Butterfield, Salt Flats and Warm El Paso
So far our journey to warmer weather has us running from Mother Nature still, even in West Texas. We are thankful for the Andrews Chamber of Commerce and their free paved RV parking lot with hookups.
As we moved west toward El Paso, we could see the blue sky behind the Guadalupe Mountains. Our next stop would be the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Built in 1858 as part of the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, the Pinery, or Pine Springs Stage Stand only made it a year before being abandoned when the line moved to the Davis Mountain Route. The ruins of the old Pinery are found next to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park Visitors Center on Highway 62 about 2 hours outside of El Paso, Texas. Read about Butterfield's Overland Mail HERE.
The El Paso Salt War, also known as the Salinero Revolt and the San Elizario Salt War, began in the late 1860s and was a struggle between El Paso, Texas businessmen to acquire title to the salt deposits near the base of the Guadalupe Mountains. The political and legal struggle extended to an armed conflict waged with the Mexican and Tejano residents living in the communities on both sides of the Rio Grande. See more about it here.
Salt Flat, Texas, a ghost town located in Hudspeth County in west Texas, got its start in the 1920s. Locals provide “a word to the wise” to travelers thinking about taking a fun drive through shining white Salt Flats of the area. Though they look solid and flat, many a traveler has gotten stuck in these sands, facing large expenses for tow trucks to come from as far away as El Paso. Read about Salt Flat.
When we came into El Paso it was a gorgeous 68 degrees. Spent a couple of nights there so we could unhitch and explore.
The 1840s Concordia Cemetery is well known for being the burial place of several gunslingers and old west lawmen including John Wesley Hardin and John Selman.
Downtown El Paso is something Kathy has done before. In 2016, Kathy flew out to appear in the AHC Series “American Lawmen” in the episode "Dallas Stoudenmire: The Hero of El Paso." A gunfighter and lawman, Dallas Stoudenmire was involved in more gunfights than most of his better-known counterparts and is credited with successfully taming one of the most violent towns in the Old West. Read about him...
Kathy made sure that she had the chance to 're-visit' El Centro, just off downtown. Open-air market-style shops line the streets, with historic El Paso Street as 'the face' of the district.
It was fun to drive and look at, but we would need another day to walk the street.
This is right on the border shared with Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, commonly called simply Juárez. It started as El Paso del Norte (The Pass of the North) until it was renamed in 1888. This is the most populous city in the Mexican State of Chihuahua. We didn't get a chance to see it but were told a scenic excursion is the Trans Mountain Road which leads to a view of both cities.
Built in 1905, the El Paso Union Depot is still an active Train Station. Oops, sorry, that's it for now. See those clouds? Time to push on to Arizona. See you on the road! While in El Paso we stayed at the El Paso Roadrunner RV Park. This was a great stop. The staff was incredibly helpful, the pull-throughs were well kept, full hookups, and access to RV repair. We also got some takeout from Tacos Chinampa. GREAT tacos. Dave Alexander Kaydee Dog says "where's the damn grass?"
Keywords:
Butterfield Overland Mail,
El Paso,
Pine Springs Stage Stand,
Pinery,
Salt Flat Texas,
Salt Flat War,
Station
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