2023 Spring Edition

Inside:

· The force behind PK's legendary Boondocks Restaurant and Bar

· Our Iconic Home Feature

· Local coach recounts his brush with fame and football legend Mike Leach

· Plus much more!

Table of Contents

Our Iconic Home Feature: Milking the rewards of 47 years of hard work

Page 14

Our iconic home feature includes a bonus read on the story behind The Collier family

Local coach recounts his brush with fame and football legend Mike Leach

A fun read about how former Texas Tech football kicker, #85 Matt Williams made the team.

Page 34

Our Cover Photo: Scenes from Mardi Gras, PK Style. Left to Right: Rock Creek Camp, PK Ice House, The Trading Post. Mardi Gras photo gallery inside!

The force behind PK's legendary Boondocks Restaurant and Bar

An up close and personal interview with John and Jan Verdi

Page 8

Born To Cook

Meet the owners of Magpie Inn and learn about the only Bed & Breakfast in Mineral Wells.

Page 25

Scheduled to open in 2024 as the state's first new park since 2001

Page 48

All of these stories, plus much more inside!

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

MardiGras2023isinthebooks! Ifyoumissedit,we'vegotyoucoveredwithourphoto galleryfromtheparaderouteinsidethisedition. I'veheardseveralbusinessessay MardiGrastendstokickofftheirseason-iftheparadewasanyindicationofthat,we shouldbeinforagreatseasonhereatPK!

Ouriconichomefeaturethismonthcomeswithabonusstory! TimandConnieCollier ofGainesBendnotonlyhaveawonderfulcustomhome,theyalsohaveanincredible familystoryandwe'resharingitallwithyou!

Speakingoffamilystories,welovedsittingdownwithJohnandJanVerdi,theownersof thelegendaryBoondocksRestaurantandBar. Theirstoryisasgenuineastheycome.As successful,long-timebusinessowners,theyevensharetheirkeytosuccesswithus.It canbesummedupinoneword...consistency.

WhenwefoundoutformerTexasTechfootballkicker,MattWilliamswasnowalocal coach,wehadtocatchupwithhimforaninterview. Irememberbeingatthegame whenhekickedthefieldgoalinacontestforfreeapartmentrentthatactuallylanded himaspotontheteam. Iwon'tspoilthestoryforyou,butitisamustread!

Inthisedition,we'llintroduceyoutoJeremyandMagenDesnoyers,theyaretheproud ownersofMagpieInninMineralWells. Oneoftheperksofpublishingamagazineis gettingtotryChefMagen'sspecialtiesduringtheinterviewprocess. Themorningwe werethere,thebreakfastwasaroastedpearforthestarterandthemaincoursewas mapleDijonbaconservedalongsideChefMagen'slemonblueberryDutchbaby. I've beencravingiteversince! Asyou'llreadinthestory,thepairhavemadeagreat additiontothebusinesscommunityinMineralWells.

PossumKingdomLakeisinstrumentaltolifethroughouttheBrazosRiverbasin,storing andreleasingthewaterthatfuelsindustryandagricultureasfardownstreamasthe TexasGulfCoast. Canyouimaginemanagingallofthoseaspectswithalocalcrewof45 employees? We'llgiveyouinsighttotheirgreatworkwithourDayintheLifeofthe BrazosRiverAuthoritystory. IfounditveryinterestingandIknowyouwill,too.

Lookingforsomethingtodo? Don'tmissoutonPaloPintoCountyonTour,whichwillbe heldSaturday,April29th,allthedetailsareinside,aswellasmanyotherstories!

Thankyoutoallofouradvertisersandreadersforyoursupport.Bewell!

Kim

Vol.3|No.1 Spring2023

Publisher: KimNussbaum

ContributingEditor: JohnJarvis

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NextIssue: May2023

The force behind PK's legendary Boondocks Restaurant and Bar

Not long ago, Jan Verdi was in the airport in Tampa, Florida, when someone yelled out to her: “Hey, Miss Boondocks!”

Onotheroccasions,she’shadpeoplecomeuptoherwhile she’sbeenoutshoppingtosay,“Hey,rememberme?Weate atBoondockswhenwewereatPKafewyearsago.”

To those folks, she said she just smiled and said, “Come backandseeus”

She and her husband, John Verdi, have been running the Boondocks Restaurant and Bar since 2010, and have owned itsince2015

Boondocks,thelakebarlocatedontheeastsideofPossum Kingdom Lake on FM 2353, has been the go-to place for locals and weekenders for years. The establishment does have a fun lake vibe and décor, but the real secret to its successmayjustbethelongtimeownersthemselves

Pictured above: John and Jan Verdi, owners of Boondocks Restaurant and Bar at their PK lakefront home.

Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos by Kim Nussbaum

The Verdis’ approach to business might go unnoticed by some, but it’s appreciated by many, and it can be summed upinoneword:consistency.Boondocksisopeneverydayof the year except Christmas and New Year’s Day, and the couple believes that if you provide good service and good food,peoplewillsupportyou

Boondock’s has an atmosphere that resembles the iconic television show “Cheers” for many locals One local customer,BillStory,isoneofthoseregulars “Icomeinondaysthatendin‘Y,’”hesaid.

He said he doesn’t always order a meal when he visits, but he has his spot at the bar to enjoy a beer, and there are manyothercustomerswhodothesame.

Staffing is a challenge for all businesses, but the Verdis do have a core of longtime employees who have been with them for years, and some of them shared words of praise abouttheiremployers

“John and Jan are wonderful people,” said Tiffany Smart, who’s worked at Boondocks for the past nine years. “I love workingwiththem”

Eleven-year Boondocks employee Jessica Lee got engaged at a Halloween party at the restaurant, and Jan Verdi was instrumental in helping organize that surprise Lee added thattheVerdisarelikeparentstoher.

When a recent ice storm hit the area, the couple told their staff members to go raid the pantry at Boondocks if they needed food, and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they continued to make sure their employees were paid And whenanemployeeisill,JanVerdimakessurethatemployee haswhateverisneededtogetbetter

Baylee Marshall, who’s been a Boondocks employee for a little over a year, is also working on a modeling career, and she said the Verdis have been very supportive of her goals, includingschedulingtimeofftoattendtherecentNewYork FashionWeekandtheupcomingfashionweekinAustin

Whether they’ve worked at Boondocks for 11 years, like John Wilson has, or just a few months, the staff members agreed that the Verdis are great employers, with the favorite lake weekend being Mardi Gras and the Memorial Day weekend usuallythebusiest.

The Verdis met when they were in their 20s. Jan Verdi was a hairdresser by day and a bartender in the evenings, while JohnVerdiwasherbossatarestaurantinFloridawhereshe bartended

The couple runs Boondocks as a team, with John Verdi

working during the days, taking care of the bills, deposits and day shift He and his best friend, John Nash, go to Restaurant Depot every week for supplies and handpick all themeatandvegetablesforfreshness

JanVerdiworkstheevenings,andsaidshegetshomemany nights between 2 am and 3 am She makes sure the establishment is ready for the next day with all the stocking and cleaning that must be done daily – and she said she’s pickyaboutthat

JohnVerdisaidheandNashenjoytheirweeklytripstoFort Worth for supplies He said his friend used to own a grocery storeoutatthelakeandenjoysmakingthetripwithhim

JanVerdiaddedthatNashloveshelpingothers.WhenNash found out the women at the bank couldn’t leave for lunch, he began to order, pay for and deliver their lunches to the bank

“Nash has helped many at the lake, and the two Johns are luckytohaveeachotherasfriends,”shesaid.

Story continues on page 10

John and Jan Verdi at home in their kitchen.

Boondockshasexperienceddouble-digitgrowthinthepast fewyears,whichcanbeattributedtothehard-workingstaff and owners. John Verdi said he and his wife are always open to new ideas, but there are some things that are nonnegotiable. For example: All the hamburger patties at Boondocks are hand-patted, and the employees make the onionringsandchipsfromscratch.Theyalsocooktheirown roasts and prime rib for all their beef sandwiches, and hand-cut all the chicken strips from boneless chicken breasts The famous Boondocks salad bar, managed with pridebyGlendaRichey,isalwaysfresh,coldandfuntolook atintheiced-downcanoe

Itturnsoutthatconsistencymatters

The crowd at Boondocks comes from all walks of life, and the patrons are there for one thing: to have a good time. TheVerdishavemadetheeventsatBoondocksfamous,and every year they host a Thanksgiving dinner for whoever showsup Theysaidthatnoteveryonehasaplacetogoon Thanksgiving, so they host their own gathering at the restaurant, with the Verdis – and sometimes their family –waiting tables and serving as bartenders. One year more than100peopleshowedup,theysaid

Every year the Verdis also host a Christmas party for their customers All the food and drinks are free for this huge event, and it’s catered by local restaurants. The event started out with employees inviting their families and favorite customers, and it turned out that they have a lot of favorite customers The employees work for tips only that night, and the event serves as a way to give back to the community

Jan Verdi added that Boondocks has served as a venue for weddingsandwakesaswell.

The Verdis’ path to Possum Kingdom Lake has taken many turns Back in 2007, the couple were living in Midlothian, Texas, where they owned a mobile home business, buying, selling and delivering mobile homes for customers One day their son, Anthony, traveled to Possum Kingdom Lake and toldhisdadhowbeautifulitwas

JohnVerdibegantodoalittleonlineresearchandspotted a house across from the airport John called local real estateagentValerieKlappertoaskhowfarawaythehouse wasfromtheairport.

John and Jan Verdi behind the bar at Boondocks, a local favorite.

“About45seconds,”shesaid

John,apilot,responded:“OK,I’monmyway.”

He made the short flight from Midlothian to Possum Kingdom to look at the house, then flew back and told his wifewhathehadfound

TheoriginalhomeontheAirportRoadpropertywasasmall cabin, so they tore it down and put a mobile home where it hadstood

The couple’s Midlothian home was part of an airport community, and they did a lot of entertaining in their backyard, which featured a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen and an airplane hangar. They said their friends always told them they should open a restaurant, so they ended up selling their business in Midlothian and moving to PossumKingdomfulltime

TheVerdisopenedupasmallrestaurant,calledTheStuffed Olive, on FM 2353 in the former Patsy’s Cactus Flower location AfewmonthsafteropeningTheStuffedOlive,the owners of Boondocks asked if they would be interested in managing their business The Verdis managed Boondocks for five years, but in 2015 they decided they wanted to be closer to their children and grandchildren, so they sold their houseonAirportRoad.

Days after selling their home, they were given the opportunitytobuyBoondocks,towhichJohnVerditurnedto hiswifeandasked,“Whatelsearewegoingtodo?”

The couple found another home on the lake, but the lake was way down at the time, and even though the property was considered “lakefront,” the water was about three football fields away from the house. Two weeks after they bought Boondocks, though, it started raining and the lake filled back up, bringing the shoreline to within 200 feet of theirbackdoor

The Verdis have been married for 43 years and have three children, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and four recently adopted great-grandchildren John Verdi sold his plane a few months ago, and when he and his wife aren’tworkingatBoondocks,theyenjoytheirpatioviewand travelingintheirRVwiththeirdog,Boon.Sofar,thoughthe couple has no plan to slow down or change what they’re doing.

Boondocks isn’t just a part of many people’s memorable stays at PK; under the ownership of John and Jan Verdi, it’s alsoaplacethatlocalscallhome.

Consistency matters...

The famous Boondocks salad bar, is managed with pride by Glenda Richey. You'll always find the salad bar to be fresh, cold and fun to to look at in the iceddown canoe.

Pictured left to right: John Nash and John Verdi. The two Johns are longtime friends and enjoy traveling together to Fort Worth on a weekly basis for supplies. Their weekly trip to Restaurant Depot is always fun for them, they enjoy picking out all the fresh vegetables and meats for the restaurant.

Milking the rewards

of 47 years of hard work

Story by Steve Nussbaum

EacheditionofPKMagazinefeaturesaprofileofaniconic home that makes folks wonder what it looks like on the inside, and this time around it’s the beautiful home of Tim andConnieCollier

TheyhavelivedtheiconicAmericandream,and47yearsof hardworkintheagriculturebusinesshaveledthecoupleto PossumKingdomLake

Back in 1982 the two of them, along with Tim Collier’s dad, Keith, started a dairy farm five miles east of Snyder, Texas Theybuiltasmalldairybarnandstartedwith80dairycows

Theylivedonthefarmina14-by-80-footsingle-widetrailer house, raising their two boys, Will and Brady. The couple milked the herd twice a day, at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m., and maintained that schedule for years until they were finally abletohireanemployee.Theywereabletotakethreedays off a year by having Tim Collier’s brother come and give themarespitefromtheirworkdutiesonthosedays

“Intheearlydays, we would live in the trailernexttothe

dairy barn, and we would only draw a salary of $700 a month,”ConnieColliersaid

Both of them have enjoyed being around livestock and the outdoors Connie Collier grew up on farms and ranches, while her husband farmed on the side growing up His dad waselectedsheriffofScurryCountyin1965,andTimCollier lived with his family on the bottom floor of the county jail, underneath the inmates who were incarcerated on the secondandthirdfloorsofthebuilding.

The couple gradually expanded their dairy, because they said it’s almost impossible to make a living as a small operation The Colliers added more cows, eventually hiring more employees to milk their herd of 400 cows twice a day inthatoriginalsmalldairybarn

Thecouplesaidtheycouldonlymilkadozencowsatatime in that original barn, though, so Tim Collier found a bank in California that loaned him the money to expand the structure Theinitial expansion allowed them to milk 32

Pictured above: The Gaines Bend Home of Tim and Connie Collier designed and built by their neighbor and longtime PK builder Mark Anderson, along with his son, Mitchell Anderson of Anderson Fine Homes.

cows at a time, and a subsequent expansion allowed 50 cowstobemilkedatatime

TheColliers’herdeventuallytotaled2,600cows

After 10 years of living on the dairy in that small trailer house, the Colliers bought a home in nearby Snyder. In the early days, Connie Collier kept the books and tracked each cow ’ s health, vaccination status and milk production on index cards It was critical to track each cow, she said, because even the slightest amount of contamination in the milkcouldleadtothelossoftheentireherd’soutput

Connie Collier eventually returned to school to take some computer courses so the entire operation would be better organized

“You have to be a good manager, ” she said “We’d be out ofbusinessifweranitlikewedidinthebeginning.”

The Colliers eventually sold 2,200 of their best cows to a dairyinNewMexico TheirsonWill,whowasjustgraduating from Texas Tech, managed the dairy for three years and then bought the remaining 400 cows to start his own operation.

WillCollierandhiswife,Lauren,havethreechildrenandlive in Snyder, and he milks 3,000 cows per day while also farmingabout10,000acreswherehegrowsthefeedforhis herd He’s been an innovator in bringing inroboticsand

technology to the modern dairy, which reduces the number ofemployeesneededandhelpsmaximizeproduction

In his herd, each cow has an electronic necklace to help identifythosethathavebeenmilkedandthosethathaven’t. The device detects if a cow is sick, or if the animal is ovulating and needs to be artificially inseminated. Also, when the cows are leaving the barn, the sensor determines which gate to open to corral the animals in the correct area, saving on manual labor He’s also building a second robotic barn, and Tim and Connie Collier’s 15-year-old grandson,Jagger,hastakenaninterestinthebusiness

The Colliers’ younger son, Brady, also attended Texas Tech University, but he decided early on that the dairy business wasn’t for him He and his wife, Becky, live in Lubbock with their five children Brady Collier owns Wheelhouse Development, a commercial real estate and development businessinLubbock

After selling the dairy, Connie and Tim Collier traveled in their motor home to PK and stayed at Lush Resort That’s wheretheymetPatMurchison,whotoldthemaboutahouse forsalenexttohisplaceinGainesBend

The Colliers eventually bought that house and used it as theirlakehouseforacoupleofyears,andthatpropertyhad avacantlotnextdoorthathadneverbeenbuilton–ararity inGainesBendinsuchaprimelocation.

Pictured above: Connie and Tim Collier (in center of picture) surrounded by their younger son, Brady and his wife, Becky and five children on the left; and older son, Will and his wife Lauren and their three kids on the right.

The couple found the owner of the vacant lot and bought what turned out to be one of the most prime locations on the lake. They said they loved their Gaines Bend neighbors, so they made the decision to sell their Snyder home and original home in Gaines Bend, and to build their dream homeonthevacantlotsotheycouldliveatPKfulltime

The choice to leave Snyder and live at PK was a scary thought, they said, because it meant they would be leaving their children and grandchildren in Snyder and Lubbock –but it turns out that their children and grandchildren enjoy comingtothelake

The Colliers incorporated the help of neighbor and longtime PK builder Mark Anderson, along with his son, Mitchell Anderson of Anderson Fine Homes, to design and build their home. Tim Collier drew a picture of what he wanted on a napkin – including an outdoor kitchen, an RV garage,apoolandofficespace–andtheAndersonsturned thosedrawingsintodesignplans

The couple lived at The Harbor while building their new home–but,likemostlargeprojects,thetimetablestretched out, and the challenges of building during the COVID-19 pandemicmadeitevenharder.Theyfinallymovedintotheir beautifulmodernfarmhouseonthelakeinApril2021

For the first nine months, the only furniture the couple had in the house was some outdoor furniture. Connie Collier, who described herself as “just a redneck cowgirl with no sense of style,” used the assistance of a designer out of Lubbocktocustomizetheentirehouse

Tim Collier told the designer to give his wife three choices, withnothingtoocomplicated,andtheresultsaregorgeous. Their home resembles a beautiful farmhouse with a modern look.

Guests walking up to the home immediately notice the metal doors, while the windows give a sneak peek into the stunning living area and incredible lake view. The main room, which has soaring ceilings coupled with a grand fireplace, opens into the huge kitchen and dining area, and all these rooms are anchored by floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the pool and lake. When the lake level is up, the water appears to lead right up to the pool and patio.

Also on the main floor is a well-appointed guest bedroom and guest bathroom that leads the way to the master suite on the back side of the house. The room is filled with designer furnishings and art The master suite itself leads to a huge master bathroom, and it features a large, customtiledshoweraswellasanelegantsoakertub

When asked if she ever thought she’d have a tub like that when the couple lived in the trailer next to the dairy all those years ago, Connie Collier replied, “Never in a million years ”

Toward the back of the house is the room that gets the most use: the outdoor kitchen and patio area. The large space has garage doors that allow the Colliers either to open the space to the lake and pool area, or to keep it closed and remain in air-conditioned comfort This area is TimCollier’sfavoritespaceinthehouse,becausehehashis game table, recliner, television and luxury outdoor kitchen allinonespace.

The couple got the idea for the room after staying at Lush Resortandseeingthebarareathatcouldbeopenedtothe outsidebyliftingthegaragedoorsthere.It’sagreatfeature that takes advantage of the view and creates the ultimate entertainmentspaceatthesametime.

Off the kitchen and outdoor space is a custom RV garage, and behind it is Connie Collier’s office space The RV garagehasaccesstokitchenandoutdoorareas,anditcan be turned into extra seating and dining space for entertaining guests. In fact, the couple plans to hold their granddaughter’sweddingattheirhomeinthenearfuture

The upstairs has a large game room and custom furniture for all the grandchildren to sleep and bring their friends, along with two more bedrooms with balcony access on the lakeside. The entire house is filled with comfortable, stylish custom furniture that matches the Colliers’ lifestyle and needs.

The couple said their move to Possum Kingdom has been better than they ever could have imagined When they lived in Snyder, the Colliers said they would have five different Christmaseventswiththeirfamilies,witheachlastingabout an hour. Over the past two years, though, they have been able to entertain their entire family at one location for the holidays.

TheCollierssaidtheyarealwayseagertoopentheirhome totheirmanyfriends,andtheysometimesgetsobusyinthe summer that their grandchildren take turns booking time for theirfriendsattheirhouse

Itseemstheyearsofhardworkhavefinallypaidoffforthis hard-working couple They were able to build their dream home,andnowtheygettoshareitwiththeirentirefamily. When asked if she ever thought she’d have a tub like that when the couple lived in the trailer next to the dairy all those years ago, Connie Collier replied, “Never in a million years.”

Guests walking

immediately

More photos on page 18

up to the home

notice the metal doors, while the windows give a sneak peek into the stunning living area and incredible lake view.

The main room, which has soaring ceilings, coupled with a grand fireplace, opens into the huge kitchen and dining area.

The kitchen is an entertainers dream also anchored by floor-to ceiling windows that look out over the lake.

Also on the main floor is a well-appointed guest bedroom and bathroom that leads the way to the master suite on the back of the house The room is filled with designer furnishings and art

The master suite itself offers stunning lake views as well.

Just off the master suite, is a huge master bathroom, and it features a large, custom-tiled shower as well an elegant soaker tub

PHOTOS BY ERIKA CARTER

Pictured above: Toward the back of the house is the room that gets the most use: the outdoor kitchen and patio area. The large space has garage doors that allow The Colliers either to open the space to the lake and pool area, or to keep it closed and remain in air-conditioned comfort This is Tim Collier's favorite space in the house, because he has his game table, recliner, television and luxury outdoor kitchen all in one space

Pictured below: The upstairs has a large game room and custom furniture for all the grandchildren to sleep and bring their friends, along with two more bedrooms with balcony access on the lakeside

Pictured right: When the lake levels are up, the water appears to lead right up to the beautiful pool and patio

PHOTOS BY ERIKA CARTER

Born To Cook

Magen Desnoyers and her husband, Jeremy Desnoyers, are the proud owners of Magpie Inn, the only bed-and-breakfast in Mineral Wells, Texas, and their journey has been one of meticulous planning - and some good luck, too

Magen Desnoyers grew up coming to Mineral Wells to visit her grandmother, “Nana ” She learned to cook sitting on her grandmother’s counter watching and helping, and knew she wanted to be a chef at an early age Magen Desnoyers’s nickname in turn was “Magpie,” and thus begat the name of the quaint B&B located in the heart of Mineral Wells.

The Desnoyers lived in Saginaw, Texas, and while they were always interested in running their own B&B, they just weren’t sure how to get started Magen Desnoyers started calling around to B&Bs in Fort Worth to volunteer and learn more about the industry, which eventually led to a yearlong internship at the Texas White House in Fort Worth.

The opportunity turned into a fulltime position, and the couple eventually moved onto the property to see if they could work together The two of them ran the B&B during the day, with Magen Desnoyers attending culinary school at night because it was her dream to have a chef-owned property.

Story continues on page 29.

Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos by Kim Nussbaum

Pictured here: Magen Desnoyers prepping one of her signature breakfast items, maple Dijon bacon served along side Chef Magen's lemon blueberry Dutch baby.

Story continued from page 25....

After attending a national B&B convention, the Desnoyers got an offer to run a 26-acre property with 18 rentable spaces in Fredericksburg, Texas. The owners of the property livedinSwitzerlandandspentasummertrainingthecouple beforereturningbackhome.

Jeremy Desnoyers handled the landscaping and maintenancedutiesatthepropertywhilehiswifefine-tuned her skills, but they eventually grew homesick and wanted to returntoNorthTexastobeclosertofamily.

AfterreturningtotheDallas-FortWortharea,theDesnoyers began exploring locations to open their own B&B Magen Desnoyers kept a spreadsheet on potential places that featured local attractions and festivals in places where a B&Bmightbesuccessful.MineralWellsbegantocheckalot of those boxes on her spreadsheet, but the problem was findingtherightproperty.

“It had to be turnkey,” without a lot of construction, Magen Desnoyerssaid,because“wewereyoungandpoor.”

Thecoupleeventuallyfoundtherightlocation,butitwasn’t on the market, so they approached the owner, Mark Rawlings,abouttheiridea

Rawlings, the general contractor for the Baker Hotel renovation,wasusingthehometheDesnoyersenvisionedas their B&B venture as a place to board his employees, who wereworkingontheBakerHotelproject

Rawlings proved to be instrumental in the young couple purchasingtheirB&B,andinAugust2020theywereableto closeontheproperty,whichcamefullyfurnished.

The couple said their family thought they were “nuts” to open their B&B in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, but within a month the Desnoyers had booked their first guests They soon discovered that folks from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex had been cooped up at home for six months,andMagpieInnwastheperfectsmall-townretreat JeremyDesnoyerslandedajobattheCrazyWaterbottling facility,thentookhislunchbreaksaround9am sohecould be at the inn to help serve breakfast, and the Crazy Water ownerswereverysupportiveofhisoddschedule

These days, though, the couple works full time at Magpie Inn.MagenDesnoyersisthe“visionary,”whileherhusbandis the“realist,”andtogethertheymakeagoodteam

Magpie Inn is a five-room B&B, and all the rooms are private with their own restroom. The structure, built in 1907 as a boardinghouse, is one of two historic boardinghouses still standing in the community. These boardinghouses played a key role during Mineral Wells’ booming wellness industry of the early 1900s, and many of the home’s original features are still visible A property that’s over a century old needsconstantupkeep,butfortheDesnoyersit’salaborof love

Story continues on page 32

Pictured above: Jeremy and Magen Desnoyers, the proud owners of Magpie Inn.

Pictured above: Magpie Inn, the only bed-andbreakfast in Mineral Wells, Texas.

Story continued from page 29....

ArecentmorningfoundtheDesnoyerspreparingbreakfast for a mother and daughter visiting from McKinney and The Colony Stephanie Kelly and her daughter Lizzie Butler had read about the Crazy Water history in Mineral Wells, and Kelly described their stay as “wonderful from the minute we gotthere”

ItwasButler’sfirsttimetostayataB&B,andshesaidshe’s now “obsessed”withtheexperience Bothwomendescribed MagpieInnas“supercute”andsaidthey“immediatelywent into relaxation mode” The staff members at the inn were very personable, they said, and helped set up everything at theCrazyWaterSpafortheirvisit

The breakfast that morning was one of Magen Desnoyer’s specialties: A roasted pear for the starter and the main course was maple Dijon bacon served along side Chef Magen’slemonblueberryDutchbaby.

Magen Desnoyers said she uses local sources for her breakfast presentation when she can For the meal she served her two guests, the bacon was from Kennedy’s SausageCo,whiletheflowerscamefromTheFlowerShop at76067–andthewaterwasallCrazyWater.

MagenDesnoyerssaidsheoccasionallywillhaveguestssay they don’t want anything fancy, to which she noted: “Unless theyhaveadietaryrestriction,it’sgoingtobefancy,it’sjust who I am I don’t do casseroles Everything is made from scratchandservedindividually.”

Magen Desnoyers also has become a leader in the revitalization efforts in Mineral Wells As Mineral Wells transitions backtothe"wellnesscapital"ofTexas, shesaid

she felt the need for a communitywide effort to raise the customerservicestandardsinthecommunity.

Tothatend,sheteamedupwithRoseJordanattheMineral WellsAreaChamberofCommerceandNikkiElmsofMineral Wells State Park. Together, they have devised a curriculum they are rolling out to other service businesses in the area The curriculum is You’re Wellcome Hospitality Training (note - Wellcome is a play on Mineral Wells), and you can sign up through Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce. All three women are also working on a certification for area employeesapplyingforjobs,andthey’reevenincludingitin thelocalhighschool

MagenDesnoyershasbecomeanactivecivicleaderatthe statelevel,too.SheservesontheboardoftheTexasBed& Breakfast Association and helps plan its annual convention, and it’s her culinary experience that helps set Magpie Inn apartfromothers Shealsoteachescookingclassesmonthly at Coffee and Cocktails in Mineral Wells and can be hired asaprivatechef,too.

TheDesnoyershadavisionandplanthattookthembackto where Magen Desnoyers’s culinary skills took root. Magpie Inn is located just two blocks from her grandmother’s house where she learned to cook – and, as she tells it, she may have learned her techniques at culinary school, but she learnedtocookfromherNana.

Magpie Inn, located less than 30 minutes from Possum Kingdom Lake, is a unique way to take in Palo Pinto County andthelake.Itoffersaquaintlocationwithup-and-coming attractionsandshoppingfortouristsandlocalsalike End of story.

Breakfast off the balcony of Magpie Inn lends itself to stunning views of the historic downtown area.

Each of the rooms at Magpie Inn are private with their own restroom.

Local coach recounts his brush with fame and football legend Mike Leach

Matt Williams, a local coach at Mineral Wells High School, hasanincrediblestorytotellabouthis“15minutesoffame” – and it’s tied to legendary football coach Mike Leach, who passed away in December from complications related to a heartcondition

Leach, the quirky football coach at Texas Tech University from 2000 to 2009, was the offensive genius behind the famous “Air Raid” offense, which once was considered a gimmick but now is used in high schools, colleges and even theNFL LeachwasthewinningestcoachatTexasTech,and his offenses led the nation almost every year he coached there

Williams,whotransferredtoTexasTechfromTarletonState University in 2008 to be closer to family and attend the sameschoolhisbrotherwasattending, literallycameoutof

the stands to become a football star for Leach’s Red Raiders.

DuringthethirdRedRaidersfootballgameofthatseason, Williamsenteredhisnameintoakickingcontesttowinfree rentforayearfromthelocalLynnwoodTownhomes Allhe hadtodowasmakea30-yardfieldgoalinfrontof50,000 people

Thecontestantsinthesepromotionsdon’talwayssucceed, butwhatthecontestorganizersdidn’tknowisthatWilliams had been a kicker at Weatherford High School, and for a brieftimehewasthekickerforTarleton’sfootballsquad.His namewasselectedintherandomdrawingforthecontest, andonhiswaydowntothefieldWilliamssawsomeoldhigh schoolfriendssittingbehindthegoalpost

“Beready,”hetoldthem “I’mgoingtokickitrighttoyou”

Pictured above: Matt Williams, wife Tiffany, daughter Kyndal and son Peyton enjoying family time at the beach.

Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos contributed by Matt Williams

Leach and his team were on the sidelines at the end of the third quarter when Williams sent his kick right down the middleoftheuprights,withthecrowdgoingwild.

As Williams was walking up the tunnel to return to his seat during the fourth quarter, he was calling his mom, who was in the stands that night, when a student-trainer walked up tohimandsaid,“Leachwouldliketotalktoyou”

Williams was allowed to hang around the sidelines for the remainder of the game, and with about five minutes left in thefourthquarter,Leachapproachedhimandasked,“Have youdonethatbefore?”

Williams told Leach about his high school experience and his brief stint as a kicker at Tarleton, and his answer didn’t seemtosurprisethelegendaryfootballcoach.

“You looked comfortable,” he told Williams "Come by my officeMondayandlet’stalk”

News crews surrounded Williams later to ask what Leach said

In hindsight, Williams said, that was one of the most Mike Leachthingsever.

ThatfollowingMonday,Williamsmetwiththespecialteams coach The Red Raiders kickers had been struggling that year, and Leach needed some insurance. On his way by Leach’soffice,theheadcoachtoldWilliamstogetchanged because the team members were lifting weights that day. Williamswasescortedtotheweightroom,whereheworked withthestrengthandconditioningcoach.

Williams said he had lifted weights before, but nothing like that,andbytheendofthesessionhewasdeadtired Ashe sat in the locker room, not believing what was happening, hesaidseveralplayerscameuptoask,"AreyouOK?"

Williamsspentthenextfourweekstrainingwhilewaitingto get approval from the NCAA to play – and it just so happened that NCAA rules prohibited him from taking the freerentfromthecontest

Texas Tech had a talented kicker with a strong leg in that 2008 season, but that kicker was struggling to convert his extra-point attempts. In his first game as a Red Raider, Williams made nine extra-point attempts in a win over Kansas and was named the AT&T ESPN All-America Player oftheWeek

Texas Tech had a magical year in 2008, including a 39-33 win over Big 12 conference rival Texas, which was ranked No 1 when the two teams played in Lubbock that year The Red Raiders were ranked No. 6 at the time, and Williams made all his extra points that night – and two of three field goals, too. (The third one was blocked.) To this day, many Red Raiders fans consider that game as the greatest in TexasTechhistory.

Story continues on page 36

Former Texas Tech football kicker, #85 Matt Williams, otherwise known as "Lynwood the Kicker" brought his A game to Texas Tech University.

Matt Williams and long-time girlfriend Tiffany, now wife, during their days at Texas Tech University.

Local coach

story continued from page 35...

Williams became something of a folk legend on campus, and teammate Bryan Duncan gave Williams the nickname “Lynnwood” to commemorate the contest kick that caught Leach’seye

Williams finished his Texas Tech career as the team’s startingkickerforthe2009and2010season–notbadfora guy that walked out from the stands and became a local hero.

Williams has many Leach stories to share, and one of the more notable ones is tied to a Red Raiders loss in which, during a press conference, Leach said his players were spending “too much time with their fat little girlfriends tellingthemhowgreattheyare.”

Williams said Leach was trying to make the point that the team wasn’t focused – then added that his girlfriend (and nowwife),Tiffany,didn’tmind.

Leach’squotewasn’tthemostpoliticallycorrectstatement, butWilliamssaidthathiscoachdidn’tcare,asitwasasmall sample of the kind of guy Leach was To Williams, Leach didn’t care what other people thought; if he did, he would have never invited a youngster who had just won a kicking contesttotryoutforhisteam.

These days, Williams is focused on his family, and those crazy football years seem long ago. He and his wife have two children – Peyton, age 7, and 4-year-old Kyndal –and WilliamshasspentthelastnineyearsasacoachatMineral WellsHighSchool.

Recently,though,thecouple’soldestchildcamehomefrom school saying that he saw his dad in a video on social media. Williams said he looked at the comments on the video and noticed that his son had commented, “That’s my dad.”

Williams credits much of his coaching style to lessons he learned playing for Leach, who he said was very straightforward and to the point, and whose mantra was “playthenextplay”

Mike Leach left a legacy of offensive innovation and a coachingtreethatisadmiredacrossthefootballworld,and Matt“Lynnwood”Williamswillalwaysappreciatethechance Leachgavehimtobeapartofthatlegacy.

“I’mnotfat,”shetoldhim “Whocares?”

Matt Williams and his girlfriend (now wife), Tiffany, celebrate after Texas Tech football game.

“You looked comfortable,” Leach told Williams. "Come by my office Monday and let’s talk.”

News crews surrounded Williams later to ask what Leach said.

In hindsight, Williams said, that was one of the most Mike Leach things ever.

A Day in the Life of the Brazos River Authority

Possum Kingdom Lake, with its storied and vivid history, is instrumentaltolifethroughouttheBrazosRiverbasin,storing and releasing the water that fuels industry and agriculture asfardownstreamastheTexasGulfCoast

The lake also supplies some of the drinking water that makes life possible for many of the communities along the banks of the Brazos while also providing recreational opportunitiesforthousandsofvisitorseveryyear

Managingallthoseaspectsofthelakeisalocalcrewof45 employees of the Brazos River Authority (BRA), and it’s their hard work and dedication that keep this critical body of waterinoptimumcondition.

Though officially given its title in 1953, the Brazos River AuthorityoriginallywascalledtheBrazosRiverConservation and Reclamation District, which first formed in 1929. This organization was tasked with conserving and controlling floodwatersthroughouttheBrazosRiverBasin.

Before the district’s formation, development of the land within the Brazos River basin was hindered by devastating floods that forced the river out of its banks, with the river sometimessprawlinguptosixmileswide.

In1938thedistrictbrokegroundonMorrisSheppardDam,a massive structure measuring 2,700 feet across and 190 feet high. The dam was built as a Works Progress Administration project and is named after US Sen John Morris Sheppard, a native Texan who played a vital role in securing funding fortheproject

In 1941 the dam was completed, and Possum Kingdom Lake – the district’s first and largest reservoir – began to fill. At the time, experts predicted that the process would take three years, but extensive storms filled the lake in just three months Today, the lake holds 540,000 acre-feet of water andmeasuresupto100feetdeep.

Story continues on page 40

Story by Bob Kaspar | Photo contributed by the Brazos River Authority

Story continued from page 38

“Water is a huge commodity in the state of Texas,” said Randall McCartney, reservoir manager for Possum Kingdom Lake

McCartney and his team are responsible for the maintenance and operation of both the dam and its surroundingparkland

As rainfall causes the lake level to rise, it occasionally becomes necessary for the dam to release water downstream, and this is accomplished by lowering nine massive floodgates that are nicknamed “bear traps” becauseoftheirdistinctiveshape

Eachfloodgatehastobeunlockedmanuallybytheworkers that operate the dam. The workers don safety harnesses that are anchored to the dam before walking across the gates to release each lock. Once the gates are unlocked and all other necessary procedures are completed, the gatescanthenfullyopen.

“A select few of our maintenance workers might get called outattwointhemorningandhavetogooutonthedam

during a thunderstorm,” McCartney said “I’m extremely proudofouremployeesfromourmaintenancedepartment andtheguyswhoperformthegateoperations I’malsovery proud of our reservoir support maintenance unit workers, who do everything from welding to concrete work to countlessotherduties.ThatpreventstheBRAfromhavingto subcontractoutanyofthemaintenanceforthedam”

Thedecisiontoreleasewaterfromthedamismadebythe

“Thegoalisobviouslynottotopthedam,”McCartneysaid “We also want to impact as few people downstream as possible.”

The staff members who maintain and operate the dam constitutejustonepartoftheupkeepatPossumKingdom Lake Alongitsshorelineisanetworkof10lakesideparks, whichincludefishingpiers,16milesoftrailsforhikingand biking,andsevenboatrampsforlakeaccess

Story completes on page 42

Historical photo from January, 1940. In 1938 the district broke ground on Morris Sheppard Dam, a massive structure measuring 2,700 feet across and 190 feet high. In 1941, the dam was completed.

BRA’s Water Services Department at its central office in Waco

A Day in the Life

of the Brazos River Authority

Story continues from page 40

In recent years, visitation to these parks has increased dramatically.

“Since (the COVID-19 pandemic), obviously numbers have increased,” McCartney said. “Folks can work from home remotely now, so whether you ’ re camping in a park or have a second home out here on the lake, people are realizing thattheycanjustworkfromoutthere”

BRA employees are responsible for a variety of maintenanceactivitiesthatkeeptheparksintip-topshape, including trash collection and trail maintenance, as well as repairstodocksandfishingpiers.

Visitorstotheparksarealsoattractedbythevariedwildlife that call these wild places home such as eagles, ospreys, a multitudeofsongbirds,andwhite-taileddeer Thelakeitself is also a world-famous fishing destination, making boating accessatoppriority

“It’s amazing the recreational opportunities that this lake provides, and that this part of the state offers,” McCartney said

As a storage reservoir and world-renowned recreational destination, Possum Kingdom Lake will continue to play an important role throughout both Palo Pinto County and beyondforthestate’srapidlyincreasingpopulation,andthe local members of the Brazos River Authority are up to the challenge. Through their dedicated efforts, they are maintaining a beautiful park system and operating an 80year-olddamthatisamarvelofengineering.

“We have some really amazing folks that work for the Brazos River Authority,” McCartney said, adding that it’s the historic and unique dam – and stunning parkland – that makethejobrewardingforhim

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

Scheduled to open in 2024 as the state's first new park since 2001.

Upon completion, the park will have 59 campsites, 10 equestrian sites, 12 primitive sites, 25 water and electric sites, and 12 walk-in primitive sites that require a two-mile hike to reach. Many of these sites are on a hilltop with scenic overlooks at every turn.

Story by Bob Kaspar | Photos contributed by James Adams, Park Superintendent

NestledwithintherockyhillssurroundingStrawn,Texas,lies PaloPintoMountainsStatePark,scheduledtoopenin2024 asthestate’sfirstnewparksince2001.

When completed, it will be the second state park in Palo PintoCounty The4,871-acreparcelthatcomprisesthepark had been used to raise cattle, but Texas Parks and Wildlife was able to acquire the land using funds from the sale of EagleMountainLakeStatePark.

Thoughtheregionthattheparkresideswithiniscolloquially referredtoasthe“northernHillCountry,”itmoreaccurately is called the West Cross Timbers region This area is characterized by dense post oak woodlands amidst wide expansesofwavygrasslands

The Palo Pinto Mountains are one of 10 mountain ranges within the state, and though the word “mountain” typically evokes images of snow-capped peaks and pine trees, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is nonetheless every bit as stunning Here, groves of oak and juniper sprout from the steep sandstone slopes, while the towering hilltops offer an unparalleled view of the surrounding creeks and valleys, while Tucker Lake, a 90-acre impoundment of Russel Creek, is regularly stocked with fish from Possum Kingdom fish hatchery

Native wildlife also abounds within the park In addition to the ever-present white-tailed deer, the park hosts a thriving Rio Grande wild turkey population Park staffers also have reported seeing porcupines from time to time, and they’ve evenspottedtheelusivering-tailedcat

James Adams, a native of Mineral Wells, is the park’s superintendent He drew inspiration to become a park ranger from his father-in-law, who was the former superintendent of Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway. Adams’ 13-year career with Texas Parks and Wildlife started at nearby Cedar Hill State Park in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex before also including stints in parks across the state. Adams said some of his favorites along the way have includedCooperLakeStateParkandEnchantedRockState NaturalArea.

Through his tenure with state parks, he became a park policeofficer,andfiveyearsagohewastappedtotakethe reinsofPaloPintoMountains

“ThefirstearthwasturnedinJanuary2021,”Adamssaid

Since then, he and his team have worked tirelessly to developaparkwidelyconsideredtobeacrownjewelinthe state park system The people of Strawn are certainly welcoming of the new project; in fact, the community even donated200acresoflandtotheproject

“I haven’t met one person that isn’t excited to see it happen”Adamssaid “I’veheardpeoplesaythattheydon’t think it’s ever going to be open, since the state has had it since2011,butitwill”

A new state park will no doubt create an influx of tourism for Strawn and the surrounding areas With two state parks, a third on its border and several more just a stone’s throw away, Palo Pinto County is cementing its reputation as one oftheLoneStarState’spremiereoutdoordestinations

Building a new state park from scratch takes time, though, and the process is not without its challenges Regular construction delays were compounded by the knock-on effects of rising inflation, but construction crews are installing utility lines, clearing roads and constructing a massiveculverttodrainthesteephillsidesthatcomprisethe park

Upon completion, the park will have 59 campsites, 10 equestrian sites, 12 primitive sites, 25 water and electric sites, and 12 walk-in primitive sites that require a two-mile hike to reach Many of these sites are on a hilltop with scenicoverlooksateveryturn.

Along with breathtaking scenery and local flora and fauna, the park boasts a vibrant local history and an impressive arrayofculturalartifacts.

“The archaeological survey turned up a Paleo point (a projectile made by Paleoindians),” Adams said “That’s about8,000yearsold.”

There’s also a massive stone oven built by railroad workers in the 1880s It’s one of two that still exist in the state, and it’s the only one that remains in its original geographical context Tucker Lake itself, originally called Strawn Lake, wasbuiltbythePublicWorksAdministrationin1937tosupply watertothecommunityofStrawn

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, with its winding creeks, rugged terrain and abundant wildlife, will no doubt showcase the natural splendor of the best Texas has to offer. End of story.

Touring Through Time

Story by Bob Kaspar

PALO PINTO COUNTY ON TOUR

Saturday, April 29th.....everything you need to know...

Palo Pinto County is alive with history From the Caddo, Hainai (also sometimes called Ioni), Tawakoni and other Native American peoples whose origins echo into a centuries-old history, through European exploration and the cattle booms of the 1800s, and into the dynamic growth of themodernera,itisaplacefullofstories

PamMcQuearyandSandraCrawfordarepassionateabout telling these stories They are proud members of the Palo Pinto County Historical Commission, which formed in 1963 andistaskedwithpreserving,protectingandpromotingthe county’shistory

Both women have deep roots in the county, dating back to the 19th century, and as commission members they’ve been abletoconnectwiththeirheritage.

Crawford and her husband, Don, own the Johnson League Ranch and Mausoleum, which owes its unique name to its founder, W.W. Johnson. In 1905, he bought a ranch that was an original Texas land grant encompassing one league (4,428acres)ofland.

McQueary’s ancestors lived in Palo Pinto County before it wasevenformed

“My daddy, born in 1889, was someone who loved to share hisfamilyhistorywithhisninekids,”shesaid.

McQueary said her fourth great-aunt was once taken in a raid by a Native American tribe She eventually was released and walked back to her home near the border of PaloPintoandErathcounties

It’s stories like these that have motivated commission members such as Crawford and McQueary to organize the “Palo Pinto County on Tour” events, which the historical commissionfirstbeganconductingin2007

The purpose of this self-guided driving tour is to showcase local historic gems, including some on private property whose owners gracefully open their gates to the public duringthetour.

Pictured above, left to right: Pam McQueary and Sandra Crawford. Both are proud members of the Palo Pinto County Historical Commission, which formed in 1963 and is tasked with preserving, protecting and promoting the county's history.

Photo by Bob Kaspar

Pictured above: The Black Springs Fort was taken from its home in Oran and reassembled on site at the Old Jail Museum in Palo Pinto.

This year ’ s tour will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29, and tourists will have access to seven sites across the county,including:

TheMagpieInninMineralWells

·TheCrazyWaterHotelinMineralWells

·ThesmallcommunityofOran

·TheOldJailMuseum

·TheFirstChristianChurchinPaloPinto.

·Lover’sRetreatinPaloPintoCounty.

·WorthRanchinPaloPintoCounty.

Eachsitehasitsownuniquestorytotell

MagpieInn

Thepresent-dayMagpieInnbeganlifeastheTygrettHotel. Built around 1910, it served as a boardinghouse during the mineral water boom that transformed the city of Mineral Wells into a vibrant tourist destination during the early 20th century Many of the glass windowpanes and a few of the kitchencabinetsareoriginal,whilesomeofthelightfixtures and other cabinetry hail from the famous Baker Hotel The home’s current owners, Magen and Jeremy Desnoyers, have transformeditintoathrivingbedandbreakfast

CrazyWaterHotel

TheCrazyWaterHotelalsoplayedacentralroleinMineral Wells’pastasamagnetforwellnesstourism Thehotelwas

built in 1912 and soon attracted enthusiastic visitors from across the country Unfortunately, the original hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1924. After a whopping $1.5 million investment, the building was rebuilt, and the Crazy Water Hotel reopened its doors to customers in 1927. It included a sanitarium, a water bottling plant, the Texas-Carlsbad Water Pavilion and two wooded parks. The basement featured a bath department that accommodated 150 visitorseveryday.

After the end of the local mineral water boom, the hotel shut down In 1985, the Walker family bought the hotel and transformed it into a retirement community. Eventually, the retirement community closed and the hotel lay dormant for several years. In 2018, the property was purchased by the Nix family and underwent extensive renovations New life wasbreathedintothebuilding,andtheCrazyWaterHotelis once again a premiere destination in downtown Mineral Wells. The hotel features 54 suites, a ballroom, several boutique shops, a salon, a brewery, and a coffee bar proudlyservingCrazyWater.

Oran,Texas

The small community of Oran, Texas, once boasted a thriving mineral water business of its own. It also had hotels andaskatingrink Itsoriginsdatebacktothe1850s, andit Story continues on page 56

Pictured above: The old worn footbridge over Eagle Creek at Lover's Retreat

Photo contributed by Benita Johnson Smiddy

is believed by many to be the first settlement in Palo Pinto County Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight are said to havehatchedtheplanfortheirfamouscattledrivesundera pecan tree in Oran, setting the stage for the GoodnightLovingTrailandprovidingtheinspirationforLarryMcMurtry’s classicnovel“LonesomeDove.”Oranprosperedthroughthe 1920s, with a large cotton industry and an operation to ship mineral water crystals nationwide. Eventually, Oran’s cotton industry was decimated by the boll weevil, and the town’s population began to shrink. Oran’s residents are proud of theircommunityandinvitevisitorstobearwitnesstoamajor piece of Texas history The Black Springs Fort was taken from its home in Oran and reassembled on site at the Old JailMuseuminPaloPinto

OldJailMuseum

The Old Jail Museum provides visitors with a detailed depiction of life in Palo Pinto County during the 1800s. Located in Palo Pinto, Texas, the seat of Palo Pinto County, the jail was constructed in 1882 from local sandstone The lower floor features exhibits from the building’s nearly 60year history as a jail and sheriff’s office The top floor is packed with a vast collection of Native American artifacts, as well as heirlooms from the county’s rich ranching history Fourcabinsfromaroundthecountyweretransportedtothe

museum,reconstructedandturnedintolivinghistory exhibits

FirstChristianChurch

TheFirstChristianChurchisanotherfantasticdisplayof late19thcenturyarchitectureAstheoldestchurchbuilding inthecounty,itsworn,whitewoodenslatsharkenbackto someofthecounty’searliestdaysThechurchwas organizedinthehomeofalaypreacherin1857,andthe buildingitselfwasconstructedin1882.Thefoundersof TexasChristianUniversityalsowereearlypastorshere

Lover’sRetreat

Lover’sRetreatisoneofthemostpopulartourstopsAnold footbridgestretchesacrossthewindingwatersofEagle CreekasitmeandersbetweentoweringbouldersLover’s Retreatwasonceopentothepublic,andsomePaloPinto residentsfondlyrecallhavingfamilyreunionsthereLegends aboundastohowLover’sRetreatreceiveditsname,with onepopularstorytellingofNativeAmericanloverswhohid amongtheboulderstoescapeaforcedmarriage

WorthRanch

TheWorthRanchisanothersiteshowcasingtherichnatural beautyofPaloPintoCountyWithrockyriverbanks,verdant forestsandtoweringbluffs,theranchenchantsvisitorswith

stunningpicturesqueviews.Formorethan80years,thisBoy Scouts of America camp on the banks of the Brazos River hasinvitedyoungmenfromacrossthecountrytohonetheir outdoorskillswithactivitiessuchascamping,canoeing,rock climbing and archery. As part of the tour, the ranch’s windingtrailsandcanyonswillbeopentothepublic

The members of the Palo Pinto County Historical Commission spend hundreds of hours creating a tour that showcases the vivid history of this storied county, and they invite visitors from Palo Pinto County and beyond to join the tour, explore the stories of their past, and perhaps even createafewnewonesoftheirown.

PaloPintoCountyonTour

Saturday,April29

9a.m.-4p.m.

$20/adult;$5/child

Starting in mid-April, tickets will be available from the Mineral Wells and Possum Kingdom Chambers of Commerce

Tickets are available at each location on the day of the tour Formoreinformation,visitwwwpalopintohistory.com

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Photos by Katie Stauth

Left to right: Eastin Casey, Matt Williams, Janna Duncan, Diana Hilton, Sheryl Casey

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Cheryle Christopher and her crew at 2 Old Crows put on quite the Mardi Gras feast, with a full house there to enjoy!

Relatives and 20 plus years of friendships came in to support Cheryle Christopher and Crew with Mardi Gras 2023 and it did not disappoint.

Photos by Katie Stauth

Pictured left to right: Misty Lowder, Cheryle Christopher, Brenda Sinclair and Karen Kincaid.

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023

Pictured left to right: Erika Carter, Tim Gibbs, Celia Gibbs, , Katy Wallner, Magyn Whitaker, Nate Whitaker

Pictured left to right: John Jeter, Natalie Lane, Kim Lemke, Steve Gill, Bekki Gil, David Wallner

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023

Pictured left to right from 2 Old Crows: "B" Brenda Sinclair Owner

Pictured left to right: Lora Stewart, Ashley Bridges, Dara Carver and Linda Long

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023

Bob and Penny Hart

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Pictured left to right: Chris Wilson, Margarita Sangerman, Karen Tovar, Saul Tovar, Ronnie McBeth, Becky McBeth

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Photos by Katie Stauth

PK Sports Bar & Grill Ladies: Left to right: Lynette Hyde, Patty Nelson and Makayla Martinez

Pictured left to right: Jutta Oliver, Trisha Austin and Miss Ector County Teen, Lyla Oliver

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Photos by Katie Stauth

Pictured left to right: Wayne Cartwright, Janet McKnight, Janet Ringel, Jordon Ringel

The Upshaws, The Smiths, The Toneys, The Lakeys, The Crenshaws and other friends from The Cliffs and around the lake enjoying PK Life along the parade route.

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Photos by Katie Stauth

Tammy Holley, and Margaret Hawkins prior to the parade

Hal Brown and Pudge the dog along with Madux and Whitley Oh what a difference a year makes, see Pudge from last year ' s parade (right):

King and Queen of the parade: Leslie & Christy Slack

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Second Place, Individual: PK VFD Auxiliary - Tom Stanford

Third Place, Individual: Tucker's Point - Hog Bend Express - Vickie Tate

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

First Place, Business: Rock Creek Camp & RV Resort

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Second Place, Business: Let Us Do It Landscaping

Third Place, Business: Boondocks

Costume Winners:

ADULT: 1st Place, George Plumlee; 2nd Place, Ashley Bourdelais; 3rd Place, Marcella Price CHILD: 1st Place, Addison Debusk; 2nd Place, Henry & Graham Crenshaw; 3rd Place, Kailey Hanson

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

The Toy Shop

The Trading Post

Lush Resort

Possum Kingdom Real Estate

The Pizza Shack at PK

Graham Savings and Loan

Scenes from Mardi Gras 2023 Parade, PK Style!

Bluff Creek Marina

Bubba'z Shaved Ice

Gary and Terri Finch

Sportsman's World Party Krewe Sportsman's World Craft Show

Possum Kingdom Marine

Jo Lynn Miller, REALTOR®

John & Sue Fletcher | 1957 Bel Air 2-Door

The perfect cake to top off Pat's 70th birthday His signature hat!

Cake by Jane Lancaster from Sweet Freak Pastry in Fort Worth

Ryan,

and Cynthia Kennerly at their first Catmasters

Pat Murchison & one of his MANY 70th birthday celebrations. Happy Hour at Lush Resort.

Pictured left to right: Tina and Les Greenlee, Tim Collier, Kim Nussbaum, Sherry Welch, Bo Bennett, Pat Murchison, Gelasia Bennett, Melissa Anderson, Jasmine Murchison, Barbara Vinson, Mark Anderson, Amy Robin, Chris Robin, Regina Gage, Troy Welch, Mark Vinson, and Mike Gage

Rynleigh,

SayCheese!

Kevin and Cheney Crooks went all out for Mardi Gras at Lush Resort.

Tera Gibson, left and Katie Stauth, right enjoyed Mardi Gras at 2 Old Crows with family and friends