Crider's Motel
This motel is for me -- a child of the 50's -- what motels are all about. A family run buisness owned by Byron and Billie Crider, it has all the feel of a home away from home. Rooms are comfortable and come with a variety of options, including kitchenetts to allow for your own home cooking. A most impressive aspect about this motel is its garden ringing the driveway: an impressive stand of yuccas and Ocotillo cactus tells you (if you are travelling from east to west) that you are finally in the old West and have left the Piney woods and rolling hills of the east behind. You might persuade Byron to give you a couple of his LBJ stories if you are lucky.
Important note: Byron Crider passed away this year(2003) and Billie, his wife and co-manager of the motel has decided not to keep her place open. We will all miss Bryon's and Billie's symbol of their love and devotion to Johnson City and as a place of rest and respite. Over the years, the motel afforded so many travelers and passersby a truely unique experience. We also miss Bryon's insight and stories as he was one of the Historic Review Board's own members working to keep Johnson City the same. Byron was also one of our LBJ Birthday celebration panelists who shared their recollections of those with personal rememberances of knowing Lyndon Johnson. He was a great asset to our city and our celebration. He is sorely missed. I leave my description of Crider's Motel above as a tribute to a real jewel of Johnson City.
Where to Eat in Johnson City:
If you like good Mexican food, some say El Charro on US 281-290 on the south side of town next to the Diamond Gas station is good. Give it a try. It's my favorite local spot.
Obvioulsy a visit to the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum
in Austin is a must. The third most popular presidential library contains items of interest on display and exhibits the life and career of President Johnson. Dedicated by President Nixon, the library helps keep President Johnson in the headlines. Over the last several years, the realese of President Johnson's tapes made during his administration have been revealed to the public and press. These tapes give detailed and important insight into the Johnson Presidency that no other administration has equalled. Historians and the public at large are the beneficiaries of the behind the scenes power plays and dealing revealed by these tapes.
Blanco County Courthouse. There is an interesting story about Johnson City as the location of the county courthouse that goes back almost a hundred years ago. I'll fill it in as soon as I get an accurate copy of the story.
Pedernales Falls State Park
is located just 13 miles east of Johnson. A former ranch, the park was opened to the public in the early 70's. We used to drive to the park on rough, narrow, unpaved county roads to get to the park. The park was completely undevelped at the time and had no facilities for public use. We liked the rustic nature of the park as it approached being what the Hill Country was like before the arrival of Europeans a few centuries ago.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
located 16 miles north of Fredericksburg. As the Texas Parks and Wildlfile web page notes, this park used to be private land but was purchased by the Nature Conservancy in the early 80's. Notice too, that the Park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is noted as a National Natural Landmark. It is undoubtedly a landmark. I'll go to the park soon and get my own pictures for this section of the webpage.
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Last updated September 23, 1999 and again 9/15/00 then 11/23/00, 1/11/03 and 10/02/09
© Bill Arbon, author, all rights reserved.
No part of this page authored by Bill Arbon may be used without the consent of the author.