Visitor question answered!

This afternoon we had a request from a visitor, "what does the rest of the Valentine church building look like?" (See our June 18th post.) Here it is! Keep the questions coming, and don't forget you can submit your own blog entries about the Texas Mountain Trail region to our sister blog, "My Favorite Place," www.tmtrfavorite.blogspot.com

Beth Nobles
Texas Mountain Trail Regional Coordinator

Van Horn's Rodeo

Every year, Van Horn holds a 4-H Rodeo drawing competitors from all over the Texas Mountain Trail region and beyond. Here are some photos from this year's events.

View from the Road

The Virgin Mary of Guadalupe on the church in Valentine, TX

Fancy Junk Sculpture

If you're driving through Van Horn, be sure to take a look at the sculpture made by Gerald Scott outside the Los Nopales antique store on Broadway Street. Scott is an inventive artist, combining discarded objects into witty figures. Take a few minutes to walk through the "sculpture garden" and you'll see more alien figures, art cars and even an Uncle Sam!

San Elizario

Last week our Texas Mountain Trail Board of Directors met in San Elizario at the Adobe Horseshoe on the Plaza, thanks to the hospitality of Ben Sanchez of the Mission Trail.

Ever since my first visit last year that plaza has been one of my favorite places in the region. Here are views of the Los Portales Tourist Museum and Information Center and the San Elizario Presidio Chapel. I'm happy to report that the work on the exterior of the chapel is now complete.

The chapel is beautiful. When you travel to San Elizario, I encourage you to step inside for a few quiet moments. I love the hand-painted angels on the adobe walls. It is a special place.

The Museum is housed in an 1850's Territorial-style adobe building, and has exhibits focusing on the rich and colorful historical legacies of San Elizario including the "First Thanksgiving," Spanish Presidio, San Elizario Salt War of 1877 and El Paso's first county seat.

Did you know that the closing scenes of an early Kevin Costner's movie was filmed on the plaza? Though it has since been renovated, it was the location for the wedding scene in Fandango. (By the way, most of that movie was filmed in the Texas Mountain Trail region!)

If you're traveling in the area, you should also plan to stop by the Socorro Mission (Nuestra Señora de la Concepción del Socorro) and the Ysleta Mission (Nuestra Señora del Carmen) and the Tigua Indian Cultural Center.