The next stop on our journey across the Lone Star State was Sonora Texas.
On our drive from San Antonio to Sonora we passed this Cowboy Church. Only in Texas!
Driving to Sonora
Let’s just slice a chunk out of the mountain and pave the road!
This was the first time we ever saw a Speed Limit of 80
And Ladybug was able to oblige!
The drive to Sonora Texas was interesting. There were places along the highway where it looks like the mountains just had a slice cut out to pave the road through. It was also startling to see signs that the speed limit was 80 miles per hour! And Ladybug kept up the pace!!! She sure does alright for a 2004.
We had planned on staying two nights so that we would have a day or two for sightseeing. Arriving at our RV park in Sonora in the early afternoon gave us plenty of time to check out the highlights. So after driving through stunning mountain passes in the RV, we got in the Jeep to see what Sonora had to offer.
Steve and I had spent a fabulous week in San Antonio and five days in Houston. We left both of those cities knowing that there was still so much we had not seen. And knowing that we looked forward to return visits to both. So we were excited to venture out to explore Sonora.
Sonora Texas
Sadly, Sonora is what I would refer to as a “one horse town”. We drove around for less than an hour and realized that we had seen everything that there was to see. There was a charming downtown that was only one block long.
Driving around a bit more we discovered a couple of historic markers that gave us some insight into Sonora’s history.
Sonora History
First, there was the site of the Sonora Town Well. In the second half of the 19th century pioneers who were seeking grazing land in arid Sutton County needed a reliable sours of water. In 1887 Sonora’s closest well, one of just five in the county, was three miles away. History has it that, using a horse driven drill, Charlie Adams sank the town’s first well in 1889 at the site that would become the Courthouse Square. A windmill pumped the water to a storage tank on the surface.
A Memorial for the Civil War
A Memorial for the Civil War
A Memorial to those who lost their lives fighting for freedom in Courthouse Square
In 1893 another well was drilled nearby. And in 1895 T.D. Newell bought and removed the original waterworks. In the Sonora Courthouse Square there is still a large live Oak tree standing where the well used to be, at the southwest corner of the waterworks lot.
Wentworth, a ghost town
The Sonora Courthouse
For a little more Sonora history I reference another historic marker. This one tells us that about 220 yards west of the marker’s location there was a ghost town named Wentworth. The locale is about three miles from the Sonora Courthouse Square. Situated in the 1880s at the water well of A.J. Winkler, who platted the townsite, gave title bond and named the place for Fort Terrett area rancher P.H. Wentworth
The residents of Wentworth occupied tents and picket homes. Its main building was a two-story school, church and Hall of Dee Ora Lodge #715. The town had a post office from August 1890 until August 1891. And the Postmaster was Thomas Stevenson, uncle of a future Texas governor. In 1891 Wentworth lost the county seat election to Sonora which caused Wentworth citizens to move away.
The Lodge Hall was relocated to Sonora in late 1891. At its new location it served as a school and community building until 1938.
So having seen the sights of Sonora we decided to leave after a good night’s sleep and add a day to our time in Fort Stockton!
Pit Stop BBQ
Cool that they will cook what hunters bring them!
There entree to Pit Stop BBQ
At that point we noticed that there was literally one restaurant open. The Pit Stop BBQ was open for take-out only. So we made a pit stop at Pit Stop BBQ!
The menu and food service counter at this service station themed restaurant.
I’d establish residence in New Mexico just for a turquoise license platte!
Love the mid century auto vibe!
The original Pit Stop BBQ was in a Texaco station
World Famous BBQ. Not so sure the whole world knows about this place
Pit Stop BBQ is a cool little place with a filling station vibe. Apparently the original was in a Texaco Station many years ago. When the new Pit Stop opened in April 2018 they wanted to pay homage to the original. The walls are decorated with license plates from every state. The booths and bar stools remind me of a 50s diner. But unfortunately due to Covid, the restaurant was totally empty except for Steve, me, a pit master and the adorable girl taking our order.
What we ordered
We decided to get the sliced smoked brisket, smoked spicy sausage and their luscious coleslaw with pineapple. We had not planned or getting anything for dessert. That is until that adorable girl told us about the Oreo Hog Heaven. This sweet dessert was a concoction of Oreos, whipped topping and chocolate pudding. It sounded too good to pass up. So we ordered 2!
Delicious, tender and juicy brisket and well seasoned sausages!
When we were ready to eat our dinner I added a couple of tablespoons of beef broth to the take-out container that held our meats. Then heated on high in the microwave for 2.5 minutes. Both the brisket and the sausage were deliciously juicy and flavorful. And the hit of sweet and tart pineapple to the coleslaw was a very yummy addition. I added my own baked beans to round out the meal.
The biggest surprise was just how satisfying the Oreo Hog Heaven was for dessert. The cookies remained nice and crunchy, the pudding was chocolatey and creamy and the whipped topping was airy and light.
We were pleased with our decision to just stay the one night in Sonora. We had made the most of that one day! Out visit to Sonora Texas was short but sweet.
