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Visiting
Hico, TexasHico,
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
Area Hotels - Book Here & Save:
Glen
Rose Hotels
Stephenville
Hotels
Fort
Worth Hotels
More
Hotels |
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First
Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2005 |
| Bridge
over the Bosque River in Hico. "There IS a new and better one upstream."
- Jim
& Lou Kinsey | |
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