Bastrop Adventure Book, 4th Edition by Bastrop Marketplace

he school bell has let out its last

Buescher State Parks to Lake Bastrop and

cell phone signals can’t reach, enjoy hiking,

chime for the year and summer

the Colorado River Refuge, there are plenty

fishing, mountain biking, marshmallow

is now fully in session. Don’t be content to

of places to easily hop in and immerse

roasts, and so much more.

waste away the precious days wallowing

yourself in nature.

This time of year is a blessing for

on the couch, watching reruns of bad TV

Paddle the river this summer. Take the

locals and visitors alike. We may have

shows. Bastrop County beckons you to

family kayaking or share a canoe. Discover

started the summer off with some serious

explore. Come away from the electronic

what happens when you leave the bustle of

weather, catching up on five rainless years

screens and the recycled air. Summer is the

daily life and disappear in the quiet of the

in one night, but the skies are blue again

perfect time to get out into the County and

river’s secluded bends. Or float leisurely

and the outdoors are calling. Get out there

get your blood pumping.

along the one-hour trek from Bob Bryant to

and enjoy the sunshine.

Bastrop County is situated in the

Fisherman’s Park.

Throughout this book we get to live

perfect position for the outdoor enthusiast!

Break free from the house for a

up to the “Adventure” in our name. Find

We lie wrapped in the winding grip of

weekend of camping. Both local state

great tips on how to make the most of your

the Colorado River, nestled among miles

parks and the parks at Lake Bastrop offer

summer months with everything from

of beautiful pines and woods to range

overnight camping ranging from RV hook-

ways to beat the heat to summer fashions

over, and have several large scale parks

ups to tent sites and cabins perfect for a

and more. Here’s everything you need to

in which to thrill you. From Bastrop and

family get away. Out in the woods where

have your very own Bastrop Adventure.

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Bastrop Adventure Book

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...the water is always warm and inviting creating an atmosphere perfect for families and groups of friends looking to lie out in the water with a cooler of drinks. there is very little contact with society once

adventure.

pollution that comes with crowds that size,

you’re out in the water. Very few houses extend

Bastrop’s stretch of the Colorado River

down to the banks nor do streets or other

within the bends of the river. Quiet vistas

able to provide a pleasant hour-long stretch

commercial signifiers. Just five minutes down

where the daily clamor dissipates and you’re

of river to float between Bob Bryant and

river from Downtown Bastrop, you are officially

greeted by the hidden symphonies of the Earth.

Fisherman’s Park. Unlike its counterparts, the

entrenched in nature. Luckily the Texas Parks

A chorus of buzzing bugs, throaty frog tunes

water is always warm and inviting, creating

and Wildlife organization set aside designated

and bird calls. In the summer, the wind blows at

an atmosphere perfect for families and groups

paddling trails all throughout rivers in Texas to

your face as you disappear down the trail. Once

of friends looking to lie out in the water with a

make the exploration a little easier.

it sets in that there are no wrong turns to make

cooler of drinks.

and the paddling is smooth, the nerves dissipate

spread sporadically throughout the state,

into a blissful wonder.

is a vision of relaxation. Just active enough,

Bastrop County has the distinction of having

The constant flow of the Colorado is

paddling your kayak to your heart’s content, to

two trails that back right into each other. The

what allows for smooth canoeing and kayaking

build up a sweat and feel like a true explorer, but

Wilbarger Trail, a 14-mile stretch from the

year-round. But the river sees its most action

calm and welcoming enough to be able to truly

Utley Bridge to Fisherman’s Park runs almost

in the summer when families, restless from

bask in the experience.

directly into the El Camino Real Trail which

work and school, have the time to flock to the

jumps out from that same park and ends six

area. Bastrop is also becoming a destination

maintain the river in Bastrop, Keep Bastrop

miles later in the Colorado River Refuge in

for inner tubing for those jaded by the chaos

County Beautiful and the Lower Colorado River

Tahitian. With the help of recreation outfitters

of other marquee floating rivers such as the

Association (LCRA) along with the recreational

such as Bastrop River Company and Rising

Guadalupe and Frio. Unpolluted by legions of

outfitters are creating an annual event to paddle

Phoenix, one can easily steal away for a little

college students and the physical garbage and

the river in an effort to clean up the river each

While the paddling trails are usually

It’s easy to find secluded spots deep

A trip down the El Camino Real Trail

The organizations who work to

year. “If you drop something on the ground [in a river town like ours], it’ll eventually get to the river,” Harle, who owns Bastrop River Company, explained. But its efforts like this one, huge outpourings from the actual citizens of Bastrop County that keeps the river clean and inviting for adventure seekers to come.

With an annual stand-up paddle board

tournament (SUP Cup), river clean-up events, and even floating concerts, there are plenty of ways to get out on the Colorado with a great deal of fanfare. The ways in which Bastropians and visitors interact with the Colorado are growing and diverse. This community has really embraced its oldest landmark, making for an easy and enjoyable escape for the family or just a quiet getaway from the world of business meetings and bright screens.

There’s always an adventure waiting in Bastrop County, if you know where to look.

Bastrop Adventure Book

Enid Wood

Summer Fountain 908 Main Street Bastrop, Texas 78602 (512) 581-1799

ArtConnectionsGalleryBastrop.com background: Fossil Sky by Kendra Kinsey

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PLAYHOUSE

SMITHVILLE

BONDS

COMMUNITY By Terry Hagerty

All

it took was rubbing away a

and theater co-founder April Daniels. With 40-

he said April asked him, “You want to do it?”

little window smudge on a

plus years of writing and directing for theater

“And I said, ‘Yeah!”

downtown Smithville building in late 2009 and

– from Corpus

“I had had a theater in Corpus Christi and

the idea for the visionary community theater of

Christi to Austin

then we moved to Austin” and later Bastrop,

Playhouse Smithville was put into action.

– daniels said he

john daniels said, adding “Smithville wasn’t

Referring to the building at 110 Main St.

was open to the

even on our radar.” But finding a good house

that once housed the popular Charlie’s Bar-

idea of starting

and noticing “how happy we were” when in

B-Q, theater co-founder and artistic director

up a Smithville

Smithville – and the very friendly community

john daniels jr. related: “This was an empty

theater.

– sealed the deal for the couple. (Editor’s note:

building. It has been here since the 1890s. We

rubbing

the

rubbed the dirt off the glass and looked in,” he

window

clear

said of strolling down the street with his wife

and looking in,

After Director, writer and cofounder john daniels jr. helms Playhouse Smithville Photo by Terry Hagerty

john daniels spells his name in lower-case letters, as honored within this article.) (Continued on next page.)

Bastrop Adventure Book

“Annie” cast gathers for a bow.

Daniels describes himself as “an actor’s

with a smile, but packed houses often help the

director,” adding he “Looks at the company of

cause. A donation of $1,000 that came within a

people I work with…to come up with material

week of the theater’s opening certainly helped

that will work well with them.” He has been a

the cause. And former Chamber of Commerce

director and playwright for 40-plus years and

Executive Director Tina Smith helped get new

has written and produced more than 50 of his

theater seats installed through fundraising.

own original scripts.

After a “short break” for the summer, the

April – who is also Executive Director of

theater will return with an enticing lineup for

the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce

this Fall and into Spring 2016: “Steel Magnolias”

Playhouse Smithville, daniels says, but also an

–

brings nearly two decades of business

is set for September/October; “Bell, Book &

ambitious and daring group when it comes to

management in “herding cats” when it comes

Candle” will show in October/November; “It’s A

tackling productions that run the gamut from

to acting as producer, fundraising coordination

Wonderful Life” is set for December; “Glengarry

serious fare as “Inherit the Wind” to the fun-

and balancing “precarious, shoestring budgets.”

Glen Ross” will start off 2016 with a show in

loving “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Their son Matthew Torrez serves as musical

January, followed by “Laugh FM” in February.

“We call ourselves a ‘theater of inclusion,’”

director – he also fronted the popular Beatles-

“Robin Hood” is slated for February/March;

daniels said, emphasizing that “Everybody that

cover band Nowhere Men – and Brandon

and the romantic comedy “Making Love in

wants to be in a play, can be.” A production of

Flippo, a Smithville High School alumnus, is the

Public” will show in (late) March – the comedy

“Peter Pan” had a cast of 45 people. He said

technical director for sound and lights, working

is written and directed by john daniels. Dates

when a production of “Annie” was put on two

with john. The theater company has a focused

will be announced for “Sirens in Aquarius: A

years ago, part of the youthful cast “was standing

philosophy, daniels says, adding that he and

60’s Rock Musical,” noted as the centerpiece

out in the alley” that runs on one side of the

April “spend a lot of time (discussing) where we

of daniels’ musical trilogy of the 1960s. (The

building. One cast member particularly stands

need to go and what we need to do.”

Playhouse also offers vocal, guitar, acting and

(Continued from previous page.) It’s a community of togetherness at

out: Kaylajo Williams, a senior at Smithville

As for financial sustenance, john daniels

technical theater classes. For more information,

High School, has been in all 64 productions

said it comes from ticket sales and donations.

see Playhouse Smithville on Facebook, and for

since the beginning, daniels said.

“We don’t ever know when it’s coming,” he said

purchasing tickets, call 512-360-7397.)

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Commercial. Home. Auto. Life.

If it takes a key, we insure it.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Get Your Kids Ready for School: Smithville ISD’s

o one wants to think about it while

Registration & Health Fair

they’re laying out by the pool, but

the fact is school will be here before any of us are ready for it. Schools across Bastrop ISD and Smithville ISD open Aug. 24. Stay a step ahead this year with some helpful links, blurbs, and information. This year new legislation passed through House Bill 5 (HB5) will be going into effect among other legislative action. According to the Texas Association of School Administrators website, HB5 “made substantial changes to the state’s curriculum and graduation requirements,

assessment

program,

and

accountability system.” Bastrop ISD is working hard to make the transition smooth for students moving forward. Bastrop ISD Superintendent,

Thursday, Aug. 6

BISD’s Lesser Known Class Room Supplies:

• Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant Wipes: Keeping classrooms clean and germs at bay requires a full team effort! • Box of Washable Markers: Have you ever been in a class where there was no marker for the white board? Not fun! • Glue Sticks: One of the few supplies listed for all grades Pre-K through 6th! Glue never goes out of style. • Find full lists at www.bisdtx.org or call (512) 772-7180

10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Brown Primary School Providing registration help and health checks for school.

Bastrop ISD’s Back to School Bash Saturday, Aug. 22

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. BISD’s Memorial Stadium Food, games, entertainment, and prizes for the whole family.

Stuff the Bus

Steve Murray said, “Our work with students for

School Supplies accepted July 6 – Aug. 21

success with these new requirements in future

Saturday, Aug. 22

years starts now in elementary, intermediate

8 a.m.

and middle school.”

BISD’s Memorial Stadium

For more information on House Bill 5 visit

Backpack and School Supply handout.

http://www.tasanet.org/domain/175

Bastrop Adventure Book

Health care that revolves around you. Call for an appointment: 1.877.800.5722 or go online to www.lscctx.org 605 Old Austin Hwy. Bastrop, TX 78602

Visit Our Newest Facility In Bastrop. At Lone Star Circle of Care, we’re always thinking about your health— even when you’re not in for a check up. We offer high quality, low cost, personalized care. Our board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners provide medical assistance for you and your whole family. We accept Medicaid, CHIP, and most private insurances.