Posted on 02/15/2004 1:51:38 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
The town of Kenedy in Karnes County used to be known as "Six Shooter Junction" in the early 1900s for its gunfights.
Now it's the "Horny Toad Capital of the World."
This was just one of the little-known Texas facts churned out Saturday at TexFest-Coastal Days, part of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
This new event, held in the Texas Trail tent, gives small towns a chance to lure visitors.
Sharon Fite, self-proclaimed history buff, said it is just what she needed for her weekend trips exploring Texas towns.
"I like to see what other towns are doing," said Fite of San Antonio. "I haven't been to the (Karnes County) festival yet. Recently, I hit Fredericksburg and other towns in the Hill Country and went to Goliad."
Earlier this month, Karnes County started a year of events celebrating its sesquicentennial, or 150th birthday. Located in Southwest Texas, the county has a rich history, from Panna Maria, the oldest Polish settlement in Texas, to dove hunting.
Glenn Harper of the Rockport & Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce said that when people think of the Texas coast they think of Corpus Christi or Padre Island. But Rockport-Fulton also has a lot to offer, including its much-touted whooping cranes.
"Tourism is an important part of our community," Harper said. "Not only do we want people to come, but we want to make people aware of what we have."
Other attractions are the 1870s-era Fulton Mansion and the Texas Maritime Museum.
Also, Goose Island State Park in Rockport is home to the largest live oak or "Big Tree" in the nation. The 44-foot tree is more than 1,000 years old and has a trunk circumference of more than 35 feet.
Last year, Aransas County collected more than $50 million from the tourism industry. "That's a lot for a small community," Harper said.
Jody Gabbert of the Adanal Ranch said folks typically don't think of Yorktown when they think of going to the Hill Country. "This area has a lot of hidden history of Texas," she said. "The first European settlers came here."
Just one hour east of San Antonio in Dewitt County, the rural community plays host to its annual Western Days in October and offers antique shops and several bed-and-breakfast.
The Adanal Ranch, Gabbert said, is a working ranch that's perfect for a family vacation. She said there's even enough space for church retreats, corporate meetings and family reunions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mmonroe@express-news.net
(Nicole Frugé/Express-News) Don McDonald holds down the fort at the booth for Kenedy, the 'Horny Toad Capital of the World,' during TexFest-Coastal Days last week.
Melissa, you misspelled Capitol! Spellcheck won't catch that one:^)
BTW, where HAVE all the horny toads gone?
My brother and I used to find them every so often when we were kids here in Dallas. Haven't seen a horny toad since then.
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