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Visiting Hico,
Texas
Hico, Texas
- Where Everybody is Somebody
For the past twenty-five
years I have poked fun of the fact my wife was born in Hico, Texas.
It is one of those places that no one knows where it is and is not
on the highway to anywhere important. The town slogan is “Where everybody
is somebody” but a clever Hico native change it to “Where everybody
is some………Where is everybody?” So after all these years of Hico jokes,
I suggested to my wife that we take a trip to the famous Hico, Texas
and I could see for myself the wonders of this sleepy little hamlet
which nobody seems to know about. Like any good traveler preparing
for a road trip adventure I hit the internet to discover the wonders
of my vacation destination. To my surprise Hico actually maintains
their own website touting all the benefits of life in their small
town. One of their most interesting claims is Billy
the Kid actually escaped Pat
Garrett’s shootout in New Mexico and eventually settled in this
small out of the way town using the alias of “Brushy”
Bill Roberts. Of course this claim probably doesn’t sit well with
the folks over in New Mexico since they are making tourist dollars
from people visiting the burial site of Billy
the Kid. Wanting to discover more about Hico’s famous resident
I clicked on the link that would lead me to his biography. To no surprise
Brushy
Bill was a colorful character in this small town during the early
1900’s and was easily recognized on the downtown streets. Decked out
with his round broad brimmed and round topped cowboy hat, colorful
bandana around his neck, rough leather vest and tall cowboy boots
Brushy
Bill appeared trapped in the 1800’s in a time of wild west cowboys,
saloons, and outlaws. Whether or not this old cowboy was truly Billy
the Kid he definitely left the town with enough details of his
life to be convincing. |
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Billy
The Kid Statue
Photo courtesy Teri
Brown, September 2005 |
My next discovery
was the scenery around Hico. A river running through town, lush vegetation,
an abundance of trees, and rolling hills all define the landscape.
Definitely a change from the flat treeless brown vegetation I am accustomed
to. I am beginning to ponder the idea that Hico may be a hidden gem.
At this point I am thinking, “How could this get any better? The town
has a river, lush vegetation, and a famous character to investigate.”
Next to my delight I discover Wiseman House Chocolates are located
here. Chocolate delights made fresh daily from scratch. Just as I
thought this place can’t get any better I see that it is just a few
miles away from Dublin, the home
of the only place on earth still bottling the original Dr Pepper with
the 10 2 4 bottle and Imperial Pure Cane Sugar. For a dedicated Dr
Pepper drinker like me, going to Dublin
is somewhat a religious pilgrimage. So now I have great scenery, Brushy
Bill Roberts, famous chocolates, and the original Dr Pepper. This
place is beginning to seem like heaven. In fact I am beginning to
repent of my jokes regarding this place. As I sit in front of my computer
in a euphoric state as a result of discovering these wonders, I find
yet another golden trinket. Hico is the home of the famous Koffee
Kup café which is listed in Southern Living magazine and motorcycle
road trip websites as one of the best places in Texas for a chicken
fried steak and coconut cream pie. Les Thomas of Southern Living describes
the coconut pie as, “topped with meringue as tall as a cowboy hat.”
Now besides all the other reasons I’ve discovered to visit Hico, I
can add to my list chicken fried steak, coconut cream pie, and a parking
lot full of Honda Gold Wings and Harleys to drool over. After arriving
in Hico it proved to be everything the website claimed. Never again
will I deride the fact my wife was born in Hico, Texas , “Where everybody
is somebody.” - David Pinson, Amarillo,
Texas, July 16, 2007 |
Hico, Texas
Landmarks / Attractions
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Bridge over
the Bosque River in Hico.
"There IS a new and better one upstream."
- Jim
& Lou Kinsey |
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history
and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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