Scissor-tails & Sunsets – Lake Brownwood Texas
/“The stars at night are big and bright... Deep in the heart of Texas”
We left Junction, Texas late afternoon, but the route on country roads to Lake Brownwood State Park was fairly direct and only ~130 miles… a couple hours. Severe thunderstorm warnings had us scanning the ominous dark skies. We could see lightning strikes in the distance, but fortunately, all the bad weather missed us.
We enjoy traveling on country back roads. The traffic is light and the scenery diverse. We’re in the Texas Panhandle now and the bluebonnets were in bloom. Roadside billboards advertised upcoming rodeos with bull riding and mutton busting events. We noted there were historical markers about every mile or so. Texas is proud of its heritage and boasts some 16,000 historical landmark signs scattered across the state. Sometimes we stopped to read them. The one at Rochelle, Texas on US 377 announced the geographical center of the state. Others recounted some historical event or person of local significance.
Iconic longhorn steer grazed in the fields.
Arrival at Lake Brownwood was a welcome and most pleasant surprise. First, the Willow Point campground was nearly empty of other campers. Secondly, the campsites were really spacious with lots of room between sites. We parked under a shady live oak and checked out our surroundings. All the amenities were a short walk away. The fire ban was still in force, so our little propane stove sufficed for cooking our dinner.
The campsites at the Willow Point Loop were shady and spacious.
A dam at the confluence of Pecan Bayou and the Jim Ned Creek was completed in 1932 and has consistently kept Lake Brownstone filled since then, insuring flood control and a water source for ranching, agriculture, and domestic use. It was the CCC, established back in the 1930s, that is responsible for the beautiful, locally-quarried stone buildings and the completion of the park including its roads and cabins. During WWII, the park was used as an army R&R site. Today, the lake also serves as a major recreational site in the area though it was the birdlife… coots, cormorants, gulls, ducks, herons, and grebes… that seemed to be enjoying it the most while we were there.
The sunsets from our vantage point were absolutely stunning.
The coos of mourning doves woke us the next morning. We walked along the lakeshore via the Lakeside Trail, over an arched, wooden bridge to the fishing and boat ramp area, taking in all the views.
We were pleased to spot a scissor-tailed flycatcher also known as the Texas bird-of-paradise. This was our first sighting of this species, a particularly graceful bird and fairly common in this area.
Scissor-tailed flycatcher aka Texas bird-of-paradise
The CCC-built Recreation Center is an event venue and absolutely grand. We peeked through the windows, then climbed to the top of a stone staircase along the side of the center for great views of the lake. There are also several stone cabins for rent and a fishing lodge of the same vintage. Curved stone benches, stone culverts, and fire pits are also part of the enduring CCC legacy.
The CCC-built Recreation Center is an event venue and absolutely grand.
Later we walked the 3-mile long Nopales Ridge Trail. Bird song was prominent, but we only chanced to see black vultures… a change from the turkey vultures we’d seen all along the trip.
On our last morning at Lake Brownwood, we were treated to a mating dance by a northern mockingbird as we sipped our morning coffee. He put on quite the show, but although we were thoroughly entertained, the female was totally unimpressed. After the performance, we walked the Texas Oak Trail and the Opossum Loop. There was nothing remarkable about either trail, but both were easy walking and pleasant in the early morning sun. Then we were off once again.
Next stop, Abilene, Texas. Makes you want to sing, doesn’t it?