Stop by Johnson Brothers Ford to test drive a new Ford; and then take a road trip before the new car smell disappears! Choose scenic historic trips this time around. Instead of taking just a day trip, take two or three days for some of these trips.
FM 1375
Start out on Highway 45 in New Waverly and head west to FM 1375. You’ll drive though the Sam Houston National Forest. FM 1375 meets up with Highway 149 – take through Richards to Anderson; and then grab Highway 90 South to Navasota where you can see razed architecture including the city hall and jail. Mance Lipscomb and Joe Tex called Navasota home.
FM 116
Take FM 116 north out of Copperas Cove to Gatesville to drive in the shadow of Fort Hood. You’ll be driving along the outskirts of the largest military installation in the United States. Pay attention to what you see; but pay particular attention to what you don’t see.
On your way, if you feel like taking a detour, take FM 580 to Topsey, a town named for a farmer’s mule. Be sure to stop by the Topsey exotic ranch, which features Longhorn cattle, bison, an adax and a horn oryx.
If you stay on 116, you’ll come to Pidcoke. Visit the local cemetery and Bee House Creek. Pidcoke was also once the home of Clyde “Bulldog” Turner, an NFL legend.
FM 2843
Take Kuykendall Branch Road off IH-35 to FM 2843. At the top of the hill on the main road is a double row of trees that are along the edge of the road heading to Austin. When you see the double white metal gate and pickup tracks, you will have found the old road to Austin. The trail is now on private property.
As you travel west on FM 2843, you’ll put the Blackland Prairie behind you and you’ll be west of the Balcones Fault. Get the camera ready as you’ll likely see retail hawks and whitetail deer.
About 5 miles west of the Old Austin Road, you’ll see the Willingham Springs Baptist Church, the same church that the book Pioneer Buildings of Texas used for an example of western pioneer simplicity. The church was built between 1911 and 1914. Over the years, the building served as a schoolhouse – the centerpiece of the Willingham Springs Common School District.
Continuing west, you’ll pass some of the county’s biggest ranches including the Tenroc Ranch and the Solana Ranch. You’ll pass through what was once Cedar Valley when you pass the Cedar Valley Church. Make a right on FM 487 to head into Florence. Get back on FM 487 to head out to Andice. Take 195 east to get back on IH-35.
Visit Johnson Brothers Ford
Be sure to test drive a new vehicle at Johnson Brothers Ford and then head out on some of these road trips to do some historical exploration.
