12th Annual Edom Festival of the Arts EDOM- The quaint little community of Edom, Texas, serves as perfect contrast for the premiere art festival of East Texas. On an ordinary day the vibe in Edom is unique and beckons to collectors, artists and tourists alike. It was no wonder hundreds of visitors flocked to Edom for […]
Category: in the pines with dana goolsby
East Texans Hold Their Breath Through Salmon
East Texans Hold Their Breath Through Salmon- Salmon, Texas lies on the Missouri Pacific Line, along U.S. Highway 287 and State Highway 19. Before the area came to be known as Salmon, the area was commonly referred to as Byron Switch. In 1902, a post office was opened in the general store built, owned, and […]
Stagecoach Road
A Dusty Trail of Legends and Haunts By Dana Goolsby MARSHALL- Red dirt roads sprawl beneath the pine tree canvas of East Texas offering a slower pace, and are perfect for a scenic drive. But not every dirt road in the Pineywoods leads to mystery and folklore like one in particular just outside of Marshall, […]
Home Is Where the History Is
Home Is Where the History Is By Dana Goolsby PALESTINE- Not all historic homes have a plaque or marker on the tourist map, but rest assured every house as a history. And in Palestine, a city dappled with some of the oldest infrastructure in the state of Texas, there are historic homes on almost every […]
Poke Sallet
Poke Sallet By Dana Goolsby Poke Sallet, pronounced polk salad in more recent years, is deeply rooted in the Pineywoods’ folklore and was once an East Texas delicacy. The lack luster plant has lost its appeal with modern day generations. It is highly likely that most people under the age of 40 have never even […]
Sweet Dreams Winery
Sweet Dreams Winery By Dana Goolsby Elmwood- Just off the beaten path of the Texas Forest Trail, along Anderson County Road 441, Sweet Dreams Winery rests in Elmwood. Long, long ago this area was known for moonshine making along the spring-fed creek but today award winning sweet spirits flow out of Elmwood. Mike and Sandra […]
Anderson County Poor Farm
Anderson County Poor Farm By Dana Goolsby Palestine- “Winding up on the Poor Farm,” wasn’t just an expression or an idle phrase used to describe a bad business venture a long time ago. Poor Farms, poor houses or almshouses, are not a figment of your parent’s, grandparent’s, or your great-grandparent’s imaginations. They were a very real […]
Caddo Mounds State Historic Site: An East Texas Ancient Civilization
Caddo Mounds State Historic Site: An East Texas Ancient Civilization- More than 1,200 years ago, a group of Caddo Indians known as the Hasinai built a village and ceremonial center just east of Weches. Today, three earthen mounds still rise from the Neches River valley which was the southwestern-most ceremonial center for the great Mound […]
Fine Dining In the Pines
Fine Dining In the Pines Red Fire Grille By Dana Goolsby PALESTINE, TEXAS- You don’t have to leave the Piney Woods of East Texas for a fine dining experience that you will never forget. In fact, forgetting won’t be an option as you will crave the flavors and ambience only Executive Chef Christian Mailloux and his […]
Tornado Leaves Providence Gone With The Wind
Tornado Leaves Providence Gone With The Wind By Dana Goolsby Providence, Texas- At least six towns in Texas were named Providence. Providence, Texas in east Anderson County isn’t even a ghost town any more; Providence has been forgotten. But those who visit the site, cemetery searchers, and others who take a wrong turn off of […]
Vist Nacogdoches, Texas
Vist Nacogdoches, Texas The Oldest Town In Texas by Dana Goolsby Nacogdoches, Texas- Deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas you will find the oldest town in the Lone Star State. Nacogdoches is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas and offers something for everyone. Discovering Nacogdoches should definitely be on your […]
The Haunting of Parker Cemetery
Grapeland, Texas- A good ghost story, whether read aloud or spun around a campfire, is always a little better at Halloween. In Texas, the ghost stories get better with age, through blending the diverse Texan cultures, tall tales, and timeless stories. Grapeland harbors several haunted places, of which only the bravest residents dare to investigate. Tales […]
Thunder In January
Thunder In January East Texas Weather-Lore East Texas- Thunder in January means more than rumbling in the sky to many East Texans. For many, many years East Texans have been predicting the weather by trying to make heads or tails of signs from Mother Nature. The state of the weather is often the first subject […]
Mission Tejas State Park
Mission Tejas State Park By Dana Goolsby Houston County- East Texas is full of amazing history and natural beauty. Mission Tejas State Park fully encompasses both the rich history of East Texas and the natural wonder and beauty of the Pineywoods and affords visitors the chance to experience both to the fullest extent. Mission Tejas State Park is […]
Pineywoods Pickin’…. A Hometown Haul
Pineywoods Pickin’…. A Hometown Haul By Dana Goolsby Some folks have a hard time parting ways with their junk. In fact, some folks have a hard time parting ways with anything they have acquired over the years. Last year I had the opportunity to pick a hoard in my hometown. There is nothing like pickin’ a hoard! The […]
Martha’s Chapel
Martha’s Chapel By Dana Goolsby Walker County- Just outside of Huntsville lies a forgotten community tucked away down a winding dirt road under the pines. Little remains of the early East Texas community, with the exception of one of the oldest burial grounds in Walker County and memories passed on from early settlers. Martha’s Chapel […]
Historic Scenic Drive Through The Pineywoods
Historic Scenic Drive Through The Pineywoods By Dana Goolsby ETX- Take a trip through the Pineywoods on one of the best scenic routes in East Texas. Roll your windows down and turn your radio up, or hop on you motorcycle and let the wind blow through your hair as you travel from Grapeland to Alto, down a historic path […]
East Texas’ Premier Taxidermy Studio
East Texas’ Premier Taxidermy Studio The Sportsman’s Memory Shop GRAPELAND- Taxidermy has been around for centuries. Saving trophies has always been one of man’s favorite pastimes. The Sportman’s Memory Shop in Grapeland, Texas has been helping hunters preserve their trophies since 1980, and has become East Texas’ premier taxidermy. Bobby Shaw and Robin “Trap” Coppedge […]
Dowsing For Graves & Witching For Water
Dowsing For Graves & Witching For Water By Dana Goolsby Some call it science others call it supernatural. Call it what you will, but dowsing has proven to be an effective method that has been used for centuries to find underground objects of interest. The art of dowsing can be traced back to the days […]
Plunder In The Pines
Plunder In The Pines East Texas is full of legends, mysteries, and folklore. Just beneath the surface of the Pineywoods, buried treasure is said to be scattered. There may not have been pirates roaming about the region, but over the years plenty of booty was left behind in East Texas. One of the many fortunes […]
How To Season You Cast-Iron Skillet
How To Season You Cast-Iron Skillet Make your cast-iron skillet last a lifetime by seasoning and cleaning it properly. A cast-iron skillet can be used to cook on the stovetop, the oven or the grill. A good iron skillet can be passed down as an heirloom if taken care of properly. Show your cast-iron cookware […]
Winds of Change Leave Waneta Community In the Dust of the Past
Winds Of Change Leave Waneta Community In The Dust Of The Past Grapeland, Texas- The oldest county in Texas was a booming place in the Pineywoods many years ago. Early settlers chose to make their homes under the pine tree canvas of Houston County, and tame the area. Communities began to take shape and lives […]
East Texas Snappers: Say No To Snapper Soup!
East Texas Snappers: Say No To Snapper Soup! Anyone who has spent a little time around ponds, slow-moving creeks and rivers, lakes, or the swamps and marshes of East Texas has probably seen a snapper. A snapping turtle that is. Snappers generally do not leave the water to venture out on to land. Traveling turtles […]
One Of The Oldest Structures In East Texas Still Stands
One Of The Oldest Structures In East Texas Still Stands- Jaun Antonio Badillo, a Texas born Mexican, otherwise known as a Tejano, was a surveyor who lived around Nacogdoches in the 1830s. He also owned a few parcels of land. One parcel of land Badillo is said to have owned is just west of Grapeland. A two-story dogtrot style […]