Show and Tell – My Hometown
I’m cheating a little and showing my Show & Tell Tuesday on a Monday! Tomorrow is the Queen Bee linkup which I co-host but I didn’t want to miss out on showing off my hometown.
If you don’t know about the Show & Tell Tuesday series hosted by Andrea at Momfessionals, you definitely want to hop on over there and take a look. So much fun!
Plus my friend Karli at September Farm has a brand new linkup starting Tuesday and rolling two links into one seemed fun!
So here are a 10 fun things about the little town that first molded me and most definitely caused me to want to look for something bigger out there.
Wharton, Texas is a small town off Highway 59 about 60 miles south of Houston. When I was growing up the population was around 12,000 but it has declined since then. Wharton is also the county seat.
The Colorado River runs through Wharton and I have always loved this bridge. Sadly it is no longer safe to drive over and has been closed for several years but many have fought to save it.
Probably most well known is the Tee Pee Motel. I have honestly always wanted to stay here and can’t believe we still have’t. I remember these being blue when I was growing up and they are just so fun looking. After being closed for years, new owners refurbished and created an adjoining RV Park.
On a trip to town this past Fall I took Carly and her friend Holden for a closer look!
Why would anyone come to Wharton? Wharton County Junior College is one reason. I attended my first two years of college here. WCJC or WacJac as it was affectionately referred to by some, has a baseball team and offers quite a few vocational programs such as nursing, dental hygiene as well as a criminal justice program to train police officers. My mom worked for WCJC for over 30 years mentoring students through vocational programs and helping them have a better start in life.
The courthouse square is one of my very favorite landmarks. While I was growing up it looked much like the picture in the center. Little known fact, if you have ever watched the film Powder, the courthouse as it looks in the center picture was the high school. The city received a grant to restore the courthouse to it’s splendor and it really is such a beautiful building now.
Hinze’s Barbecue is simply the best. Unfortunately a fire destroyed the restaurant on the bypass but you can still grab a plate at the new location in town and it is still just as delicious. Seriously, if Wharton is a town you are passing by you should make this stop!
When I was growing up the Plaza theatre was actually an operational movie theater but was closed once larger theaters in surrounding towns were built. It is now used to put on plays by local performing groups. Horton Foote, a well known playwright, was from Wharton.
Do you know who Dan Rather is? I always loved him on the nightly news and remember when I found out he was from Wharton. His family home was actually moved to the site of our county museum. Not only were Dan and I both born in Wharton but we both hold degrees from Sam Houston State.
One of the biggest highlights of the year when I was growing up was attending the Wharton County Fair. If you have never been to a small county fair you should definitely check one out in your area. Animals, rodeos and carnivals. One year my dad grounded us from the fair and it seriously was the biggest punishment I remember because the fair really was that big of a deal.
Then there is this! The Dinosaur park is near the river and my big kids have fond memories of Nana taking them to see the dinosaur. I always thought this was so random!
One of the most exciting things that ever happened when I was little was the uncovering of an Indian burial ground just about two blocks from my house. It was so interesting to go over and see how the archaeologist plotted everything and carefully removed all the bones which are now in our local museum.
Wharton, Texas…..lots of history in this little town.
Have a super week!
If Show and Tell is your thing….here are more post from this series!
Who I Was in High School, Momfessional Moments, How I Picked My Kids Names, Favorite Family Vacation, Most Embarrassing Moment, Favorite Room, How We Met & Got Engaged, Organization, Who’s Coming to Dinner, Halloween Costumes, A Day in the Life of a Queen, Momfessional Moments Take 2, Way to my Heart
Great post! My good friend from college, Danice Phillipi Sockler is from Wharton. I'm going to send this post to her!
I just love that I have discovered all of you Texas gals! I told my hubby that I want to make a trip to Texas this year! I was to go to McKinney, and College Station and Waco! He said….plan it and make it happen. But honestly I think I might have more fun with a girlfriend or two, and make it a girlfriends trip! When it happens, you and Holly are definitely on my To Call list and girl we are hanging out!
You could have an amazing little road trip in Texas! Fly into Dallas, travel down to Waco, CS, and then head over to Austin and make that your last place to fly home from! Holly & I could definitely help you with some planning!
Divine! I took a screen shot of the way you mapped it out. I love it. Might be a super fun trip for Taylor and I after her graduation and depending on where she gets her first job !!!! Thanks!
Oh my goodness! How fun would this be?! Keep us posted!
Any how is it that I still have never been to Wharton?! That bridge, Dan Rather, the dinosaur – I learned so much!
I love small towns! There is something so great about them. I must say I love that bridge. Thanks for sharing!
That dinosaur is hilarious. It totally looks photo shopped. What a fun little town. P.S. you should totally go stay at the TeePee Hotel and do a review for us :D!
Awww I love this! And I love that it was such a small town feel. It's so funny that you called to juice WacJac…I feel like college students always come up with some sort of ghetto names for their towns/school.
As soon as we know where Tay is going to be working….I will! Fun times!
What a fun town! I love Texas. I hope you get to stay at the TeePee Motel. I'd love to hear about it!
What a cute little town, and how cute is that Tee Pee Motel!! I love living here in Texas!!
This is a great 10 list. I would love to do one for Reno, NV where I live. You live in a very cute town. I love Texas and have never been to Wharton.
I've been to a few cities in Texas…Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Waco,
Lubbock, College Station to name a few. Wharton looks like such a cute town! Loved today's topic! 🙂
You should do one for Reno! We live in the Bay Area, but have a house in Tahoe & go to Reno sometimes. Would love to know fun things to do in Reno!
I will write one for Reno then. I will post it next Tuesday!
Well you should totally come back to College Station and run the BCS half marathon in December 😉
You should totally write one for Reno! I actually live in College Station now….lots more to do!
I love visiting other states but Texas will always have my heart!
My kids want to stay there so bad! I don't know why we have never thought about doing it when we are visiting. Have a super week.
Oh WacJac….girl I was a pill when I was young and since my mom worked there it was free but I so didn't appreciate it. The last thing I wanted was to stay at home for college.
Isn't that crazy? haha…when we took family pictures recently my oldest son was wanting to go take a picture there.
I do too JulieAnn….but I was so happy to escape!
I'm so glad I discovered your blog!! I'm a Texas Girl, too! My husband graduated from SHSU, too!! I loved reading this post! I wish I would have linked up! I grew up in Wimberley…there are so many fun things about that town to write about!