Talk to TH: July 2011

Reader Mail ~ Reader Recommendations

EDITOR’S NOTE: Griff Smith’s Texas, an exhibit of TH Photography Editor Griff Smith’s favorite images from 25 years of Texas travels (featured in March), will be held over through July at the Katy and E. Don Walker Sr. Education Center at Sam Houston Memorial Museum in Huntsville. The Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio will host the show this fall; stay tuned for more details!

Fritos Pie

Read a sampling of the many letters we received in response to our story about Fritos Pie.

Baker Beacon

Great article on Mineral Wells by Gene Fowler [Postcards, May issue]. Mineral Wells was also the home of Fort Wolters, the primary rotary-wing flight-training facility for U.S. Army aviators in the late 1960s and early ’70s. The multistory Baker Hotel could be seen for 20 miles or more. It “saved” many a fledgling pilot from getting lost, at least for very long. You just had to climb a bit, scan the horizon, and point your helicopter toward the Baker Hotel day or night. We affectionately called it the Baker Beacon or Baker Omni. The hotel was still in operation, and many of us stayed there while waiting for quarters at Fort Wolters. In 1967, when I stayed there, it was not in the best condition; however, with a little imagination, you could see that it had once been the pride of Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto County.

GEORGE G. VAN RIPER

Harker Heights

Lubbock Love

I was gratified to see the Weekender article on Lubbock in the May issue. Helen Bryant’s brief piece covers the American Wind Power Center and Silent Wings Museum [among other sites], but does not include the Science Spectrum and the International Cultural Center, and several internationally recognized wineries in the Lubbock area. The real culture of Lubbock resides in the Depot District’s clubs and microbreweries and barbecue joints.

HARVEY MADISON

Lubbock

EDITOR’S NOTE: For this piece, we had space only to hit some highlights and inspire further discovery. Thank you for providing additional details!

501 Find

Regarding “Texas Wines: Five to Try” [TH Taste, May]: My favorite Texas winery is a new one—The 501 Winery in Childress [940/937-8155], named for the city’s historic 501 Engine. Adam and Amy Bishop (who also own the local vineyard) currently partner with Alton and Lana Gates of the Wichita Falls Winery, who bottle and label the 501 wines.

The 501 Winery currently sells four of their own wines, in addition to selections from the Wichita Falls Winery, and wine-related gifts. My favorite is the Circle B Ranch Select Blend, their signature red. Tasting room manager Karlene Barber will take good care of you—she makes the experience unique!

TH Reader Recommendation

Brewing in Boerne

We ate at The Dodging Duck Brew­haus, on River Road in Boerne. Great home-brewed beers, homemade pretzels, and Thai lettuce wraps! And a great outside deck and wonderful staff!

SHARON ROACH,  Wichita Falls

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus is at 402 River Road, 830/248-DUCK; www.dodgingduck.com.

From the March 2011 issue.

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