Goodnight-Loving Trail, California Trail & Butterfield Overland Mail -- Castle Gap, US 67, McCamey TX - Wagon Roads and Trails on Waymarking.com

The second of two historic markers for Castle Gap is located at the McCamey end of the gap along the US 67 east of McCamey, and reminds modern-day travelers of those who came before when travel was a much more arduous undertaking.

The marker reads as follows:

"CASTLE GAP

Castle Gap, famous early pass for southwestern trails, lies 14 miles northwest along the Upton-Crane County line. Through this mile-long gap between Castle and King mountains flowed the full panorama of Texas history-- Indian, Spaniard, Stage and Trail Herd Driver, Settler, '49er.

In prehistoric time Castle Gap was a landmark for nomadic Indian tribes and later guided the Commanches on their war trail into Mexico. The first white man to discover the pass was probably the Spanish explorer Felipe Rabago y Teran in 1761. Then came the '49ers in their frenzied rush to the California gold fields, to be followed by other, more permanent settlers.

From 1858 to 1861 the famed Butterfield Overland Mail coaches rumbled through the pass on their 24-day journey from St. Louis to San Francisco, pausing briefly at the adobe-walled Castle Gap station for fresh teams. Then they were off again, fording into the sunset. By 1866 the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail was firmly established at the gap, funneling tens of thousands of brawling longhorn cattle to the northern markets.

During this same period, legend holds that a treasure-laden aide of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, fleeing the country when the regime collapsed, buried gold and jewels in the area.

Dust of the pioneers settled long ago. Today Castle Gap slumbers peacefully, disturbed only by visitors, occasional treasure hunters and those who probe for ruins of the Butterfield station and the rapidly fading ruts of coach and wagon."

Road of Trail Name: Goodnight-Loving Trail, California Trail & Butterfield Overland Mail State: Texas County: Upton Historical Significance: Several important trails passed though this gap, moving cattle north to markets, carrying emigrants west to California, and moving mail on the Butterfield Overland Mail between CA and St Louis MO. Years in use: 1840s - 1870s How you discovered it: I have been reading historical markers and visiting historic sites related to this trail Book on Wagon Road or Trial: Goodnight-Loving Trail: Charles Goodnight: Cowman and Plainsman by J. Evetts Haley California Trail: The Forty-Niners A Chronicle of the California Trail and El Dorado by Stewart Edward White Butterfield Overland mail: The Texas Frontier and the Butterfield Overland Mail, 1858–1861 by Glen Sample Ely Website Explination: The Handbook of Texas online: Goodnight-Loving Trail: https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ayg02 and Butterfield Overland Mail: https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/egb01 California Trail: http://emigranttrailswest.org/virtual-tour/california-trail/ Why?: The several wagon and mail roads that passed through Castle Gap moved cattle north to markets, carries emigrants west to California, and moved mail and commerce back and forth on the Butterfield Overland Mail between CA and St Louis MO Directions: US 67, about 5 miles east of McCamey TX, N side of the road

Visit Instructions:
To post a log for this Waymark the poster must have a picture of either themselves, GPSr, or mascot. People in the picture with information about the waymark are preferred. If the waymarker can not be in the picture a picture of their GPSr or mascot will qualify. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   12/26/2016 Benchmark Blasterz visited it