Discover 2020

2020 EDITION / VOL. 14
THE CROSSROADS
VICTORIA CALHOUN DEWITT GOLIAD JACKSON LAVACA REFUGIO WHARTON BEE ARANSAS






VICTORIA COUNTY
10 OUTLAW PASS OFFERS VARIETY OF FAMILY FUN
11 TEXAS ZOO BRINGS LIFE TO COMMUNITY, CONNECTS VISITORS WITH WILDLIFE
12 ROSE GARDEN OFFERS PEACEFUL, INTIMATE SPOT FOR VISITORS
11
20 26
28 31
14 VICTORIA HAS PLETHORA OF GOLFING OPTIONS
15 DISCOVER GOLF COURSES
16 VICTORIA SKATE PARK OFFERS SAFE HAVEN FOR CROSSROADS SKATERS
18 MUSEUM OFFERS COMMUNITY ART CARS, FINE ART
20 VICTORIA EDUCATIONAL GARDENS, A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, OUTDOOR STROLLS
22 RIVERSIDE STADIUM STANDS TEST OF TIME 24 FOOD FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AT DOUBLE J
EATERY
26 CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OFFERS IMAGINATIVE PLAY, LEARNING
CALHOUN COUNTY
28 SAND BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO KING FISHER
BEACH
30 TEXAS TRADITIONS RESTAURANT CONTINUES TO SERVE LOCAL FAVORITES
DEWITT COUNTY
31 THIRD GENERATION OF FAMILY KEEPS
HARDWARE STORE CURRENT
34 CHISHOLM TRAIL MUSEUM SHOWCASES COWBOY CULTURE
GOLIAD COUNTY
35 BRANCH RIVER PARK OFFERS QUIET,
NATURAL GETAWAY
36 GOLIAD STATE PARK HIGHLIGHTS HISTORY, NATURAL BEAUTY
37 DISCOVER COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
JACKSON COUNTY
38 BRACKENRIDGE PARK OFFERS FUN FOR FAMILY 40 HISTORIC MORALES STORE SERVES UP CLASSICS
36 40
42 44
LAVACA COUNTY
41 SMALL-TOWN SHINER BREWERY REMAINS
STATEWIDE FAVORITE
42 NOVOSAD’S SERVES BARBECUE, SLICE OF TIMES PAST
REFUGIO COUNTY
44 TAKE IN THE NATURAL WORLD AT ARANSAS
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
WHARTON COUNTY
45 FRESH COASTAL FARE AWAITS DINERS AT
PINCHERS
BEE COUNTY
47 DESPITE DECADES, MARKET CONTINUES
OFFERING IRRESISTIBLE FOOD, COMPANY
ARANSAS COUNTY
48 GOOSE ISLAND STATE PARK BOUNCES BACK
LISTS
50 DISCOVER SCHOOLS
48
4  DISCOVER 2020
45


Since 1954
www.bugmobiles.com
2304 E Mockingbird Ln Victoria, TX 77904 Phone: (361) 575-6401 [email protected]


10TH
OF THE
2020
ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALL CELEBRATORY OCCASIONS
Floral & Gift
VICTORIA
1313 N. Navarro Victoria, TX 77904 (361) 573-3246
Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm Saturday: 9:00am - 2:00pm
GROWING CENTER
Located on HWY 59 between Victoria & Goliad (361) 574-7245
Mon - Sat: 9:00am - 4:00pm
devereuxgardens.org Growing Center Temporarily Closed
THE CROSSROADS
2020 EDITION / VOL. 14
GENERAL MANAGER MANAGING EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
George Coleman
361 574-1236 [email protected]
Becky Cooper 361-574-1285 [email protected]
Katie Case
DISCOVER THE CROSSROADS IS PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE
6  DISCOVER 2020
ON THE COVER
Guadalupe River
Emree Weaver | [email protected]


Dear Readers,
To say 2020 is a year we will never forget is an understatement. So much has
happened and everyone’s lives have been disrupted in one way or another.
To bring back some happier, more normal times, this year we decided to offer a retro-Discover the Crossroads. We are featuring some of the stories that were
popular among our readers from the past four years.
Most of the businesses and places we feature are well known in the region
like the Shiner Brewery, Elder’s Smokehouse and Country Store and Goose Island State Park.
Others were relatively new when we first featured them and fortunately for everyone they have continued to thrive. These include Outlaw Pass, Branch Park, Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum and Five Points Museum of Contemporary Art.
We also had to feature a few of the amazing attractions found in Riverside Park including the Memorial Rose Garden, Texas Zoo, Riverside Golf Course and Riverside Stadium. When you venture into the park you will quickly discover
the many more features this amazing recreational site has to offer – nature trails, a beach, disc golf course, kayaking, children’s park and much more. Enjoy is all.
Over the years we have featured so many fun and fascinating places to visit it was hard to narrow down the list. That had to be the hardest part of deciding the stories for this year’s magazine. But somehow we did. We hope you enjoy revisiting these places as much as we have enjoyed updating their stories and bringing
them to you again.
While we did update business hours, we encourage you to contact the attraction or business before heading
out to visit in case their hours have changed in the past couple of months.
We thank you for reading our Discover the Crossroads and we truly hope you are able to safely get out and
enjoy exploring the Crossroads again soon.’
Happy Discoveries,
Becky Cooper
Managing Editor | Victoria Advocate [email protected]
V
C VICTORIA COLLEGE
Enroll at VictoriaCollege.edu
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  7


COUNTY
By Angela Piazza | [email protected]
Victoria Educational Gardens working member Suzann Herricks tends to the garden at 528 Waco Circle in Victoria.
8  DISCOVER 2020


BEST MARGARITA...THE FRANKARITA!!
6007 N. Main • Victoria, TX • (361) 573-1717 www.laspalmasmexbarandgrill.com
We Service What We Sell
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  9


If You Go
The Dromgoole family, Paige, Becky, Ty and Preslie, play miniature golf at Outlaw Pass.
OUTLAW PASS OFFERS VARIETY OF FAMILY FUN
BY KALI VENABLE | [email protected]
Cuero resident Becky Dromgoole and her husband watched as their two daughters rushed toward the go-kart track at Outlaw Pass Family Fun Center on a hot Friday afternoon.
“We drive by here all the time when we take the back way to my mom’s, and the kids are always like, ‘I wanna go there!’” their mom said. “We finally decided to give it a try and we’ll definitely be coming back.”
The Outlaw Pass Family Fun Center has been filled with entertainment for all ages since Mark and Julie Mize opened the amusement park in 2016, but the couple is always looking toward the future.
Last fall the arcade section underwent a transformation with new, state-of-the-art games that were brought in for kids and adults alike.
During the summer of 2020, Mark Mize started building an adventure play course using materials you won’t find at the average playground.
“He is doing a lot with big ropes and logs,” said his wife, Julie Mize. “It is kind of a cross between a ninja course and a playground.”
Located on 9.4 acres five minutes past Victoria Mall, Outlaw Pass first opened with a 900-foot go-kart track, rock-climbing wall, 18-hole mini golf course and mining sluice.
Over the years, the couple has added a sandbox, chalkboard, horseshoe, tug-a-war, washers, cornhole, a water balloon launcher, Euro-Bungees and El Paso Train for little children.
“We like to keep things fresh, to keep adding things so
when people come out, they can do something different than what they’ve done before,” Julie Mize said. “Mark is always thinking. Like he just built a mister out there to cool off everybody and still has a lot of ideas.”
The go-kart track is the center’s most popular attraction. An outdoor laser tag battlefield was added in 2018, which has been converted to a nerf battlefield where both children and adults can get in action.
Giving people a place where they can create moments is a blessing, she said.
“We have teenage groups that come out here, young people, couples that are having their date nights and still it really is a family atmosphere,” she said. “And that is the whole point. We wanted to create a place where people build relationships with each other and these little periods of time that they remember.”
OUTLAW PASS FAMILY FUN CENTER
78 Tate Road, Victoria
HOURS //
Until Oct. 15, hours are 3-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 3-11 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. - 11 p.m., Saturday and 1-8 p.m. on Sunday. Outlaw Pass is hoping to extend hours in the fall.
Call ahead at 361-573-7277 or visit outlawpass.com for the most updatedinformation.
10  DISCOVER 2020
Chamberlain Smith | [email protected]


Visitors to the Texas Zoo feed animals at the petting zoo.
TEXAS ZOO BRINGS LIFE TO COMMUNITY,
CONNECTS VISITORS WITH WILDLIFE
BY AMBER ALDACO | [email protected]
Visitors to the Texas Zoo are often greeted by an animal as well as a friendly zoo employee.
Some people are greeted by Nova the Eurasian lynx, who likes to play hide-and-seek with visitors from behind the windows of the wildlife encounters room. The zoo staff purposely has animal encounters as visitors walk in so that they can have an interaction with an animal right off the bat, said Liz Jensen, executive director of the Texas Zoo.
The Texas Zoo offers a variety of programs and opportunities for visitors to interact with wildlife. Because about 95% of the zoo’s attractions are outdoors, Jensen said, it’s a safe place for people to visit safely even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We don’t have huge crowds like at a large zoo, so it makes it easy for families or small groups to come and safely social distance,” she said. “It’s a great place to get out of the house and interact with wildlife safely.”
Visitors to the Texas Zoo can interact with several animals at an additional cost. Some of the encounters, such as with the black bears, allow visitors to be able to feed the animals. Another opportunity for animal interaction is the petting zoo, where visitors can feed emus and goats of all sizes.
Staff at the zoo make it a priority to help visitors connect with nature on a more intimate level, and leave their visit knowing they can explore the nature and wildlife that’s all around them. Once walking out of the zoo, people are right in Victoria’s Riverside Park, where they can easily explore
different nature paths and connect with wildlife, Jensen said. “There’s a disconnect between what you see in a zoo or an aquarium and knowing what’s really in your backyard, and there’s lots of wildlife here in Riverside Park,” she said. “It’s
important for us to help bridge that gap.”
Maynie Davis, of Victoria, was visiting the zoo one day with
her two grandchildren. She said years had passed since the last time she visited the zoo. She loves how visitors, especially children, have more opportunities to connect with animals, which is intentional on the zoo’s part.
“We’re hoping that the zoo becomes a greater resource in the community of Victoria,” Jensen said.
Advocate reporter Morgan Theophil contributed to this story.
If You Go
THE TEXAS ZOO
110 Memorial Drive, Victoria 361-573-7681 • texaszoo.org
HOURS //
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.
ADMISSION //
$9.50 for seniors ages 55 and up; $10.50 for adults ages 13 and up; $9.50 for children 3-12 years; $9.50 for active/retired military; and free for toddlers 2 years and younger
Emree Weaver | [email protected]
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  11


If You Go
The large fountain is a central figure in the garden.
ROSE GARDEN OFFERS PEACEFUL,
INTIMATE SPOT FOR VISITORS
BY ELENA ANITA WATTS | [email protected]
Honey perfume. Henry Fonda. Love and peace. Sheer bliss. Royal gold. White lightnin’. Sunsprite. And Joseph’s coat.
These are among more than 100 varieties of roses that have grown in the Memorial Rose Garden during its decades in Riverside Park. The fragrance of one variety inspires inquiries from visitors, said Jacqueline Yates, community appearance supervisor with the city’s environmental services department.
“Scent-wise, the perfume delight, a purple-pink, almost fuchsia rose, has a strong, sweet citrusy smell,” Yates said in the past. “There are tons of roses that color, but you can put your nose to it and pick it out because it smells like no other.”
Established in 1979, the rose garden is one of seven public rose gardens in Texas and one of 100 in the nation. More than 1,000 rose bushes, including shrub, hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora and climbing types, fill 46 planting beds. The gravel paths and beds wind around an octagonal white wooden gazebo with built-in benches on one side of the garden. On the other, the flower beds curve around a large ornamental water fountain. Benches and white wooden arbors and trellises dot the almost 1-acre garden. And a tall, black iron fence surrounds it.
Many local photo albums are filled with engagement, wedding, prom and quinceañera photographs taken in the rose garden. The gazebo has served as an ideal place to exchange
12  DISCOVER 2020
wedding vows for many Crossroads residents over the years. The garden and gazebo can be reserved through the parks and recreation office and decorated for small gatherings, such as intimate weddings, for $10 an hour. Guests can bring tables,
chairs and refreshments.
Roses “keep you guessing,” Yates said. Their leaves can
be a healthy green one day and brown the next. And the gardeners have to determine whether the problem is water, insects, fungus or some combination of those factors. The bushes thrive in the spring; the heat and humidity of the Texas summer take a bit of a toll on them; and then the cooler temperatures of October, November and December provide them with “a second spring.”
“Roses have taught us a lot about gardening in general because they are very particular and there is always something new to discover,” Yates said.
Advocate reporter Morgan Theophil contributed to this report.
MEMORIAL ROSE GARDEN
Riverside Park across from the entry to the boat ramp
HOURS //
6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily unless maintenance, herbicide or pesticide, or rented special occasion
Emree Weaver | [email protected]


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VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  13


Evan Salais competes in the 2018 Victoria City Golf Championships at the Riverside Golf Course.
VICTORIA HAS PLETHORA OF GOLFING OPTIONS
BY TYLER TYRE | [email protected]
Riverside Golf Course is on the rebound.
Since the city took over management of the course in 2017, the team at Riverside has been hard at work making improvements.
“It’s been definitely a process getting the course to where it is now, but I feel like it’s finally getting to a point where the golf course is looking good,” said Riverside head golf pro Rolando Hernandez. “They’ve done a great job of building this course up and making it a place where people want to play.
The 18-hole, 6,579-yard, par-72 course is a relaxing atmosphere but also provides challenges for skilled golfers.
“Overall it’s a short to medium golf course, but we do have a few holes that are long and play into the wind so there is some challenges,” Hernandez said. “It can be tough if you can’t keep it in the fairways and are in the trees all day long. But it’s a very playable course and that’s what we want. We want it to play fair and be on the easier side for players.”
Along with the 18-hole course, Riverside also features a 5-hole practice course, chipping and putting green and driving range.
“Having a practice area where people can go out and not feel rushed or have people behind them helps a lot of new players,”
14  DISCOVER 2020
Hernandez said. “It gives people a chance to get out and work on their game and learn the game so they can grow and be comfortable moving to the full golf course.”
Riverside first opened in the 1950s and is Victoria’s only public golf course.
One thing people mention when playing the course is the amount of wildlife in the area.
“The setting, the overall park setting, is tough to beat. It’s quiet, it’s enjoyable, a good way to be outside and it’s just peaceful,” Hernandez said. “And of course, everyone always brings up the amount of deer they see around the course.”
Riverside isn’t the only option available in Victoria.
Victoria Country Club and The Club at Colony Creek also are options for those around the area.
Victoria Country Club hosts the Victoria Open each year, an All Pro Tour event. The course is an 18-hole, 6,870 yard, par 72 course.
The Club at Colony Creek is an 18-hole, 6,413 yard, par 72 course.
The Club at Colony Creek and the Victoria Country Club have hosted the high school District 30-5A golf tournament. The University of Houston-Victoria also hosts a golf tournament at both courses every year.
Advocate File Photo


Discover Golf Courses
Celebrating 51 Years
VICTORIA COUNTY
RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE
302 McCright Drive, Victoria 361-573-4521
Daily rates available Monday - Thursday 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.; Friday-Sunday 6:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Book online tee times. playriversidegc.com
THE CLUB AT COLONY CREEK
301 Colony Creek Drive, Victoria 361-576-0020, 361-576-0018 Private membership
Open Monday noon-7 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.-7 p.m theclubatcolonycreek.com
VICTORIA COUNTRY CLUB
14 Spring Creek Road, Victoria 361-573-3712
Private membership
7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily victoriacc.com
ARANSAS COUNTY
ROCKPORT COUNTRY CLUB
101 Champions Drive, Rockport 361-729-8324
Closed Mondays. Tuesday-Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Daily rates rockportcountryclub.net
LIVE OAK COUNTRY CLUB
318 Country Club Road Closed Monday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Daily rates
(November - March); closed Mondays (open to members); closed on city holidays (open to golfers with a pass)
YORKTOWN COUNTRY CLUB
471 Country Club Lane, Yorktown 361-564-9191
YOAKUM CITY GOLF COURSE
703 S. Park Road, Yoakum 361-293-5682
June 1-Sept. 30 Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m - 7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Oct. 1-May
31 Tuesday-Sunday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; closed Mondays, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas
GOLIAD COUNTY
GOLIAD COUNTY GOLF COURSE
1103 W. Fannin St., Goliad 361-645-8322
Closed Mondays; open Tuesday- Friday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
JACKSON COUNTY
EDNA COUNTRY CLUB
1216 County Road 301, Edna 361-782-3010
Open Monday for members; open to public Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Daily and monthly memberships Public golf course www.ednacountryclub.com
LAVACA COUNTY
Of Serving Victoria
HALLETTSVILLE GOLF COURSE
3.75"x5 808 A Park Road #1, Hallettsville
BEE COUNTY 3.75"x5 361-798-9908
JOHN C. BEASLEY MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE Veteran’s Memorial Park, Beeville 361-362-7618
Public course, 9 holes Closed Tuesdays; Wednesday- Monday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Daily 9 holes $15; 18 holes $25; monthly $85
BEEVILLE COUNTRY CLUB
1 Country Club Drive, Beeville 361-358-1216
9 holes
Private club
CALHOUN COUNTY
HATCH BEND COUNTRY CLUB
579 Meadowview Lane, Port Lavaca 361-552-3037
DEWITT COUNTY
CUERO MUNICIPAL
GOLF COURSE
110 Leonard Roy Harmon Drive, Cuero 361-275-3233
7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (daylight savings time); 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Rates: Tuesday-Thursday $10, Friday-Sunday $15
REFUGIO COUNTY
REFUGIO COUNTY COUNTRY CLUB 171 Exxon Road, Refugio 361-526-5554
WHARTON COUNTY
EL CAMPO COUNTRY CLUB
1788 County Road 351, El Campo 979-543-6592 Tuesday-Sunday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. elcampocountryclub.com
WHARTON COUNTRY CLUB
126 Country Club Drive, Wharton 979-532-5940, email [email protected] Course is open to the public Tuesdays and Saturdays, green fees: $25 for 18 holes, $12.50 for 9 holes, various types of memberships offered. whartoncountryclub.com
YOUR HUNTING HEADQUARTERS
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DIERLAM FEED STORE YOUR LAWN/GARDEN HEADQUARTERS 914 NE Water St. • Victoria, TX
A level of value and service that can’t be matched at the box stores!
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VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  15


If You Go
Kendall Warner | [email protected]
Nico Gonzales, 19, rides down one of the rails at the Victoria Skate Park in this 2019 Advocate file photo.
VICTORIA SKATE PARK OFFERS SAFE HAVEN
FOR CROSSROADS SKATERS
BY REY CASTILLO | [email protected]
Victoria East sophomore Donovan Gomez skates for more than landing new tricks or getting the most air when he shows up to the Victoria Skate Park with his friends.
Gomez skates to keep his father’s legacy alive.
“When I was little, my dad always wanted me to skate and when he died, all I wanted to do was skate,” he said. “I always think about him when I skate. He’d want me to try hard.”
Since 2009, the park has given skateboarders, roller skaters, BMX riders and scooter-pushers a chance to take advantage of the rails, stairs, bowls and smooth surface of the park.
Gomez, 15, was one of many skateboarders showcasing their skills on a hot and dry summer afternoon.
The park had been closed because of COVID-19 in Texas, but reopened to the public June 5.
“I don’t like being inside all day so I love that the skate park is open,” Gomez said. “Being out here skateboarding is what I love to do, and it’s better than staying inside at home.”
The park’s street course consists of an upper section of connecting pathways that drop 2 1/2 feet to a lower section with even more ledges, hips and manual pads.
The park’s bowl includes four different depths, which range between 3-6 feet.
Gomez said skating the bowl is his favorite part.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s awesome that people still love to skate. It’s cool to see little kids out here skating, and it’s cool
16  DISCOVER 2020
to see new people.”
Armando Rivera, a student at Patti Welder Middle School,
was also happy the skate park was open.
His first day at the park was his first time on a skateboard. “I like that it has ramps and bumps everywhere,” Rivera
said. “It feels smooth when I skate. It’s good. I’m glad it’s open.” Rivera plans to continue skateboarding with his 6-year- old brother Ricky, who was also enjoying the park for the
first time.
“It’s fun to skate with him,” he said. “I have to keep an eye on
him, but it’s fun.”
VICTORIA SKATE PARK
Outside the Victoria Community Center, 2905 E. North St.
HOURS //
6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
ADMISSION // Free
MORE INFO //
Contact the Victoria Parks and Recreation Department at 361-485- 3200 or by visiting their website.


here for you!
Whether you are looking for a small, friendly campus to send your son or daughter to school, or you’re ready to advance your career by finishing your bachelor’s degree or earning a master’s degree, the University of Houston-Victoria can help you and your family make its mark.
UHV is one of the most affordable public universities in Texas and offers more than 80 academic programs. Online and face-to-face classes are available at times that are convenient for you. A bachelor’s or master’s degree from UHV can help you get ahead in your career.
Email [email protected] to find out how your family can make its mark at UHV.
UHV.edu | (361) 570-4848
Come Visit
Oldest Fine Arts Museum in the Crossroads
Upcoming Schedule
Now through October 11, 2020 • The Paintings of Royston Nave November 5 - December 20, 2020 • Carol Koutnik
January 14 - March 7, 2021 • JHoward
March 25 - May 16, 2021 • Carole Myers Art
June 3 - August 1, 2021 • Elaine Rose Lanoue and Guiteau Lanoue August 19 - October 17, 2021 • Hiromi Stringer
Admission is Always Free • Donations are Gladly Accepted Open Thursday & Friday Noon-5pm, Saturday & Sunday Noon-4pm. Closed Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. Calendar subject to change. Check our website for the latest information
306 W. Commercial St. • Victoria, TX 77901 • 361.575.8228
www.NaveMuseum.com
Find us on Facebook @VictoriaFarmersMarket
The Victoria Farmers' Market is a program of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent.
Every Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pattie Dodson Public Health Center | 2805 N. Navarro
• locally grown produce
• farm fresh eggs
• pastured meats
• local honey
• pickles
• jellies
• salsa
• wines
• baked goods
• handmade items
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  17
UHV is


Photo exhibition at the Five Points Museum of Contemporary Art in Victoria.
MUSEUM OFFERS COMMUNITY ART CARS, FINE ART
BY ISMAEL PEREZ | [email protected]
When walking into this Victoria museum, art enthusiasts can always expect to see and learn something new about their community. And, evidently, the world around them.
Since its inception, it has been the Five Points Museum’s mission to give people an impression of the cultural diversity in Victoria while also celebrating contemporary art.
“This is not a single-demographic city; it’s got a rich cultural history of its own,” said Magdalena Kuykendall, operations and marketing manager. “And, hopefully, we can tap into that and create a culture conversation in Victoria.”
The vision behind the Five Points Museum of Contemporary Art started years ago when the property was purchased in 2008 by Ann Harithas, executive director and founder.
The museum opened eight years later in 2016.
While organizers try to provide Victoria with high-quality shows, Kuykendall said each exhibit has been a learning experience for them on how to improve for the next.
“We learn what works in this space and what doesn’t,” she said, adding that they are trying to move toward hosting more than one show at the same time, too.
The museum’s first exhibit opened April 20, 2016, and
featured artist Noah Edmundson. His artwork was hung throughout the building, and his two low rider cars were placed in the main space.
“One thing we learned is that it’s best to get cars in days before the exhibit opens; otherwise the room will be full of fumes,” Kuykendall said, laughing.
Although it took a few years to host artists at the museum, Harithas was already getting people interested in contemporary art — on wheels.
Maurice Roberts, chief curator, said they hosted their first “unofficial” art car parade in 2010 when a David Bess art car came to Victoria.
Kuykendall’s face lit up when she remembered how a bunch of other art cars started following Bess’ car all over town.
“Low riders, art cars ... all through Victoria,” she said, laughing, “We just took it upon ourselves.”
The next year, 2011, Kuykendall said it was more official and organizers had actual permission from the city. The museum’s art car parade brought in about 100 vehicles in 2018.
Roberts said the Five Points Museum has shown work such as drawings, photographs, sculptures and even multimedia exhibits.
18  DISCOVER 2020
Qiling Wang | [email protected]


They have also maintained an education component and work frequently with the Victoria School District.
Roberts said the museum offers people a different way to look at Victoria, the world around them and the appreciation of art in general.
The museum has also offered local theater productions. And, as always, it’s free.
“That’s always been Mrs. Harithas’ mandate: This is a gift to the community from her,” Kuykendall said. “We don’t want there to be a barrier for people to come in and appreciate art. Everybody is welcome.”
Kendall Warner | [email protected]
Travis Whitfield stands in the backdoor of his shotgun house inside Five Points Museum of Contemporary Art in Victoria. Whitfield is one of two artists featured in an exhibit called “The Road So Far.” Whitfield’s photography from the 1970s features a community of African-Americans in Louisiana.
More Information
SHOWS:
Travis and Jesse: The Road So Far Runs through Oct. 18
Clark Fox Later in the year
If You Go
FIVE POINTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
1201 N. Moody St., Victoria Noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
HOURS //
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 2020!
SERVING
VICTORIA
WITH
COMPASSIONATE CARE
FOR
OVER 20 YEARS!
106 Professional Park Dr, Victoria, TX 77904 (361) 578-2785 • davidrriveradds.com
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  19


If You Go
A Monarch butterfly perches on a passion flower vine at the Victoria Educational Gardens.
VICTORIA EDUCATIONAL GARDENS, A PLACE FOR
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, OUTDOOR STROLLS
BY JESSICA PRIEST | [email protected]
In the summer of 2018, Edwin Gregurek used a shovel to till the soil that will one day nourish fruit trees.
His fellow Victoria County Master Gardeners then unrolled a sheet of plastic, hoping the plastic would trap the heat and kill any weeds he had missed.
Gregurek stopped his work only when summoned to chat with Myra Sue Schultze, who was Victoria County Master Gardener president at the time, and Victoria County Master Gardener Pat Plowman by the greenhouse.
They said they considered Gregurek and the Victoria Educational Garden he and others built from an empty field outside the Victoria Regional Airport almost 20 years ago a treasure.
“What’s your favorite part of the garden?” Schultze asked Gregurek on the hot summer day.
“The part where we rest,” he said with a smile spreading across his face.
Gregurek was a member of the first class of Victoria County Master Gardeners in 1997. Now, there are more than 100 members who spent many long hours learning how to garden
20  DISCOVER 2020
and many more actually doing it in the public space. Plowman, who was also there during the early days of the garden, said it was initially supposed to educate children. Gregurek is a veteran and had to learn at age 10 that in order to
get supper on the table, he had to hunt, fish or garden.
“Living in the country during the Great Depression of the late 1920s, you had to raise your own food because there wasn’t any money to buy anything,” he said. “And during the World War II days, you had money, but there wasn’t anything to buy.
Everything was directed to the war effort.”
Besides the vegetable garden, children can explore a
screened area that has a plethora of milkweed for caterpillars to munch on and develop into butterflies. They can smell the
VICTORIA EDUCATIONAL GARDENS
283 Bachelor Drive, Victoria
HOURS & ADMISSION //
Free and open 24-7 from dawn to dusk
Angela Piazza | [email protected]


blooms of banana bush and finger foxtail ferns in the sensory garden as well as learn about plants, such as esperanza, native to the area.
In 2007, the Victoria County Master Gardeners added a lot for adults, too. There’s an heirloom garden, a patriotic garden, a rose harbor, a bulb garden, a water garden, a xeriscape garden and international garden and, perhaps Gregurek’s and others’ favorite garden, the shade garden.
Though indoor programs and facilities are closed for the foreseeable future because of the coronavirus pandemic, the gardens remain open from dawn to dusk, and
visitors are encouraged to stop by and take a stroll.
The Victoria County Master Gardeners also pride themselves on the fact that even the occasional vandal can’t discourage
them from opening their doors to the public for free.
“Come out and visit and spread the good news,” Gregurek
said. “There’s a lot to see.”
Advocate reporter Morgan Theophil contributed to this report.
Angela Piazza | [email protected]
Victoria Educational Gardens Mas- ter Gardener Edwin Gregurek, 90, has been tending to the garden since 1997.
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VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  21


RIVERSIDE STADIUM STANDS TEST OF TIME
BY MIKE FORMAN | [email protected]
Neither Wes Kolle nor Manuel Alvarado had been born when Riverside Stadium opened.
But it would be hard to find anyone else who has spent more time at the ballpark.
“Just growing up watching the high schools play there, I always wanted to play in that stadium too,” said Alvarado, who was a member of Stroman’s 1985 state championship team and is the head baseball coach at Victoria West. “There’s just something about it. A bunch of teams have played there. You thought it was a privilege once you got on that field that you earned the right to be there.”
Kolle agreed.
“Playing at Riverside is so special,” agreed Kolle, who pitched at Victoria High and is the head baseball coach at Victoria East. “Just the nostalgia of it, it just has that old ballpark feel to it. The fans always turn out and it’s a big playoff-type atmosphere. It’s almost like a rite of passage as a ballplayer growing up in Victoria through Little League and finally getting to play at Riverside.”
The stadium was built in 1947 and has hosted minor league, semipro, college, high school, travel team and Little League games.
The current tenants include the Victoria Generals of the
Texas Collegiate League, UHV, and Victoria East, Victoria West and St. Joseph high schools. In addition, the Victoria Armadillos of the independent South Coast Baseball League could be playing at the stadium.
UHV head baseball coach Terry Puhl played a majority of his major league career in the Astrodome with the Houston Astros.
Puhl compares Riverside Stadium to Wrigley Field in Chicago because of its history.
“I love the atmosphere of the ballpark,” he said. “When you think about the players that have come through Riverside, there are generations and generations of players who have come through there.”
Generals head coach Michael Oros sees the stadium as part of the selling point to get players to return to the summer league team.
“It’s hard to explain,” Oros said. “It’s got a little mystique to it. It’s got something that once people come here and see it, they’re drawn back. I’ve always said, ‘If you come once, you’ll come back.’ I’ve got to get you to come once because it’s kind of a hidden gem.”
The stadium had fallen into disrepair after the flood of 1998 and much of the restoration was done after the turn of the century by Friends of Victoria Baseball.
22  DISCOVER 2020


The city took over maintenance of the stadium in 2011.
Artificial turf was installed on the infield in 2015, and the field was resurfaced after Hurricane Harvey left it unplayable in 2017.
“Having turf is a little different, but it’s just a sign of the times,” Kolle said. “It doesn’t take away from the old-ballpark type feel.”
The turf infield has not only cut down on the number of games washed out by rain, but has also increased the number of postseason games played at the stadium.
“It’s still one of the best playing surfaces we play on,” Puhl said. “The feeling, the intimacy of the ballpark is really, really special. It’s something I hope Victoria can hold on to for many, many years.”
The Friends of Victoria Baseball installed a sign that greets fans as they enter the stadium along the first-base bleachers stating, “Welcome to Riverside Stadium. Home of Victoria Baseball Since 1947.”
Victoria baseball fans are likely to be reading the sign well into the future.
“Riverside Stadium draws people to come play in it,” Alvarado said. “It’s a stadium that has endured floods and hurricanes, and it still stood the test of time.”
Duy Vu | [email protected]
Victoria East’s baseball players warm up before they go up to bat during the game against Sinton during the first day of the VISD Tournament in March at Riverside Stadium.
If You Go
RIVERSIDE STADIUM
Riverside Park, Victoria
TEAMS //
Victoria Generals, UHV Jaguars, Victoria East Titans, Victoria West Warriors, St. Joseph Flyers.
Duy Vu | [email protected]
A blue evening sky takes over the background during the game against the Round Rock Hairy Men on Thursday, July 23 at Riverside Stadium.
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  23


The chicken fried steak at Double J Eatery was recently voted best in the Crossroads.
FOOD FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AT DOUBLE J EATERY
BY JESSICA PRIEST | [email protected]
Twenty years ago, John and Connie Pierce came up with a recipe for success.
And other than a few cosmetic changes at their restaurant in North Victoria, little has changed since. Double J Eatery, which opened in January 2000, has maintained its reputation as a community-focused restaurant run by a family whose top priority is food.
Double J Eatery gets its name from the elder John and his son, but there’s a lot of other people who contribute to its popularity.
The Pierce family moved to Victoria from Morgan City, La. in the 1980s and have been here ever since.
“We grew up around food and cooking in south Louisiana,
so everything was centered on food,” the couple’s daugher Lauren Tagliabue said.
Tagliabue partnered with her brother to create a catering option for the restaurant. They now have their own catering company called Back Door Catering in addition to Double J Eatery’s catering business.
She said customers often give compliments about the restaurant’s friendly staff.
Tagliabue said she thought she could speak for all the staff when she said, “I like seeing our regulars every day and putting a smile on their face.”
The restaurant offers drive-thru and curbside pickup.
Double J Eatery is accessible to a large swath of Crossroads residents. The most ordered item on the menu is, of course, the
24  DISCOVER 2020
Evan Lewis/[email protected]


chicken fried steak.
The steaks are hand-cut every
morning and made to order.
“I think ours is the best,” Tagliabue said. “I mean, the breading station, the person who works that, by the end of the day, their arms are tired because, you know, we kind of hammer it
down.”
She said this process makes
the chicken fried steak especially tender, and the breading does not come off when you slice into it, either.
Other favorite menu items
include the sweet potato fries, and people come sometimes just to order 20- and 30-ounce cups of Double J Eatery’s homemade ranch and jalapeno ranch dressings.
“We’re foodies, so we’re not going to send out food that doesn’t taste good. We’ll start over,” Tagliabue said. “We really take pride in serving tasty food, and we have a great staff, too, that goes out on our jobs and caters to the customers and their needs.
Evan Lewis/[email protected]
Joshua Salinas, 43, and others enjoy their lunch at Double J Eatery in Victoria. Double J is a second-generation restaurant.
If You Go
DOUBLE J EATERY
Advocate reporter Ciara McCarthy contributed to this story.
ly Access
8607 N. Navarro St., Suite E, Victoria 361-570-7744 • visit doublejeatery.com
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Tristan Ipock | [email protected]
Cole White, 4, checks his father’s, Donnie White’s, blood pressure using a toy arm cuff at the Discovery Hospital, one of the many new exhibits at the Children’s Discovery Museum.
MUSEUM OFFERS IMAGINATIVE PLAY, LEARNING
TRISTAN IPOCK | [email protected]
Hadley Stauts, 4, fills her grocery cart with apples, lobster and green bell peppers at a food market. She goes to the cash register and her mom, Brittany Stauts, helps scan the different items she wants to buy.
This was one of many new exhibits in the second phase of the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Golden Crescent. The main part is Play Town, a model town with a bakery, theater, vet clinic and many other areas where kids immerse themselves in life-like scenarios.
“I’m so glad we have something like this,” Brittany Stauts said. “We like the one in Houston, but it’s nice to have something like this in Victoria.”
In addition to Play Town, the museum also opened up Tot Yard, where kids ages 4 and under can engage outside on a boat in an imaginative play area.
There also is a construction yard outside and a new permanent dinosaur exhibit.
“It’s a wonderful place where children can learn how to play and use their imaginations,” said Liz Tise, executive director of the museum. “It’s an enhancement to learning in schools.”
Former Executive Director Tiffany Corbell said a lot of children’s museums have similar features.
“It’s popular for every children’s museum to have an area where there is a spot for children to imagine and role-play and do what they see their families doing,” Corbell said.
This new section of the museum was paid for through various donors, which enabled officials to hire professional
26  DISCOVER 2020
exhibit designers. The first section opened in 2017 when the museum moved from its location on Main Street to the old Playhouse Theater. It focused on teaching science skills to kids while the new areas teach them things that their parents do on a daily basis.
While there are seating areas for parents to relax, the various exhibits encourage parents to play along with their kids in these life-size buildings. Their kids can act as doctors at the Discovery Hospital and “check” their blood pressure with a toy arm cuff.
Board member Betty Jo Elder first joined the board in 2000 when the exhibits were built by volunteers. She said when she first saw the new exhibits, she was grateful for the people who made it possible.
“It’s something we want all of Victoria to be proud of,” Elder said. “It’s not just a place to play, but also a place to learn.”
CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF
THE GOLDEN CRESCENT
1205 Sam Houston Drive, Victoria 361-485-9140 • cdmgoldencrescent.com
HOURS//
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday
ADMISSION//
$8 for admission; children age 2 and younger are admitted free


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Matthew Westmoreland | [email protected]
McCoy Traugott 3, paddles around the waters of King Fisher Beach. Behind him, his brothers, Dobson, 4, and Tolan, 6, share a kayak.
SAND BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO KING FISHER BEACH
BY SAMANTHA DOUTY | [email protected]
Umbrellas spread over the hot sand at King Fisher Beach with beach dwellers retreating from the sun underneath them were Kay Henderson and her two friends.
With the smell of sunscreen in the air and cold drinks in their hands, the three Round Rock women enjoyed a day of their three-day weekend away from home one hot 2018 day.
“It’s a great getaway,” Ann Morton, 63, said.
She and Rosie Lee, 57, were staying with Henderson at her vacation house in Port O’Connor.
Henderson uses the beach as an escape from work, she said, but it wasn’t always that way.
The beach received a deposit of sand and other materials from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which began dredge work in April 2018. The Army Corps of Engineers commissioned the project with King Fisher Beach on the receiving end of the materials.
This was the breath of life the beach needed, Henderson, 65, said. She has been coming to the beach for the past six decades and said the area used to be a sea wall that dropped
28  DISCOVER 2020
to the water. The sand was nearly non-existent.
“I really like how they did all the sand,” Henderson said. Now, she and her friends sit in chairs nestled in the white
sand with the breeze coming off the water keeping them cool. “Before, there was no beach to call a beach,” Morton said. Next to the trio were Pauline and Todd Traugott, of Victoria.
They sat in chairs with their feet in the water, watching their nephews play in the waves.
Seagulls called out from overhead as the young boys cut through the water with their orange oars. Their blue canoes rocked side to side as slight waves broke against them.
The Victoria couple brought Todd’s brother and his sons from Fredericksburg to Port O’Connor for the day. They went shark fishing in the morning and made their way to King Fisher Beach for some afternoon fun.
“It looks way better than the way it was before,” Todd said.
In the distance, kids ran across the hot sand toward the pier. People continued to show up and stake their part of the beach with a towel and an umbrella.
“It looks great. It needed (the sand),” Pauline said, looking at the area around her. “It brought a lot of families out.”
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If You Go
Kayla Renie | [email protected]
Victor Franek, 68, owner and operator of the Texas Traditions Grill & Bakery restaurant in Port Lavaca, talks to regular customers during the afternoon lunch rush in 2018.
TEXAS TRADITIONS RESTAURANT CONTINUES
TO SERVE LOCAL FAVORITES
BY SAMANTHA DOUTY | [email protected]
On Port Lavaca’s Main Street, Texas Traditions Grill & Bakery restaurant is nestled on a street corner.
Customers are welcomed with a rustic “Welcome friends” sign and the soft melodies of country music over the speakers. Victor Franek and his family opened the restaurant 10 years ago.
“We wanted to have something that would be different in Port Lavaca,” he said.
The restaurant features Texas favorites such as chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken, chicken and dumplings and burgers. They also serve fresh-baked pies and other bakery items, including cheesecakes from the Cheesecake Factory, Franek said.
The restaurant remains open in light of the pandemic for dine in and take out options.
Franek has been in the food service industry for a few years now. He owned a restaurant in Houston before making the move to Port Lavaca. There, he works with his son, his wife and his daughter-in-law.
“We love serving the public,” he said.
Texas Traditions Grill & Bakery doesn’t rely on advertising to get a lot of its business. The only advertising anyone can see for the restaurant is a billboard in Point Comfort, Franek said.
30  DISCOVER 2020
Franek prides himself on owning a family-orientated business, which is one of the reasons he closes the store Sundays.
“We just thrive in making customers happy,” he said.
Paul Perez and Irene Carrera hadn’t been to Texas Traditions Grill & Bakery in quite some time, but decided to go back for the friendly customer service and the food.
“They are really nice people,” Carrera, of Port Lavaca, said about the staff at Texas Traditions.
Her favorite is the fried mushrooms, she said.
While Carrera enjoys the mushrooms, Perez said he is a fan of the chicken fried steak — one of the more popular food items on the menu.
The prices are a bit steep, Perez said, but the atmosphere and hospitality keep him coming back for more at the Texas Traditions Grill & Bakery.
TEXAS TRADITIONS GRILL & BAKERY
234 E. Main St., Port Lavaca
HOURS //
11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.Friday- Saturday; closed Sunday.


Jaime R. Carrero | [email protected]
Beverly Wagner, who owns Wagner’s Hardware and Gifts in Cuero with her husband, shows the biggest knife they sell in the hardware store.
THIRD GENERATION OF FAMILY KEEPS
HARDWARE STORE CURRENT
BY KATHRYN CARGO [email protected]
When customers walk into Wagner’s Hardware and Gifts they’re in the atmosphere of an early 1900s hardware store.
It’s been in the Wagner family for three generations, in a location that has always been a hardware store.
Almost all building infrastructure is original including the wall cabinets, display units, longleaf pine floor and wall shelving. The only updated infrastructure is the inner shelving.
The building, 110 N. Esplanade, was built in 1891 by R.C. Warren and operated as R.C. Warren Hardware. Walter Pettit Wagner bought the store in 1945 from family members of R.C. Warren.
Reed Wagner and his wife, Beverly Wagner, married in 1979 and soon ran the store. He bought Wagner’s from his grandmother, Faye Wagner, who continued to work there until her death in the late 1990s.
The Wagners sell a wide range of products and keep them competitively priced, which allows them to compete with big box stores.
“People get what they need, and they’re in and out quick,” Beverly Wagner said.
The store offers products from craftsmen across the United States, including outdoor furniture from San Antonio, steak turners crafted by a South Texas blacksmith and wooden
furniture made by Amish carpenters in Pennsylvania.
Newer offerings include Stihl power equipment, Traeger grills and GameGuard shirts, ice chests and gun and pistol cases. Items once on offer in an upstairs gift shop are now for sale downstairs, including cow skins, goat hides and figurines. Beverly Wagner said she doesn’t know if the store will pass on to the next generation of Wagners and if her son or daughter
will own or manage the family business.
The Wagners’ longstanding relationships with their
customers have kept them in business all these years. In one of the shelving units, the Wagners hang John Deere caps and cowboy hats from loyal customers on their “Local Legends” wall.
“They choose to come back. They choose to shop with us,” she said. “When they’re gone, you miss them coming in.”
Advocate reporter Mark Rosenberg contributed to this story.
If You Go
WAGNER’S HARDWARE AND GIFTS
110 N. Esplanade, Cuero Call 361-275-5134
HOURS //
Hardware Store: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays; Giftshop:9a.m.-5p.m.weekdays,9a.m.-4p.m.Saturdays.ClosedSundays
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  31
COUNTY


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Cuero Heritage Museum
Permanent Exhibits
Include
Coca Cola
Gobbler Football
Local Military Exhibit
Turkey Trot Turkish Palace
Juice Reamers
Famous Cuero People
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Rotating Exhibits Change Every 3-4 Months
124 E. Church St., Cuero | Open Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
Admission: Free, Donations Appreciated
www.cueroheritagemuseum.org
Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas Permanent Exhibits Include
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Museum was a Pharmacy for 124 years!
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MUSEUMS ARE CITY OF CUERO OWNED AND OPERATED
TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME! 361.485.8090


King Ranch
HELEN C. KLEBERG
TONI FRISSELL
Photographs of King Ranch • 1930s to 1950s by Helen C. Kleberg & Toni Frissell October 8 – November 1, 2020
November 19th 1pm - 8 pm
CG ON dS ran
ParadeLighting of the Town Christmas TreePictures with SantaHot ChocolateMovie Night in Railroad Park
Friday th
December 4 2020
Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum
7Celebrating 20 Years in Historic Downtown Cuero, Texas8
302 North Esplanade | 361.277.2866 | ChisholmTrailMuseum.org This special exhibit is free with regular museum admission.
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VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  33
3rd Annual Sip ‘n Shop
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If You Go
Emree Weaver | [email protected]
Western-style and English-style saddles sit on display at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum in Cuero. The museum high- lights ranching traditions in the Guadalupe River Valley region.
CHISHOLM TRAIL MUSEUM SHOWCASES COWBOY CULTURE
BY MARK ROSENBERG | [email protected]
Those looking to discover what life was like for 19th century Texans should consider visiting the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum.
“It’s kind of like walking through a time portal when you look at all the artifacts on display,” said Selena Milstead, operations manager of the museum.
The Chisholm Trail Museum offers a peek into the life of the ranching and cowboy heritage of South Central Texas during the time of cattle drives. In the decades after the Civil War, ranchers used the trail to bring cattle to rail lines in Kansas for shipment north, providing a boon to the Southern economy.
“We are preserving the ranching and Western heritage of South Central Texas,” said education coordinator Bryan Gonzalez.
Built in 1903, the two-story building off Esplanade was once the Knights of Pythias Hall, Milstead said. It still has an original stained-glass window.
The museum has been open since 2013 after more than a decade of fundraising and planning. Since then, the museum has served as a place for people of all ages to learn about the cultures of the cowboys, Mexican vaqueros, the South American gaucho and local history.
Artifacts on display include the tools used by a chuck wagon cook and more than a dozen different spurs. Visitors can also learn about saddle craftsmanship through one of the museum’s exhibits.
This year, the museum completed its renovation of the recently acquired 1880 English German Schoolhouse. The building is divided into two sides: a historic schoolhouse
34  DISCOVER 2020
exhibit and an open space available for rentals, Gonzalez said. The museum also features the Tinker Collection, which is composed of artifacts made and used by cowboys of North and South America. The collection is on long-term loan from the
University of Texas at Austin, Milstead said.
A special exhibit, “Two Women Look West,” will run from Oct.
8 to Nov. 1. The show features Helen C. Kleberg’s photographs of King Ranch, taken in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Gonzalez said.
The museum also offers conference rooms for rent. It has launched new education programs, including interactive lessons for school districts and homeschooled students and an adult education series which includes digital programming, Gonzalez said.
To keep the public safe during COVID-19, the museum is limiting interactive exhibits and requiring social distancing and masks for those who want to enjoy its exhibits and facilities.
Former Advocate reporter Amber Aldaco contributed to this story.
CHISHOLM TRAIL HERITAGE MUSEUM
302 N. ESPLANADE, CUERO 361-277-2866
HOURS //
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday
ADMISSION //
$5 for adults; $3 for children 5-17 years; free admission for children 5 and under and military members.


Matthew Westmoreland | [email protected]
Picnic tables, walking paths and a playground are nestled beneath the large trees in Goliad’s Branch River Park.
BRANCH RIVER PARK OFFERS QUIET, NATURAL GETAWAY
BY JON WILCOX | [email protected]
Tucked just off the Goliad Courthouse Square, the Branch River Park is an oasis of soft grass, fresh air and recreation.
“It’s nice green space,” said Park Program Coordinator Michael Gramley, of the San Antonio River Authority.
With the historic Goliad County Courthouse and a state park both within walking distance, the Branch River Park is a must-visit destination for those visiting the town.
Donated by Goliad resident Elizabeth Branch in memory of her husband - David Branch, who loved the San Antonio River - the park offers a peaceful, natural escape for all ages.
The park is managed by the San Antonio River Authority.
The park’s 4.2 acres and close proximity to restaurants and cafes on the square makes it an ideal place to enjoy an outdoor meal or snack.
Although tables are available, River Authority officials also recommend having a picnic underneath the park’s heritage live oak trees.
Come fall, the park’s pecan trees produce plenty for adventurous foragers to have a picnic of their own, said Gramley, speaking from experience.
“I’ve eaten a lot of pecans in my time,” he said, chuckling.
For those wishing to get some exercise, a nine-hole disc golf course winds through the park.
The well-manicured lawn welcomes visitors to enjoy any manner of outdoor activities.
The park is also a jumping-off point for nearby natural wonders, such as a the San Antonio River and Ferry Street river access site.
Visitors are welcome to paddle or simply stroll along the river, where abundant native wildlife can be observed.
Egrets, herons, ducks and other waterfowl claim the body of water as home, Gramley said. During many days of the year, songbirds fill the quiet space with their cheerful chatter.
Foxes, turtles, deer and fish also call that space home.
Much of the Angel of Goliad Hike and Bike Trail’s 2.5- mile stretch along the river. The trail claims Branch Park as a starting point.
Walkers, cyclists and runners are free to follow the paved trail to a number of historical sites, including the Goliad State Park and Historic Site; Angel of Goliad statue, which honors Panchita Alvarez; and Fannin Memorial Monument.
“It’s accessible to everyone,” Gramley said.
If You Go
BRANCH RIVER PARK
445 S. Commercial St., Goliad 866-345-7272 • sara-tx.org/branch-river-park
HOURS //
Dawn to dusk, daily
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  35
COUNTY


If You Go
Mission Espíritu Santo serves as a reminder of times past.
PARK HIGHLIGHTS HISTORY, NATURAL BEAUTY
BY JON WILCOX | [email protected]
Nestled within the beautiful and sprawling Goliad State Park lie myriad portals to the past.
“It will take you back in time,” said Brenda Justice, superintendent of the Goliad State Park and Historic Site.
While the state park lays claim to the Mission Espíritu Santo, Mission Rosario and Zaragoza birthplace historic sites, it also offers considerable natural beauty, making the location a truly unique escape.
Located on the San Antonio River, the park allows visitors to stay the night at an on-site campground, explore and learn a little − or a lot − about the centuries of human history in Goliad County.
“It’s a very special place. It’s a unique place,” Justice said. “The thing about our park is that it has a little bit of everything.”
It’s hard not to be awestruck by the Mission Espíritu Santo’s ivory- colored walls and towering steeple. Built on the ruins of an 18th century Catholic mission that once served as housing for Spanish priests and native families, the structure is a reminder of a long-lost time. Justice said she often feels a sense of awe in contemplating that reminder of the past.
Also on the grounds is the somewhat new El Camino Real Visitors Center, which features interpretative panels and architecture exhibits. That new visitor’s center is featured inside an abandoned cottage once used by the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose workers refurbished the Mission Espíritu Santo in the 1930s.
Although the arrival of COVID-19 has limited some activities there, park officials have made some changes to remain open safely.
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Officials are limiting the occupancy of museum and park buildings, restricting the number of day passes and have distanced overnight camping spots.
“It’s still a great place to visit and get outdoors,” Justice said.
Unlike historic missions in suburban and urban areas, those featured at the Goliad State Park are surrounded by pristine natural areas. That setting allows visitors to easily imagine what people there centuries ago may have witnessed, Justice said.
The air there is mostly untouched by sounds of the modern world and instead is filled with birdsong and the sighing of trees.
The park offers not only overnight camping but also hiking, biking and paddling trails.
A path along the San Antonio River is drenched in shade and offers a exceptionally peaceful hike, she said.
“It’s really gorgeous,” she said.
GOLIAD STATE PARK AND
HISTORIC SITE
108 PARK ROAD 6, GOLIAD 361-645-3405 • tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/goliad
HOURS //
8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
ADMISSION //
Adult admission is $3 per day; children younger than 12 are free.
Matthew Westmoreland | [email protected]


VICTORIA COUNTY
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-VICTORIA
3007 N. Ben Wilson St.
Bachelor’s degrees for freshmen through seniors and master’s degree programs. Specialties: arts and sciences; business administration; and education, health professions and human development.
361-570-4848
UHV.edu
VICTORIA COLLEGE
2200 E. Red River St. Pre-college programs, freshmen and sophomores
Specialties: Transfer programs, associate degrees, workforce training, continuing education
361-573-3291 victoriacollege.edu
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX
7403 Lone Tree Road 361-580-3700
LEO J. WELDER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 214 N. Main St., Victoria 361-582-2436
LIBERTY STREET INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTER
1404 N. Liberty St. 361-573-3291
GONZALES CENTER
424 E. Sarah DeWitt Drive Gonzales 830-672-6251
CALHOUN COUNTY
VICTORIA COLLEGE - WILKINS INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTER
701 S. Ann St., Port Lavaca
Offers workforce and continuing education training
361-573-3291
DEWITT COUNTY
VICTORIA COLLEGE
Vocational Nursing-Cuero
2550 N. Esplanade Vocational nursing program 361-277-6760 victoriacollege.edu/Explore/Locations/ VocationalNursingCuero
LAVACA COUNTY
VICTORIA COLLEGE
Zelda L. Allen School of Nursing 1410 N. Texana St., Hallettsville Vocational nursing program 361-798-2289
BEE COUNTY
COASTAL BEND COLLEGE
3800 Charco Road, Beeville
Offers undergraduate classes, associate degrees, certificates, vocational training. Has its main campus in Beeville and operates branch campuses in Alice, Kingsville and Pleasanton. 361-358-2838 coastalbend.edu/
WHARTON COUNTY
WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE
911 Boling Highway, Wharton Two-year college that also has campuses in Richmond, Sugar Land and Bay City. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 979-532-4560
wcjc.edu
Presidio La Bahia Goliad, TX Presidio La Bahia An important part of Texas History.
Visit the Presidio and step into Texas history.
• One of the oldest churches in Texas
• Living History featured throughout the year.
• Rent the quarters and spend the night.
• Chapel available for weddings.
Located at: 217 Loop 71, Goliad, TX 77963
Contact and reservations, call: (361) 645-3752 or visit www.presidiolabahia.org
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  37
Discover Colleges & Universities


Deer walk through Brackenridge Park and Campground.
BRACKENRIDGE PARK OFFERS FUN
BY MORGAN O’HANLON | [email protected]
John Brackenridge moved to Jackson County in the 1850s, hoping to find a place to settle his family.
Almost 170 years later, the land where Brackenridge moved his family has become Edna’s Brackenridge Park and Campground. The space continues to be a haven for families from throughout the Crossroads, who travel to the scenic park to fish and explore nature.
These families include people like James and Edith Harris, who made the park their home for almost a year. The park is a literal home to numerous seasonal residents who live in trailers in the park. The couple moved there in November 2018 and sold their home in nearby Vanderbilt. The couple enjoyed
38  DISCOVER 2020
the park for the opportunity to watch the park’s wildlife, take their dogs for walks and have their grandchildren come visit and explore the great outdoors with them.
“There’s no meanness out here,” Edith Harris said.
John and Maggie Blankenship have been making family memories on the shores of Lake Texana for almost 20 years. The couple frequently visits the park, including with their two grandchildren.
This year, many of the park’s most beloved traditions, including the annual chili spill and Halloween trail and carnival, are postponed because of COVID-19. But the park’s numerous opportunities for outdoor fun are a great option for families looking to spend time outside. At this point in the
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Shelby Miller | [email protected]
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pandemic, most research suggests that the risk of spreading the virus is much lower in an outdoor space compared to an indoor facility, so spending time fishing on Lake Texana is likely to be a safer option then, say, meeting with friends inside someone’s home.
The park has numerous sporting facilities, plus disc golf, historical sites, fishing, camping and hiking. There are 125 miles of shoreline along the lake, and the water is stocked with fish including catfish, bass, and crappie.
You can also find plenty of history in the park, like the Texana Church, which was originally built in 1859 in the town of Texana. It was later moved to Edna before it was returned to the park in 2001.
What distinguishes the Brackenridge Recreation Complex, said marketing coordinator Bridget Bustos, is the quantity of things to do there year-round.The complex is home to 240-acre Brackenridge Park and Campground and 590-acre Texana Park, as well as a main events center owned and operated by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority.
“It’s a family fun atmosphere,” Bustos said. “You can’t beat the coziness of being around a campfire with your family.”
Advocate reporter Ciara McCarthy contributed to this story.
If You Go
BRACKENRIDGE PARK AND CAMPGROUND
891 BRACKENRIDGE PARKWAY, EDNA
361-782-5456
HOURS //
8 a.m.-5 p.m., Weekdays; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday. Call for more information.
TEXANA PARK AND CAMPGROUND
891 BRACKENRIDGE PARKWAY, EDNA 361- 782-5718
HOURS //
8 a.m.-5 p.m., Weekdays; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture
Annual Events:
Golf Tournament, Job Fair & Business Expo, Membership Banquet, Breakfast with Santa, Best of Texas Big Buck & Big Hog Hunting Contest
Develop • Grow • Build a Strong Community
317 W Main St. PO Box 788 Edna Tx 77957 Phone: (361)-782-7146 Fax: (361)-782-2811 Website: www.jacksoncountytexas.com
Contact us to join today!
Memberships available for individuals and businesses
Brackenridge Recreation Complex
Two Parks, One Destination!
2 Gated Campgrounds RV & Tent Camping Cabins Facility Rentals Nature Center Fishing Piers Playgrounds Picnic Areas Hike & Bike Trails Equestrian Trail Miniature Golf Disc Golf Historic Church
Brackenridge Park (361) 782-5456 Texana Park (361) 782-5718
www.brackenridgepark.com
@Brackenridge Recreation Complex
Located on Lake Texana, 7 miles south of Edna on Highway 111
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  39


If You Go
Matthew Westmoreland | [email protected]
A photo of the original Morales Store sits on top of a shelf at the current location on SH 111. Diana McLennan has owned and operated the store for a decade
HISTORIC MORALES STORE SERVES UP CLASSICS
BY KALI VENABLE | [email protected]
Morales had been without a store or restaurant for three years when Diana McLennan decided to open the Morales Store – the only business operating in the once thriving town.
“I was tired of working in an office,” she said. “My husband asked what I was going to do and I said, ‘I think I am going to open up the Morales Store. It was on a whim.’”
The business was far from new when McLennan opened a decade ago. Originally built in the 1860s, the Morales Store tradition has been carried on by several owners in different locations.
Aside from its history, the store’s half-pound burgers are its claim to fame. The patties are made fresh daily in-house, McLennan said.
Homemade chicken salad sandwich and tacos are also a hit, she said.
Though the Morales Store has changed hands over the years and been recreated in different buildings, the quiet, simple atmosphere has remained the same. If you arrive during lunch or dinner time
40  DISCOVER 2020
on any given day, you’ll find yourself at the center of a laid-back community gathering.
“We couldn’t have done it without the people out here in the Morales community,” McLennan said. “They support us 100%, but we’ve got people that regularly come from all the surrounding towns.”
Hunters making their way to nearby leases or property arrive like clockwork during hunting seasons, McLennan said.
“You remember them every time you see them or at least you try to,” she said.
THE MORALES STORE
10191 SH 111, EDNA
HOURS //
8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday; the grill is open from 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.


The Visitor Center at the Shiner Brewery. The company has been brewing beer since 1909.
SMALL-TOWN SHINER BREWERY REMAINS STATEWIDE FAVORITE
BY GEOFF SLOAN | [email protected]
After more than a century of brewing beer, Spoetzl Brewery still shares its Bavarian roots with fans of Shiner beer around the U.S.
The local legend is famous for brewing Shiner Bock beer, a type of dark larger with German hops, according to Shiner’s online beer profiles, and expanding its operation located in the city of Shiner to support an increase in sales and a popular brewery tour.
This attraction is one of the most popular in Lavaca County. The tour is currently unavailable, but before the pandemic, it included two draft beers of whatever style beer was available at that time.
The location also has a gift shop for fans of one of the Lone Star State’s most famous brews with everything from T-Shirts to signs— and of course, a selection of beers that can be purchased on the Shiner online store.
Shiner is also famous for brewing many mainstay beers, like its bock, and seasonal selections. Seasonal selections include Sea Salt & Lime, Oktoberfest and Becker Vineyards wine barrel blonde ale. Bock, Light Blonde, Ruby Redbird, Weisse ‘N’ Easy, Black Lager, Premium and Wicked Juicy IPA all year, according to Shiner’s website.
Another claim to fame for Shiner Beer is its consistent history in the city of Shiner.
According to the Census Bureau, the city’s population is just over 2,000 but has supported a business that has been brewing since 1909.
The beer is still brewed in the same location and has been since its inception. Additions were made in 2015 to accommodate increases in demand and provide infrastructure for tours.
Shiner Beer has also shown its Texas roots and pride as a Texas owned business, unlike other similar beers. The beer company is owned by Gambrinus in San Antonio, which also owns Trumer Brewery in Berkeley, Calf., according to the parent company’s website.
Like the brewery tours, Shiner Beer is also planning to interact with fans through events this fall.
The Great Austin to Shiner Pedal is set for Oct. 3 and is co- sponsored by Shiner Beer. Registration for the bike ride is available for varying prices at shinergasp.com/registration. php.
Shiner Beer is hosting the Shiner Beer Run Nov. 21 with different footrace lengths around town including a 5K and half marathon. More information and registry can be found at www.shinerbeerrun.com.
How to order straight from Shiner
Shiner Beer isn’t hard to find in Texas, but to order from the brewery, visit www.shiner.com/find. On this site you can also find the closest retailer and which seasonal beers are available.
Jaime R. Carrero | [email protected]
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  41
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Advocate File Photo
Novosad’s BBQ and Sausage Market, 105 La Grange St., in Hallettsville, is owned and operated by Nathan Novosad. It was started by his grandfather, J.J. Novosad, in 1959.
NOVOSAD’S SERVES BARBECUE, SLICE OF TIMES PAST
BY ELENA ANITA WATTS | [email protected]
The thick wooden island with a butcher-block top situated behind the counter of Novosad’s BBQ & Sausage Market in Hallettsville has seen a lot of briskets, pork ribs and sausage during the past 60 years.
Vintage John Wayne and other western-themed artwork likely have graced the walls of the old downtown establishment just as long. And the back room blackened by decades of smoking meats tells a
story all its own.
“If it doesn’t smell like smoke, it’s not barbecue,” said Ernie Foster,
67, who sat at a table culling through dried pinto beans in preparation for the next day’s meal. “I’ve traveled all over the country, and it’s about the best barbecue place around.”
In the town called home by fewer than 3,000 residents, generations of Novosads have carried on a family tradition of serving sausage prepared according to the recipes of their Czechoslovakian ancestors. J.J. Novosad opened the shop in 1959, and before that, he sold several
42  DISCOVER 2020
restaurants across Texas, including the one that has evolved into the Mikeska’s barbecue chain.
In 1983, Nathan Novosad, 60, J.J.’s grandson began running the restaurant. Together, they have served generations of the town’s families and countless travelers passing through on their way somewhere else.
The small restaurant is imbued with a feeling of nostalgia, possible only with the passing of much time and many shared meals and conversations.
As a young man, Foster bought barbecue from J.J. Novosad. He then started helping his friend Nathan Novosad around the place a couple of months ago. Foster, a self-described pork rib man, makes the coleslaw and potato salad.
Novosad makes the homemade borracho beans. He begins smoking the meats, including brisket, pork steak, chicken and pork ribs, about 4:30 a.m.
Plates, sandwiches and meats-by-the pound are on the menu.


At the glass-encased meat counter near the entrance, Novosad sells pork and beef sausage, breakfast sausage, dried sausage and smoked bacon.
Novosad called Judy Werner, 70, who works at Hair on the Square in downtown Hallettsville, by name when she walked over to pick up her to-go order. She called Novosad a “sweetheart” and described the place as “friendly.”
Novosad’s BBQ & Sausage Market made Texas Monthly’s “Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas” in 1997.
“Hometown people meet and greet, and others from all over Texas stop through,” Novosad said. “A lot of regulars come in on Fridays, and it’s a mixture of locals and out-of-town customers on Saturdays.”
News
Sports People Perspective Business Info Happenings
VICTORIA
EXPERIENCE TODAY'S
CALL 361-574-1200
FOR MEMBERSHIP!
Advocate File Photo
Smoked pork steak plate at Novosad’s BBQ and Sausage Market in Hallettsville.
If You Go
NOVOSAD’S BBQ & SAUSAGE MARKET
105 LAGRANGE ST., HALLETTSVILLE 361-798-2770 • novosadsbbq.com
HOURS //
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday
On the Menu
TRUST!
BBQ PLATES
Pork & beef sausage Pork or lamb ribs Beef brisket Half chicken Pork steak
BBQ SANDWICHES
Sausage Sliced brisket Pork
BBQ BY THE POUND
Sliced brisket Lamb ribs
Pork ribs
Pork steak
Pork and beef sausage Chicken Chopped barbecue
SIDES BY THE CUP, PINT AND QUART
Potato salad Homemade borracho beans Coleslaw
VictoriaAdvocate.com
YOU
LOCAL NEWS
Plano
CAN
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  43


Emree Weaver | [email protected]
The boardwalk connecting the observation towers and the Big Tree Trail observation deck at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was renovated after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in 2017.
TAKE IN THE NATURAL WORLD AT ARANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
GLORIA HEREDIA | [email protected]
Since she was little, Laura Bonneau knew she wanted to dedicate her life to wildlife conservation.
“I wanted to be a zookeeper, a veterinarian, a teacher and then I went to school to be a wildlife biologist,” she said.
In her last semester at Texas A&M University, Bonneau took a class in environmental interpretation and realized she wanted to interact with people and share her knowledge.
“We have biologists out in the field doing amazing work, but the public doesn’t get to see that,” she said. “I wanted to be the translator between the biologist and the public so they recognize the work that is being done here and the need for conservation.”
Bonneau is now the visitor services manager at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where she has worked for several years.
She teaches visitors about the wildlife that live at the refuge and greets more than 100 visitors each week.
“The best time of the day to come is actually in the morning or later in the evening,” Bonneau said.
The refuge was established in 1937 and annually attracts nature enthusiasts from all over the world.
“A lot of people come to see the birds,” Bonneau said. “We have spotted more than 400 bird species in the refuge.”
Most famously, the refuge is home to endangered whooping cranes come winter.
The iconic birds make a 2,400-mile flight to the refuge during the fall from breeding grounds in central Canada and can be seen in the area until spring.
The main unit of the refuge sits behind Matagorda Island, a piece of a long chain of barrier islands that extend down the Texas coastline. Surrounded by several shallow bays, strong winds push bay waters onto the mainland, which shifts from
44  DISCOVER 2020
salt to brackish and freshwater marsh.
Other than bird-watching, the refuge offers six trails where
visitors can encounter other animals such as alligators, ducks, javelinas, bobcats and deer. There are also great fishing spots. “Getting the kids outdoors and off of the screens is good because they can see what we have out here and be aware of
how to protect the environment,” Bonneau said.
She said visitors need at least two hours to take in the refuge
and are encouraged to bring their own food.
Anyone who travels to the refuge should dress comfortably,
wear sunscreen and bring lots of insect repellent, she said. Cellphone service is also spotty.
Bonneau describes the refuge as “truly wild,” and said she enjoys seeing people make a connection with nature.
“It sounds corny, but my favorite thing to do is to share the wonder of nature,” she said.
Reporter Kali Venable contributed to this story.
If You Go
ARANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
1 WILDLIFE CIRCLE, AUSTWELL 361-286-3559 • WWW.FWS.GOV/REFUGE/ARANSAS
HOURS //
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset daily
FOR MORE INFO //
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the visitor contact station was closed in the spring and entry fees were suspended. Those response plans are subject to change. For the most updated visitor information, call ahead or visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ aransas/.
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Photo Contributed by Craig Radley
Pinchers offers fresh seafood daily. The owners grow their own crawfish a few miles from the restaurant.
FRESH COASTAL FARE AWAITS DINERS AT PINCHERS
BY MARK ROSENBERG | [email protected]
Pinchers Boil’n Pot Restaurant in El Campo has been serving up fresh seafood and local meats since 1999.
Craig Radley, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Debbie, said the restaurant’s commitment to “good food and great service” sets it apart.
Pinchers moved to its current location along U.S. 59 in 2005 in a converted gas station and convenience store the Radleys purchased.
Many of the items on the menu come from close by. The Radleys order their meat from local butchers and their shrimp
and oysters from the Texas coast, wherever they can find the freshest supply. They import crawfish from Louisiana six or seven days a week when it’s in season and raise their own crawfish 15 miles from the restaurant to supplement the supply, Radley said. The crawfish they raise are purged on location.
When pressed to choose a favorite meal on the menu, Radley opted for the fried shrimp.
“We peel and butterfly our shrimp per order, so every day we’re constantly peeling shrimp,” Radley said. “They’re hand- battered. It makes all the difference.”
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  45
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Pinchers also offers an RV park. The Radleys also own an old-fashioned candy shop next door to the restaurant that offers sweets and Blue Bell Creameries ice cream.
After more than two decades in business, the owners are still striving to improve the place as they prepare to hand the reins over to their son. It offers an enclosed front porch and back yard seating so diners can enjoy Pinchers’ offerings inside or outside, no matter the weather.
“We’re always adding to our atmosphere,” Radley said. “I just haven’t quit spending money on the place.”
Radley expects his son Coy, 27, to take over by the time he turns 30.
With Pinchers located right on the highway, cars pass through every day. The Radleys have one shot to blow their customers away with their food and service.
“Usually when a customer stops in the first time, we have a customer for life,” Radley said. “When we sit them down and serve our fresh food, people enjoy it.”
Marcus Gutierrez contributed to this story.
If You Go
PINCHERS BOILIN’ POT RESTAURANT
2909 U.S. 59, EL CAMPO 979-543-2645 • www.pinchersrestaurants.com
HOURS //
11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday - Saturday; 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sunday
El Campo Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture
979-543-2713 ElCampoChamber.com
01 N. Mechanic | El Campo, TX 77437
Photo Contributed by Craig Radley
The lake in front of the restaurant is home to fish and ducks.
ATTRACTIONS
Live Music Museums
Unique Gifts Recreation
Historic Murals Waterfowl Hunting Wining & Dining Day Trips Available
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5TH
9am -5pm
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6TH
10AM - 4 PM
33rd Annual christmas mall
$3 Adult Admission | $1 Children under 12 Under School Age FREE
46  DISCOVER 2020


Elder’s customer Bill Skoruppa looks over a display of meats at Elder’s Country Store.
DESPITE DECADES, MARKET CONTINUES OFFERING
IRRESISTIBLE FOOD, COMPANY
BY JON WILCOX | [email protected]
Since the 1960s, Ted Staples has been a customer at Elder’s Country Store and Market.
Now retired, the former six-term Bee County justice of the peace still makes nearly daily visits to there.
In fact, he stopped there one July morning for a lunch of fried fish, beans and root beer just as he had every other day that week.
After about six decades of frequenting Elder’s, Staples said its become an essential part of his routine.
And it’s not just the food that’s worth the visit although the menu has always impressed Staples’ friends, out-of-town visitors and even a few FBI agents he met during his time as judge, he said.
“I usually get here about 10:30 or 11 a.m. every day,” the 83-year-old said. “If I want to talk to people, I’ll come at noon.”
After opening in 1961, Elder’s has attracted customers with the promise of fresh meat at the deli counter, groceries and necessities or simply a quick but delicious lunch.
The allure of a tasty meal even extends into the parking lot. The brisket and mesquite-smoked ham cooked in a barbecue pit overnight inevitably leaves an irresistible aroma every morning at the nearby intersection of Washington and St. Mary’s streets.
Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, business at Elder’s has remained booming at the family- owned business, said owner Jeanette Elder, 86.
Apart from the decreased occupancy and increased space between tables, the market has continued just as it always has.
Ham orders are still a hit, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the jerky, chicken salad and bacon sold there remain popular as ever.
Elder said the demand for their chicken salad is so high these days that getting some before it runs out can be a challenge, albeit a worthy one.
While Elder said she is getting older and sometimes needs a little help using the computer, she said there’s no plans of closing the market.
That’s in part because she gets plenty of help from her sons and grandkids.
But Elder, despite her years, said she also finds a comfort in working at the store with its consistently tasty food and steady stream of friendly customers.
“It kind of keeps me going,” she said.
If You Go
ELDER’S COUNTRY STORE AND MARKET
1600 N. ST. MARY’S ST., BEEVILLE 361-358-4036
HOURS //
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Contributed Photo
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  47
COUNTY


Angela Piazza | [email protected]
Park Interpreter and Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Nordlof sits on a bench along Goose Island State Park’s Turks Cap Trail.
GOOSE ISLAND STATE PARK BOUNCES BACK
BY JESSICA PRIEST | [email protected]
The Big Tree at Goose Island State Park has long been a symbol of resilience.
When Rockport was battered by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 a lot of people were relieved when they learned the Big Tree had only lost a few limbs.
The park is open to a limited number of services because of COVID-19, and reservations are encouraged because of capacity limits. Face coverings are required while social distancing is not available outside and in all buildings, and people are limited to groups of 10 except for immediate family and those who live in the same home.
48  DISCOVER 2020
“I don’t know how many times I get messages on our Facebook page or even just visitors in the park who stop and talk about it and say, ‘I have pictures of me and my family with the Big Tree when I was a little kid.’ It’s just a really special memory for a lot of people,” said Sarah Nordlof, park interpreter and volunteer coordinator.
With a 35-foot, 1 and 3/4-inch trunk circumference and a crown spread 89 feet, it’s unclear just how old the Big Tree is.
“And we’ll never know,” Nordlof said, “because really the only way to know for sure is to take a core sample and that involves drilling into it, and we’re not going to do that to the Big Tree because however old it is, it’s made it this far and we don’t
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know what the effect, especially with our drought-prone conditions, drilling would have on it.”
But what is clear is that it has survived disasters before.
For a long time, the Big Tree and St. Joseph’s Chapel, which is now known as the monastery the Villa Stella Maris, were all there was in the town of Lamar after a battle in 1865 started fires and largely destroyed it.
The community eventually rebuilt and so, too, will Goose Island State Park, Nordlof said, when everyone comes together.
“Personally, what I think is more impressive — and I don’t want to discount the importance of the Big Tree because it’s certainly a symbol for so many — is this whole oak mott surrounding it. The Big Tree is only so big and has only survived for so long because these smaller oaks around it have protected it,” she said.
Nordlof, who began working at the park in January 2017, said her colleagues derived strength from each other after Harvey even though they were sad to tell visitors they couldn’t camp on the island because Harvey destroyed utilities there or fish on a popular pier it downed for at least a few years.
“It was really neat to see the staff here become like a family after the storm,” she said.
In the meantime, the park still has a lot to offer and a lot of people taking advantage of it.
Nicole Tavernier, 33, drove 21⁄2 hours from Pleasanton to the park to camp for several days with her family.
“We have been here before a bunch of times,” she said after using the RV campsites’ water and electrical hookups to brush her teeth and unplugging an air conditioning unit they had placed in
their tent. “We just like the location with all of the trees.”
The RV campsites cost $18 a night while the tent sites cost $10. There’s also a group campsite designed by students from the University of Texas’ School of Architecture with a shaded
area to sit and have a meal.
Visitors can also traverse a .66 of-a-mile trail to spot as
many of the more than 300 species of birds seen at the park over the years.
If they get too hot, they can head down to where the park meets St. Charles’ and Aransas bays and cast a net. Spotted sea trout, red drum, black drum and flounder are often caught there.
Nordlof said the park will soon offer kayaking lessons and develop another 80 acres for outdoor lovers.
“Mother Nature is awesome. She’s resilient and already has come back so much,” Nordlof said.
Angela Piazza | [email protected]
TOP: The Big Tree, an oak tree that’s centuries old, at Goose Island State Park.
BOTTOM: Bayfront Suites overlook Aransas Bay at Goose Island State Park.
If You Go
GOOSE ISLAND STATE PARK
202 S. PALMETTO ST., ROCKPORT
HOURS //
Gates are open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily; office is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
ADMISSION //
Entrance fee is $5; children 12 and under are free
VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM  49


Public Schools
VICTORIA COUNTY
BLOOMINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
2781 Farm-to-Market Road 616, Bloomington Prekindergarten-12
3A
One elementary school, one primary school, one middle school, one high school 361-333-8016 Bisd-tx.org
NURSERY SCHOOL DISTRICT
13254 Nursery Drive Kindergarten - 5 One elementary school 361-575-6882 Nurseryisd.org
VICTORIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
102 Profit Drive Prekindergarten-12
5A
14 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, two alternative schools 361-578-2711
Visd.com
ARANSAS COUNTY
ARANSAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
1700 Omohundro St., Rockport Prekindergarten-12
4A
One prekindergarten and kindergarten school, one first-third- grade school, one middle school and one high school 361-790-2212
Acisd.org
BEE COUNTY
BEEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
211 N. St. Mary’s St., Beeville Prekindergarten-12
4A
One early childhood center, two elementary schools, one intermediate school, one junior high school, one academy, one high school
361-358-7111 beevilleisd.net/
SKIDMORE-TYNAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
224 W. Main St., Skidmore Kindergarten-12
3A
One elementary school, one junior high school and one high school 361-287-3426 stbobcats.net/
PETTUS SCHOOL DISTRICT
500 N. May St., Pettus Prekindergarten-12 One elementary school, one secondary school 361-375-2296 pettusisd.esc2.net/
PAWNEE SCHOOL DISTRICT
6229 Farm-to-Market Road 798, Pawnee Prekindergarten-8
One elementary school, one junior high school 361-456-7256 pawneeisd.net/
CALHOUN COUNTY
CALHOUN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
525 N. Commerce St., Port Lavaca Kindergarten-12
5A
Three elementary schools, one kindergarten through eighth grade school, one middle school, one alternative school and one high school
361-552-9728 Calcoisd.org
DEWITT COUNTY
CUERO SCHOOL DISTRICT
960 E. Broadway St. Prekindergarten-12
4A
One high school, one junior high, one intermediate, two elementary 361-275-1900 cueroisd.org
YOAKUM SCHOOL DISTRICT
315 E. Gonzales St., Yoakum Early childhood-12
4A
One high school, one junior high, one intermediate (grades third-fifth), and one primary school (grades first and second) and a primary annex (early childhood, prekindergarten and kindergarten). Also home of multi-district DeWitt-Lavaca Special Education Cooperative. 361-293-3162, yoakumisd.net
YORKTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT
331 W. Main St. Prekindergarten-12
2A
One high school, one junior high and one elementary school 361-564-2252
NORDHEIM SCHOOL DISTRICT
500 N. Broadway St. Prekindergarten-12
1A
One school 361-938-5211, Nordheimisd.org
MEYERSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
1897 Meyersville Road Kindergarten-8
One school 361-275-3639, Meyersvilleisd.org
WESTHOFF SCHOOL DISTRICT
244 Lynch Ave. Prekindergarten-8 One school 830-236-5519 westhoffisd.org
GOLIAD COUNTY
GOLIAD SCHOOL DISTRICT
161 N. Welch St. Prekindergarten-12
3A
One elementary school, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school 361-645-3259 goliadisd.org
JACKSON COUNTY
EDNA SCHOOL DISTRICT
1307 W. Gayle St., Edna Prekindergarten-12
3A
Elementary, junior high, senior high campus 361-782-3573 ednaisd.org
GANADO SCHOOL DISTRICT
210 S. Sixth St., Ganado Prekindergarten-12 2A
One campus 361-771-4200 ganadoisd.org
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
167 Fifth St., Vanderbilt Kindergarten-12
3A
Two elementary schools, one junior high and one high school 361-284-3226 industrialisd.org
LAVACA COUNTY
SHINER SCHOOL DISTRICT
505 Texas Ave., Shiner
2A Prekindergarten-12 Elementary, junior high and high school 361-594-3121 shinerisd.net
MOULTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
500 N. Pecan St., Moulton
1A Prekindergarten-12
One high school, one elementary school 361-596-4609 moultonisd.net
HALLETTSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
302 N. Bridge St., Hallettsville 3A Prekindergarten-12 Elementary, junior high and high school 361-798-2242 hisdbrahmas.org
VYSEHRAD SCHOOL DISTRICT
595 County Road 182, Hallettsville Prekindergarten-8
One school 361-798-4118 vysehrad.k12.tx.us
EZZELL SCHOOL DISTRICT
20500 Farm-to-Market Road 531, Ezzell Pre-kindergarten-8
One school 361-798-4448 ezzellisd.org
SWEET HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT
7508 Farm-to-Market Road 531, Sweet Home Prekindergarten-8
One school 361-293-3221
REFUGIO COUNTY
REFUGIO SCHOOL DISTRICT
212 W. Vance St., Refugio Prekindergarten-12
2A
One elementary school, one junior high school and one high school 361-526-5400 Refugioisd.net
WOODSBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT
408 S. Kasten St., Woodsboro Prekindergarten-12
1A
One elementary school and one combined junior-senior high school 361-543-4519
wisd.net
AUSTWELL-TIVOLI SCHOOL DISTRICT
207 Redfish St., Tivoli Prekindergarten-12
1A
One elementary school and one combined junior-senior high school 361-286-3212
atisd.net
50  DISCOVER 2020
Discover Schools