float, restaurant and picnic area. Admission charge. 8804 S. Desert Blvd. 915/886-2222.
www.wetwild.com.
WINERY —Zin Valle Vineyards. See WINERIES listing.
BALMORHEA POP. 476
ALT. 3,205 MAP N-6
The original inhabitants of the area were the Mescalero Apaches. The town site was established in 1906 by land promoters in the center of a 10,000-acre tract fed by the San Solomon Springs. Events include the First Friday Flea Market, Memorial Day Festival and Labor Day Festival softball tournaments.
BALMORHEA STATE PARK —Dive into the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool. Scuba divers love the clarity. The San Solomon Courts offer motel-style lodging. Canals along the Courts lead to a restored cienaga (wetland) where a window provides a view of the underwater world. Admission charge. Four miles west on Texas 17 at historic San Solomon Springs. 432/375-2370.
www.tpwd.state.tx. us/state-parks/balmorhea.
CALERA CHURCH —Originally named Mission Mary, the rock and adobe chapel was established in 1902. The mission was renovated and serves as an all-denominational chapel and is available for exterior viewing. Two miles west of Balmorhea State Park on F.M. 3078.
www.caleratexas.org.
The stone cottages at Chisos Mountains Lodge in Big Bend National Park are very popular. travel information TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTER S
The Texas Department of Transportation operates travel information centers for the convenience of the traveling public. Uniformed, professional travel counselors welcome visitors and provide a wealth of free literature, information and sugges- tions to make every Texas trip more pleasant. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. TO SPEAK to a professional travel counselor
for travel information and trip planning assis- tance call 800/452-9292 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Central time daily.
www.txdot.gov.
FOR 24-HOUR highway condition information call 800/452-9292 or visit
www.drivetexas.org.
ANTHONY: 8799 S. Desert Blvd. At the Texas- New Mexico state line on I-10. 915/886-3468.
LANGTRY/JUDGE ROY BEAN VISITOR CENTER: U.S. 90 West/State Loop 25 at Torres Avenue. Off U.S. 90 West, 60 miles west of Del Rio. 432/291-3340.
GETTING THERE
EL PASO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
www.elpasointernationalairport.com
MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL AIR & SPACE PORT
www.flymaf.com
MORE TRAVEL INFORMATION ON PAGE 7. 96
ALPINE POP. 6,021
LAKE — Lake Balmorhea— Reservoir on Sandia Creek has picnicking, limited boating, birding and fishing (buy a license at Balmorhea State Park). Two miles southeast of Balmorhea via local road. 432/375-2238.
BIG BEND NATL. PARK AREA POP. 3,069 (est.) ALT. 1,850–7,825
ALT. 4,485 MAP P-6
ALPINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITOR CENTER: 106 N. Third St. 800/561-3712 or 432/837-2326.
www.alpinetexas.com.
Alpine is located between the Davis and Glass mountains and is near Big Bend National Park. Declared a Designated Cultural Arts District by the Texas Commission on the Arts, Alpine’s historic downtown district features antique stores, boutiques, art galleries and several distinctive murals. Special events include the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gath-
ering in February, Viva Big Bend Music Festival in July and the Big Bend Balloon Bash during Labor Day weekend.
LAST FRONTIER MUSEUM —Small museum features rocks, gems and minerals of the region. Free. 2310 W. U.S. 90 in the lobby of the Antelope Lodge. 432/837-2451.
SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND —For more than 70 years, this museum has collect- ed and exhibited Big Bend artifacts. Exhibits capture the history and contributions of the Native Americans, Span- ish, Mexicans and Anglo-Americans. Museum is handicap acces sible. Gift shop. Donations accepted. Free. North east corner of Sul Ross State University campus. 432/837-8730.
www.museumofthebigbend.com.
ANTHONY POP. 5,405
ALT. 3,800 MAP L-1/OO-19
Anthony is at Exit 0 on I-10—the “Gateway to Texas.” In 1598, Don Juan de Oñate’s expedition traveled this road, at a rate of only 40 miles in 15 days, to settle Santa Fe.
TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTER —This is one of the 12 Texas Travel Information Centers operated by the Texas Department of Transportation for the convenience of the traveling public. 8799 S. Desert Blvd. At the Texas-New Mexico state line on I-10. 915/886-3468.
www.txdot.gov.
WET ‘N’ WILD WATER WORLD —Water-oriented recre- ation park pumps a million gallons a day to provide a “volcano” with water slides. Includes a lazy water tube
BREWSTER COUNTY TOURISM COUNCIL: Visitor station is at U.S. 90 and U.S. 385 S. in Marathon.
www.visitbigbend.com.
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTERS: Park Head quarters at Panther Junction and Chisos Basin are open year round. Persimmon Gap, Rio Grande Village and Castolon Visitors Center are open Nov.– April. 432/477-2251.
www.nps.gov/bibe.
C ommunities—Alpine, Lajitas, Marathon, Study Butte, Terlingua, Sanderson, Fort Davis, Marfa and Presidio— offer a variety of museums, recreation and entertainment. Their combined counties cover 14,671.3 square miles. Because of the vast distances between towns, be sure the gas tank is filled while traveling the area.
BIG BEND & LAJITAS STABLES —Explore the Chihua- huan Desert and Big Bend Ranch State Park from the saddle. This full-service horseback riding outfitter offers guided trail rides from one to five hours or one to five days. Junction of Texas 118 and F.M. 170 in Study Butte. 800/887-4331 or 432/371-3064.
www.lajitasstables.com.
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK —This park encompasses 801,163 acres of magnificent contrasts. Facilities include visitor centers, post office, National Park Service camp- grounds, a trailer park, store-gas stations and a restaurant- gift shop-lodge in the Chisos Mountains Basin. Advance reservations are strongly advised, especially for holidays and spring break. Chisos Mountains Lodge: 432/477-2291.
www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/lodging.htm. The Chisos Basin is at an elevation of 5,400 feet and
some trails go higher. The park offers backpacking, day hiking, wildlife watching and ranger programs. There is a cost for personal ranger-guided tours, which are first- come, first-served. PET OWNERS TAKE NOTE: It’s best to leave your pets
at home. Pets are not permitted on any trail, in the back country or on the river. Pets are allowed in developed campgrounds and primitive roadside campgrounds, but must be on a leash at all times. Because of wild animals
PHOTO: WILL VAN OVERBEEK/TXDOT MAP R-6/7
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