Texas Tourist Camp - Decatur, Texas
Posted by: txoilgas
N 33° 13.724 W 097° 34.726
14S E 632427 N 3677544
The complex consisted of a gas station, five cabins, and a café.
Waymark Code: WM78JJ
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/19/2009
Views: 23
It actually began as a camp ground on the edge of town. In 1927, owner E.F. Boydston, realized that money could be made as people began travelling for leisure, so he added a gas station, and in 1929 opened the Texas Lunchroom for hungry road trippers. In the early 30's, Boydston built cabins with garages to offer more comfortable settings. To REALLY spruce things up, his brother Nolan put petrified wood (quarried from around the area) on the exteriors in 1935. The tourist court became an attraction in its own right, and remained popular throughout the 30's, 40's, and 50's for locals, travelers and college kids.
Street address: 904 Hwy 81/287 Decatur, Texas USA
County / Borough / Parish: Wise County
Year listed: 1997
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Periods of significance: 1925-1949, 1950-1974
Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic
Current function: Vacant/Not In Use
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.