![]() Two hundred fifty men were paid fifty cents to labor for a twelve-hour day, six days a week. The area’s topography was seen as too challenging and too costly to make such a rail connection profitable.Īfter 25 years of plots and plans, funding was scraped together to begin the project in 1913. In the late 1800s, Fredericksburg found itself growing, yet completely cut off from the state’s railroad boom. The story of this, one of only six railroad tunnels built in Texas, is quite extraordinary. A brown information sign alerts us that Old Tunnel State Park is ahead, a chance to stretch our legs. Shallow creeks promise some good fishing and bird watching.Ībout eight miles into the ride, the road makes a steep climb towards a hill adorned with an observation tower. It took as long as ten days to travel 75 miles to San Antonio. The slightest rain would turn the path into a river of mud and make streams unfordable. Freight wagons pulled by teams of oxen or mules would be seen struggling up steep grades. Imagine when this was a primitive rocky road. Old #9 begins by following Polecat Springs Creek for a few miles, allowing it to cross from one side to the next. Critters and rubbernecking cagers are common. Although there are plenty of sharp curves begging to be ridden hard, they often hide blind spots, low water crossings, and narrow bridges. Numerous bed-and-breakfast inns are available.ĭon’t let the label “highway” fool you. High Street is especially fun, with several cafes and shops. City blocks on either side of Texas Highway 27 are lined with historic homes and tree-shaded parks and greenbelts. If your past experiences in Comfort were to simply ride through and gas up on the main highway, you’ve missed a hidden gem. Since Old #9 is a scant five miles from Comfort, let’s begin in that charming small town. Many ranch, farm, and county roads favored by motorcyclists today follow those same historic paths. After claiming their homesteads, they quickly established roads to nearby markets. German settlers in Texas in the 1800s were especially ambitious folks. Despite the name changes, it’s a continuous road running 20 miles north to its intersection with US Highway 290, just east of Fredericksburg. To discover this Hill Country jewel on a map or your Where In the Hell Am I? app of a smartphone, locate Ranch Road 473 exiting east from Comfort, Texas, and you should find Old #9. It is often referred to as the Old #9 Highway, although sections of the route wear other names - Old Fred Road, Old San Antonio Road. Such a thread of asphalt runs across Kendall and Gillespie Counties in Central Texas. They relish riding not only the back roads, but the way back roads. Many Texas motorcyclists abhor interstates and other major highways. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, go ahead and leave us a 5-star review.Story by Tom Wiley | Photos by Miguel Asensio That'd be really neat!Īs always, if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe or follow it in your favorite podcasting app. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, go ahead and leave us a 5-star review. Looking for more opportunities to escape the quarantine? Read about some of Jarrett's and Linda's adventures over the years at To see some of the pictures from visiting Old Tunnel State Park and other adventures, follow AdventuresWithBG on Instagram and Facebook.Īs always, if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe or follow it in your favorite podcasting app. Finally, this park is the smallest state park at 15-acres and. The rail line went out of business in 1942 and the land was purchased by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1991. Old Tunnel is an old railroad tunnel built from private funding so that locals could make quick trips from Comfort, TX to Fredricksburg, TX. They got to see some cool Mexican free-tailed bats come out of the tunnel and fly out into the Texas skyline. In August 2020, Jarrett and Linda talk about their trip to Old Tunnel State Park, located in Fredericksburg, Texas. ![]()
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