Ten Texan Tourist Traps: Delightfully Dazzling or Dreadful?

1. The Alamo (300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205) Unapologetically Texas in its revolutionary spirit and heartbreaking sacrifice la Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, yet tragically overcommercialized like a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western.

2. Cadillac Ranch (13651 I40 Frontage Rd., Amarillo, TX 79124) A vibrant display of auto art reminiscent of Lichtenstein's popart; alas also an intersection of consumerism and graffiti against the very Americana landscape it represents.

3. Big Texan Steak Ranch (7701 I40 Access Road, Amarillo, TX 79118) Feeding Kerouaclike hunger for Highway cuisine with stupefying steak portions fit for a Goliath sized cowboy while risking devolution into gluttonous selfparody.

4. Blue Bell Creameries (1101 South Blue Bell Rd., Brenham ,TX 77833) Offering respite from the unforgiving Texan heat with symphonies akin to Mozarts Sweet Suite but can quickly turn into touristfilled sugarfueled cacophonies.

5. Sixth Street (Austin ,TX ) Austins vibrant musical heartbeat pulsates with Robert Rodriguezesque energy welcoming Willie Nelson loving patrons just as much as those seeking Dirty Sixth escapades teetering between zeninducing tunes and rowdy excessiveness.

6. Marfa Lights Viewing Area (US Route 67 & U.S Hwy90 Marfa,TX79843) A paranormal spectacle submerged in ethereal magic at first sight captured delicately by Eggers narrative prose until swallowed by merchandising stereotypes mimicking kitschy alien encounters.

7.Deep Ellum(Dallas,TX75226) Birthplace of blues legends crowned with artistic embellishments as regal as Franzens prose but marred by endless gentrification clashes threatening to compromise its soulful roots.

8. Gruene Dance Hall(1281 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels,TX78130) Authentic Texan music temple where iconic harmonies waltz with local traditions feeling like a page from Lonesome Dove yet an abundance of tourists could gradually drown the folkloric melodies in honkytonk twang.

9. Dr.Pepper Museum (300 South 5th St.Waco,TX76701) A shrine celebrating fizzy Americana dreamy enough for Don DeLillo to pen down those rosycheeked vignettes distorted by modernday soda industry machinations nevertheless.

10.South Padre Island(Texas US 77) Imagine DFW's Infinite Jest setting on a Texas beach eclectic and heavenly enclave attracting spring breakers transforming it into debaucherous battleground of intoxicated revelry stripped off its natural serenity.

Be sure to visit these charming destinations at your own discretion; one can find both passionate beauty and ignoble follies dancing together in this ensemble of Texan tourist traps.

address

300 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78205
United States

13651 I40 Frontage Rd.
Amarillo, TX 79124
United States

7701 I40 Access Road
Amarillo, TX 79118
United States

1101 South Blue Bell Rd.
Brenham, TX 77833
United States


Austin, TX
United States

Us Route 67 & U.S Hwy90 Marfa
TX
United States


Dallas, TX
United States

1281 Gruene Rd
New Braunfels, TX
United States

300 South 5Th St.Waco
Tx76701, TX
United States

Texas Us 77
TX
United States

Geo
Images
Allen West Praying at a wreath laying event at the Alamo March 6, 2021
Allen West Praying at a wreath laying event at the Alamo March 6, 2021
Allen West Praying at a wreath laying event at the Alamo March 6, 2021 Taken with my Sears TLS 35mm Camera and a 50mm 1.8f Pancolar Carl Zeiss Jena Lens Developed and scanned myself. Edited in Adobe Lightroom. Film is Ultrafine Finesse 400.
This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 66000808.
Originally the offices of the Spanish Missionaries, this building was where the Alamo fighters retreated to for their last stand during Santa Ana's forces in the 1836 Battle of the Alamo.
Inside Alamo
Allen West Praying at a wreath laying event at the Alamo March 6, 2021 Taken with my Sears TLS 35mm Camera and a 50mm 1.8f Pancolar Carl Zeiss Jena Lens Developed and scanned myself. Edited in Adobe Lightroom. Film is Ultrafine Finesse 400.
(1 in a multiple picture set) A closer view of Cadillac Ranch along old Rt. 66 west of Amarillo. While we were they a film crew frm a local station was making a documentary and asked to interview us. We found magic markers left at the site and added
The Big Texan. Amarillo's home of the 72oz steak, Amarillo.
Amarillo, TX, USA
Amarillo, TX, USA
The Big Texan steakhouse in Amarillo, Texas, which was made famous by offering visitors a free 72 ounce (2 kg) beef steak if they eat it in under an hour. Taken on May 29, 2005.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas
The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas
The modern Blue Bell Creameries factory located in Brenham, Texas, United States.
In August 1907, the Brenham Creamery Company formed to purchase excess dairy products from farmers and produce butter for local sales. In 1911, the creamery began making ice cream, producing a maximum of two gallons each day. E.F. Kruse, who managed
An old Blue Bell Creameries delivery truck in front of the factory in Brenham, Texas, United States.
500px provided description: CAPITOL ASSEMBLY BUILDING THE SEAT OF POWER [#CAPITAL BUILDING AUSTIN]
Austin, United States
500px provided description: oil refinery on the banks of mississippi rever in new orlance. the sun has set and the lingering light gave this beautiful view captured by D600 [#rEFINERY ON THE BANKS OF mISSISSIPPI]
500px provided description: "To Breathe or Not to Breathe?" [#gasmask ,#capelli ,#LooseThreads ,#Steven Walker ,#Fine Art ,#SewWhat ,#SewWhatFilms]
Austin, United States
Austin, United States
500px provided description: Train cars sit hitched over the Lamar Bridge in Austin, Texas. [#street ,#train ,#trolley ,#bokeh ,#black and white ,#monochrome ,#railroad ,#rail ,#coupling ,#moped]
Looking towards the courthouse from intersection of Oak St. and Highland Ave. in Marfa, Texas, USA
Ballroom, in Marfa, Texas, United States.
El Paisano Hotel, in Marfa, Texas, United States. Named for the nearby Paisano Mountain Pass, this structure was completed in 1930. Gateway hotel company, owners of several area hotels, built it in anticipation of a local oil boom that never
Lady of Guadalupe
Davis Mountains, Texas
marfa_40s_05
500px provided description: Fencing Partners [#man ,#alpha ,#meeting ,#competition ,#fencing ,#team ,#battle ,#duel ,#injury ,#partners ,#parry ,#discussing ,#co-worker ,#teammate ,#working together ,#dueling]
Dallas, United States
500px provided description: Kayak Waterfall [#waterfall ,#kayak ,#exploration ,#adventure ,#kayaking]
500px provided description: Time exposure on the expressway! [#Blue ,#Red ,#Night ,#City ,#Cityscape ,#Texas ,#Dallas ,#Traffic ,#Popular Tags]
Stack of books on a table
Dallas, United States
Cropped shot of a red vintage car parked by the curb
Built on the site of an earlier grist mill, the Gruene Cotton Gin was constructed in 1878 by H. D. Gruene. Powered by the Guadalupe River, the gin was steam-operated and served to process the vast amounts of cotton grown in the area, the gin played
Live music is one of the many great features of the oldest dance hall in Texas. As you can see Gruene is a very busy place. This was taken on a Sunday afternoon.
This Gruene landmark is always a happy sight.
Built in 1878 as a saloon and social hall for area cotton farmers, this is believed to one of the oldest dance halls in Texas . Christian Herry (1854-1917) built the hall under the direction of town developer Henry D. Gruene, for whom many of the
If you don't feel like taking a dip in the Guadalupe River on a hot summer day...this isn't a bad second option. Gruene Hall is the centerpiece of Gruene and is also the oldest dance hall in the state.
Gruene Hall, Gruene, Texas
Soft drink manufacturing equipment at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (United States).
The well at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (United States).
The Old Corner Drug Store exhibit at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (United States).
A replica of the desk of W. W. "Foots" Clements at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (United States).
A 1924 Ford Model T truck at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (United States).
Vending machines at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (United States).