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Coke County Daytrip
A daytripper knows something is different about Coke County, Texas, when they go over the divide between Sterling City and Robert Lee. Dirt county roads beckon - Knight Road is worth going down, for example, and then there are buffalo…
Related Essay: Coke County is remote and resplendent in history and beauty
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Sometimes the herd is at the far end of the pasture, and can be missed.
It may be that the buffalo think a stopped car means food, but they might come running if you do stop.
But they stop and graze, and ignore the stopped car.
Justin O'Neill was amazed this turkey vulture refused to fly when he stopped.
At the historical marker for Edith, Texas, take a little sidetrip, like Justin did, down to Dripping Springs.
Looking straight down into the box canyon - wow!
Dripping Springs has been a favorite spot for Coke County residents for 120 years.
Above the spring, mesquite and other shrubs, but down in the box canyon, a forest!
Visitors to Dripping Springs respect the place - and trash is rarely seen.
Years ago bluebonnets were planted at the curve of the highway just south of the dam of Lake Spence, and over the years, they have spread up and down the road - and even into pastures and cemeteries. It is the closest place to Midland to see fields of bluebonnets in April.
After visiting Dripping Springs, backtrack to FM 2059 and go the ghost town of Silver, and take the old Silver Loop, and then immediately take the Sanco Loop off of State Highway 208 as you head to Robert Lee. Sanco has some well preserved buildings.
After looking for the old Coke county jail in Robert Lee, head east towards Bronte, but turn off on the dirt road that leads to the Hayrick cemetery.
Head on east past Hayrick and follow the old stagecoach route, until you get to the ghost town of Fort Chadbourne. This old church can be seen from the road. The photographer had permission to cross the fence - respect private property rights!
Prickly Pear can grow anywhere!
In front of the old church is a huge old tree, and an old piece of farm equipment - what a bucolic scene!
To the north of the road near the church the valley is a thicket of trees - it is hard to belief that even fifty years before only one live oak grew in the valley. The photographer had permission to examine this old foundation to the old general store. People came to church socials here as late as the 1940s.
Another few miles east is the old fort of Fort Chadabourne. Garland and Lana Richards are doing a wonderful job of reconstructing the fort.
Every year, the Richards host a living history event. It is incredible to hear the cannons roar!
Chuck Dixon of Midland portrays an Army engineer.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans, with many Midland members, also participate.
The photographer has often visited ranches in Nolan County just to the north of Coke County in the area around MaryNeal - and hidden away are wonderful sites. What looks like rolling ranchland turns out to be canyons.
American Ravens nest on the cliffs of the canyons.
Huge rocks litter the canyon bottom below the raven nest.
Lichen grows on the fallen rocks.
It is amazing how little soil is needed for a juniper to grow!
Solifluction cavities are weird holes on the cliffs.
The ravens dive-bombed red-tailed hawks that came to close to their nest.
What is the story here - a raptor's claw clasping a branch?