Astral Nomads

One man, one woman, one rabbit......traveling with the stars.

Friday, February 18, 2011

The World's Largest Roadrunner Lives Here

It's true. We went to explore Fort Stockton a bit before going to get some camping supplies. It's a real small town but they do have the world's largest roadrunner. The old rail station has been turned into a Visitor's Center because there is no longer passenger rail service at this station. I guess the Interstate put an end to that. The local economy is mostly oil. wind, ranching, and servicing folks coming in off of the Interstate. It's a quiet town. We were the only people strolling down Main Street. I think most people just pass through on the way to Big Bend or somewhere else but we decided to explore.


This old caboose is from the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe.

See the ol' smoke risin' round the bend,
I reckon that she knows she's gonna meet a friend,
Folks around these parts get the time o' day
From the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe

Here she comes!
Ooh, ooh, ooh,
Hey, Jim! yuh better git the rig!
Ooh, ooh, ooh,
She's got a list o' passengers that's pretty big
And they'll all want lifts to Brown's Hotel,
'Cause lots o' them been travelin' for quite a spell,
All the way to Cal-i-forn-i-ay
On the Atchison, Topeka
On the Atchison, Topeka
on the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.*



Even the grasshoppers are bigger in Texas.

We're  following these guys down to Big Bend. 
Especially the Chuck Wagon.

Astral Wendy posing by the World's Largest Roadrunner.

Ready for some camping.

The older section of town is a bit rundown in spots.

Main Street was pretty quiet.

Nice composition Astral Wendy.

Murals seem to be popular here.

There's a definite sense of history.

The Pecos County Courthouse. Pecos Bill will see you now.


This saloon has been in operation since the late 19th century.

This was on the side of a diner on Main Street. I think they have
the legends covered. As a bonus, Evel Knievel was off to the left.
Curiously enough, it was Judy Garland who made a hit out of
Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe.

Man, I think Astral Wendy arranges this stuff when I'm
not looking.

The iconic 1957 Chevy.

Ceramics and Tin Animals galore!

Surrounded by roosters, still I'm looking for skyscrapers. Ha!

Not sure if the sign is really necessary.

It's almost spring.

*On the Acthison, Topeka, and the Sante, Mercer/Warren, Oscar for Best Song, 1946

7 comments:

  1. You know what I MUST say, don't you? Beep beep!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ha ha... we would have expected nothing less Debra!

    ReplyDelete
  3. No posts lately, have you fallen off the edge of the earth?

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Clark: no, we were in big bend national park camping for 5 days. very remote. back in fort stockton. new posts coming soon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank God. I actually thought there was an edge!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Did you get a sense of any wilely coyotes lurking about?

    ReplyDelete
  7. @Anonymous: Down at Big Bend they would lope through the campground at all hours of the day.

    ReplyDelete