State Park

The state of Texas impounded the Trinity River to form Lake Livingston in 1977. The reservoir serves the water needs of Houston and the surrounding areas and is the second largest lake within the state. Lake Livingston State Park offers boating, swimming, canoe/kayak rentals, fishing, picnic tables, pavilions, boat docks as well as an observation tower, hiking / biking trails, and camping.

Farmers’ Markets and Logging

We have begun to earnestly seek out local Farmers’ Markets and really enjoy talking with the farmers and purchasing their fresh produce and canned goods. During the summer months, farmers and vendors set up tents and tables in the Livingston Park each week. We also found a great year round market about an hour away in the logging town of Lufkin. After shopping and sampling the delicious local foods at Lufkin, we visited the Texas Forestry Museum. The tall pines in this region have provided the raw material for the logging industry which is still active today. The museum had a full logging train complete with station for visitors to climb aboard. On the roads, we passed many semi-trucks hauling stacks of the straight long trunks, and wherever we went, a subtle scent of pine was in the air.

Alabama-Coushatta Reservation

Sam Houston was a great friend of the area native tribes. He lived with the Cherokee and became a well respected member of the tribe. His famous leopard vest was a gift from one of the chiefs and it is said he wore it on the senate floor claiming that he, like a leopard, would never changes his spots. He established the Alabama-Coushatta Reservation as a reward for their help during the Texas War for Independence from Mexico. It is the oldest reservation in Texas and located near Livingston. Currently, the tribe manages a casino, retail stores and a campground open to the public. It was here that the 52^nd Alabama-Coushatta Pow-Wow was held and the whole community of Livingston was invited to attend. With food, vendors, musicians, singers and dancers, the tribe shared aspects of their culture and heritage which have been passed on from generation to generation.

The 52nd Alabama-Coushatta Pow-Wow.

Here are a couple short videos from the Pow-Wow Opening Ceremonies.

Campground Review: Rainbow’s End, Livingston TX

We stayed at the Escapees’ Rainbow’s End Park for several weeks while exploring East Texas Piney Woods region. We had a back-in site with full hook ups and shade. Site was dirt / gravel / sand, level, and had a picnic table. All utilities worked well. Bathroom/shower house and laundry room were cleaned daily but were not air conditioned. This park is the headquarters for the Escapees RV Club and the mail forwarding operation is centered here as well. It is very large with many permanent residents and a CARE facility for RVers that require assisted living arrangements. The people we met were friendly with a great spirit of camaraderie. Community center offers several activities and social gatherings each week plus a lending library, puzzle room and sewing room. The outdoor pool offered morning aqua-aerobics during the summer months. The park is located about an hour north of Houston. We had WiFi and very little T-Mobile service.