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Vanderpool
is one of those rare places where you can get away from the world and still be
in Texas. We would call it the "Crossroads of
Western Bandera County" but you might get the idea there's a lot of traffic through
here. There isn't.
History
in a Pecan Shell
The first settlers of the Sabinal Valley date to the early 1850s. Comanche
misbehavior in the 1860s caused the settlers to rethink their plans, and it wasn't
until 1886 that the town got a post office.
The Sabinal Valley
had been home at various times to several Indian tribes and the fact that Apaches
made villages, attests to the desirability of the location.
The rugged
terrain and natural protection afforded the Indians, made this one of the last
parts of Texas to be settled. A grave in nearby Leakey
cemetery shows the last Indian attack there to be in 1881.
It had been
known as Bugscuffle, and indeed - there was a Bugscuffle school. The first
postmaster had the much more dignified name of L. B. Vanderpool, and decided for
the sake of future generations to rename the town after himself.
Where
to Stay:
Bandera
Hotels | Kerrville
Hotels | San
Antonio Hotels |
| | A
view from FM 337 near Vanderpool
TE Photo, 6-01 |
| | The
Vanderpool Cemetery
TE photo, 6-01 |
Vanderpool
Area Attractions & Destinations Birding
- Green Kingfisher is seen year-round, and the entire area is a great birding
destination.
Scenic
Drive - FM337
Vanderpool provides a nice place to stop if you've driven
FM 337 in from Medina. FM 337 is really the only way to enter Vanderpool - it's
consistently rated one of the top ten scenic drives in the state.
Garner
State Park
Take 337 West 17 miles to Leakey.
From here head south on 83 through the Frio River Canyon to Garner State Park.Lost
Maples State Natural Area
Go North on 187 to Lost Maples State Natural
Area. Besides the bigtooth maples there’s a forest of sycamores thriving on the
waters of the Sabinal River. Fall foliage makes this area a must for return visits
when the color peaks (usually) in early November. | |
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