By Susan Smith
Each week hundreds of people call or visit the San Marcos Public Library to find information. "Answers•To•Go" highlights recently received questions. Please visit the library at 625 East Hopkins, call 393-8200 for information over the phone, or e-mail us through our web-page at www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/library.htm.
Q. I’m planning to take the kids to Big Bend for the long Thanksgiving weekend. My friend said her kids loved a ghost town there, but she couldn’t remember exactly where it was. Could you help me find it?
A. Some folks think of the start of fall as football season. For me, the onset of cool weather brings hiking season!
Let’s start with Allan Kimball’s “Fun with the Family, Texas.” I think his section on Big Bend’s scenic drives has the information you’re looking for: “Farm Road 170 from Presidio to Lajitas is known as El Camino del Rio, the River Road, and it’s one of the most scenic drives in Texas.
“The road runs alongside the Rio Grande for several miles, with mountains looming up on both sides. One of the interesting places along the drive is at Contrabando Creek on the south side of the road on the banks of the Rio Grande. It’s easy to miss, so keep an eye peeled.
“This movie site is a complete border town of authentic looking, 1880s-era ruins. Many films —including the TV miniseries “Streets of Laredo” — were shot here. This is an absolutely wonderful place for photos of children.”
Since Kimball said it was easy to miss the turn-off, I called Big Bend State Park for more details. The ranger estimated that the movie set is about five miles west of Lajitas.
It wouldn’t surprise me if there are a number of ghost towns in that region. Another possibility is the remains of an abandoned mining town at Terlingua. I expect there are others.
Kimball’s newest book, “Who is Mother Neff and Why Is She a State Park?” might be just the thing for under the Christmas tree. You can plan your next outings and learn the history of Texas state parks’ names.
You can pick up a copy at the library when Kimball joins 42 other writers at the public library’s Texas Author Day on Sunday, Nov. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. Our authors cover the full spectrum of books for children and adults.
