This pink granite DAR marker was placed in 1918 as a statewide project by the Daughters of the American Revolution to mark the route of the Old San Antonio Road.
The waymarked DAR marker reads as follows:
"KING'S HIGHWAY
CAMINO REAL
Old San Antonio Road
Marked by the
Daughters of the
American Revolution
and the State of Texas
A. D. 1918"
The marker is located at 16030 Pleasanton Rd. It is easily seen from Pleasanton Road, or from the access easement to the RR tracks that runs along the south fence. Both places are easily reached, and the public may visit (and take photos) without trespassing, because it is legal to take photos of anything you can see from any place you are lawfully allowed to be.
In 2018 this land is being used both as a residence and as storage for a landscaping construction business. The Ortega family has not moved the DAR marker, but has replaced the old concrete base with new concrete and has fenced the marker into their yard. They are taking care of it :)
Because it is a private residence, we will ask waymark visitors to be respectful while taking photos.
--- A highway and engineering history lesson based on our research, for those who are interested in these sorts of things:
In 1918, this DAR marker was placed at the south end of an impressive 1910 concrete arch highway bridge over the Medina River in the public right of way next to what was at the time "Pleasanton Highway," which became the US 281 in 1926. See: (
visit link)
In the 1930s the US 281 was realigned 1 mile to the east, where it could be upgraded and straightened in accordance with new Federal highway construction rules. The former alignment of US 281 where the DAR marker stood reverted back to its former name of Pleasanton Road. Source: Bexar County GIS maps
The concrete bridge over the Medina River is one of the earliest concrete bridges in Texas. Source: (
visit link)
"Significance: This 303'-0"-long, four-span reinforced concrete arch bridge over the Medina River is one of the earliest documented concrete arch bridges in Texas. . . .
- Building/structure dates: 1910 Initial Construction"
The 1930s route of Pleasanton road passed in front of large parcel of land at 16030 Pleasanton Road. At the time the road ran parallel to the RR tracks, and Ortega's land extended from Pleasanton Road east, encompassing several acres of ranchland.
Pleasanton road curved around the property, but did not bisect it. At some point before 1970, the intact parcel of land was purchased by Enrique Ortega, who still owns it in 2018.
See:http://www.bcad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?cid=1&prop_id=182414
The land with the home on it was "islanded" in the 1970s, when a modern concrete highway bridge and realignment of Pleasanton Road cut off the obsolete and increasingly dangerous 1910 Medina River bridge. See: (
visit link)
"Because its 18'-2"-wide roadway was initially designed for two lanes of traffic, the bridge by the 1970s had long since been able to comfortably handle passing vehicles. . . . The bridge eventually closed to traffic, and a new concrete girder bridge meeting current safety regulations bypassed the old bridge to its east. . ."
The 1970s Pleasanton Road realignment was routed to the east of the house, bisecting the larger parcel. The right of way for Pleasanton's western alignment was abandoned and traded to Ortega at a nominal cost in exchange for right of way to the east of his home for the new alignment.
In 2018, the Ortegas still own the undeveloped land on the east side of Pleasanton Road, but the home was sold in 2004 to Guadalupe Carrisal (who we think is family since everyone's addresses are the same). See: (
visit link) and (
visit link)
The El Camino Real de los Tejas has been designated a National Historic Trail through the states of Texas and New Mexico. (
visit link)
"From the Rio Grande to the Red River Valley
Come on a journey that will carry you through 300 years of Louisiana and Texas frontier settlement and development on a Spanish colonial "royal road" that originally extended to Mexico City, Mexico.
You are about to travel 2,500 miles, from Mission San Juan Bautista Guerrero, Mexico to Fort St. Jean Baptiste Nachitoches Parish, Louisiana."