The sleepy little town of Terlingua is located about five miles west of Study Butte, off of Highway 170 in southern Texas. And the unique Terlingua Cemetery, which borders the west edge of town, is definitely worth a stop on the way to Big Bend National Park.
From Highway 170 head north on Terlingua Ghost Town Road, drive past the BBQ joint on the right and look for the cemetery up on the left. If you hit Ivey Road, turn around as you’ve gone too far. There’s a large level dirt parking area near the cemetery entrance, with room enough to park an adapted van. The cemetery – which was founded in 1902 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places – is fairly level, although there are narrow spots and some bumpy pathways between the plots. That said, it’s worth a stop, even if you can’t maneuver past the first row of graves, as the gravesites are adorned with candles, fetishes, charms and other unique offerings.
The entrance pillars also have niches filled with everything from coins and candy, to bottle caps, rocks, shells, photos and even the odd personal item – like a make-up brush – here and there. An excellent spot for photographers, this site gets more interesting in October, as the Day of the Dead approaches, and all sorts of new objects begin to appear. As an added bonus, there’s also a good view of the town ruins from the cemetery parking area.
Barrier-Free Travel Utah National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Located at Interstate 40 Exit 369 on the Texas-New Mexico border, the TA Travel Center is home to the excellent Russell’s Auto Museum. Formerly Russell’s Auto Center, the property was sold to TA in 2023, but a lease agreement remains in place to keep Russell’s Auto Museum going for at least until 2028. Says Mark Russell, former Director of Operations at Russell’s Travel Center, “My mom and dad just wanted to keep the museum and keep people being able to look at the cars and stuff.”
Accessible parking is available near the truck stop entrance, with level access to the building. Inside there’s barrier-free access through the restaurant to the back of the building, where you’ll find the car museum. Highlights include a 1955 Corvette Roadster, a 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner and a 1957 pink T-bird convertible. There’s good pathway access around all the cars, which are surrounded by a plethora of memorabilia, from vintage photos, toys and gas pumps, to a nice collection of 1950s children’s push cars. Add in the vintage tunes playing on the juke box and you have the full nostalgic experience. Best of all, there’s no admission charge to this fun museum.
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
East Dickinson Boulevard & North Main Street
Fort Stockton, Texas
Although he’s no longer the-record-holding “largest roadrunner”, Paisano Pete is still dearly loved by the locals in this gateway town to Texas Hill Country. Built in 1979, old Pete measures in at an impressive 22 feet long and 11 feet tall. He’s located on the corner of Main Street and Dickinson, and unlike many other large statues, he’s kept up by the locals. The even dress him up for Christmas. There’s no official parking area, but there’s a large level dirt lot next to Pete that serves the purpose. And if you’d like to get a closer look at the bird, there’s curb-cut access up to the nice mini-park that surrounds him.
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
This permanently installed sculpture by artists Elmgreen and Dragset is located about a mile or so north of Valentine along a lonely stretch of Texas Highway 90. Most likely Marfa Prada takes its name from the the non-profit that sponsored the installation — Ballroom Marfa — as it’s located some 35 miles from the namesake town.
There’s no parking lot per-say for the store, but you can pull over on either side of the freeway, park in a level dirt area and find a barrier-free pathway to the locked building. The faux showroom contains 20 left foot shoes and six purses from the 2005 Prada collection, and it’s been dubbed a “permanent land art project” by the creators.
Although the installation has been vandalized a few times, it’s always been restored to its original state. And today the Prada purses hide part of the elaborate security system. It’s a nice stop in the middle of nowhere, plus you’ll probably also bump into some interesting characters who seem to flock to this popular roadside attraction.
Barrier-Free Travel Utah National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Located about seven miles west of Marfa, this “Giant” Marfa Mural is a series of larger-than-life plywood cutouts that pays tribute to James Dean’s final flick, Giant. The work of John Cerney from Salinas, California, this cutouts depict the characters that James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson played in the 1956 movie. There’s also a large cutout of the mansion that was featured in the flick, which was filmed on the property where the installation stands. Sadly Dean was killed in a car accident before the film was released.
The figures are easier to spot traveling west, but you can still see the silhouettes in enough time to pull over on an eastbound journey. There’s no organized parking, but there’s a level dirt spot in front of the fenced-in figures, with plenty of room to get out and take a closer look. There’s also a small solar panel that powers a country music track — by Michael Nesmith of Monkees fame — that plays on a continuous loop. A must-stop photo op for sure; and it’s about 30 miles east of the Marfa Prada (www.emerginghorizons.com/marfa-prada)
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
If you need a break from the monotonous drive along Interstate 10 near San Antonio, then take a short detour to check out this interesting — and massive — art installation. Just take exit 585 and head north on FM 1516 for about a half-mile. Make a right on Hays Park Road — the Giant Junk Stag sculpture is just down the road.
This larger-than-life stag is perched on a mound of dirt in the first round-about through the upscale subdivision. There’s parking in a level paved lot near the playground, which is the perfect vantage point to view the piece. Crafted by Mexico City artist, Florentino Narcis, this community centerpiece is comprised of junk, including engine parts, rusted fenders, license plates and even a bicycle seat or two. Check it out and see how many scrap parts you can spot. And if you’d like to get a closer look at the sculpture, there’s curb-cut-access to a short sidewalk from the parking area. There aren’t any public facilities at this stop, but this interesting sculpture is definitely worth a short look on the way through the Lone Star state.
Barrier-Free Travel Utah National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Jack Sisemor RV Museum
14501 Interstate 27
Amarillo, TX www.rvmuseum.net
For a fun trip down Memory Lane, be sure to stop in at The Jack Sisemor RV Museum on your next trip through Amarillo. Even if you’ve never been in a RV in your life, you’ll still love the nostalgic touches to the rigs and the accompanying displays. From that ever-so-familiar 70s shag carpeting, to a collection of vintage cameras, and even some old Coca Cola coolers, there’s bound to be some object that tugs at your heartstrings and evokes fond memories of yesteryear. And chances are high that you’ll also blurt out, “Hey, I had one of those!” at some point during your visit.
Open seasonally, the museum consists of an army of vintage RVs that have been lovingly restored. And that’s something that makes Jack Sisemore incredibly proud. There’s barrier-free access around the exhibits inside the museum. Highlights include a 1921 Ford Lamsteed Kampkar (one of only five made), the 1948 Flxible Bus used in the Robin Williams movie RV, and a 1976 FMC that was owned by Max Factor, Jr. Avid RVers will also love the 1975 Itasca (the first one ever built – serial number 1) and the cute little 1962 Bambi Airstream, which is in pristine condition. And don’t miss the large dirt and street bike collection scattered throughout the museum.
Best of all, there’s no admission charge to the museum. As an added bonus, more pieces are continually added to the collection, so you never know what you’ll find at this offbeat museum.
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
If you’re cruising along Interstate 40 near Amarillo, Cadillac Ranch is a required stop. Located on South Frontage Road between Arnot and Hope Roads, this public art display was created by an artist’s collective called The Ant Farm. It features 10 Cadillacs planted nose first into the ground. Built along the remains of Route 66, they were meant to symbolize the “golden age” of the American automobile. The cars are routinely painted with graffiti and even dressed up on some holidays. And although the creator frowned on this practice at first, it’s now encouraged.
There’s just a wide spot on the road to park in front of Cadillac Ranch, but there’s plenty of room for an accessible van. The entrance gate has a 24-inch clearance, but after that there is a six-foot wide hard-packed dirt path out to the cars. And if you can’t manage the walk, you can still a good view from the road. This roadside attraction is a good appetizer for The RV Museum & Storage (emerginghorizons.com/jack-sisemor-rv-museum/) located up the road on Interstate 27.
Barrier-Free Travel the Grand Canyon for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
El Capitan, the southern-most point of the Guadalupe Mountains
Named for the mountain range that dominates the landscape, Guadalupe Mountains National Park (www.nps.gov/gumo/) contains the four highest peaks in Texas, and boasts an impressive share of backcountry acreage. If all that sounds a little foreboding for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, then think again.
The park also contains a historic stage stop as well as the ruins of an 1800s ranch — both of which are wheelchair-accessible. They can be easily reached from Highway 62/180, which runs from El Paso to Carlsbad and passes through the southwest section of the park. Not only is Guadalupe Mountains National Park a destination by itself, but it also makes a nice add-on to a Carlsbad Caverns visit. Either way, it’s a good choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers who want to explore a bit of southwest history.
Pinery Stage Station
The Pinery Trail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The Pinery Visitor Center makes a good first stop in the park. Located just off the highway, there’s accessible parking in front, with barrier-free access to the building. Inside there’s plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair around the exhibits and ranger information desk, and level access to the accessible restrooms.
But the real attraction — The Pinery Trail — starts just outside the visitor center and leads over to the site of the former Pinery Stage Station. The paved accessible trail is dotted with benches, while interpretive plaques that detail the desert plants line the walkway.
The trail ends at an interpretive plaque that explains the importance of this one-time stage stop. Built in 1858, the stop was named for a nearby stand of pines, and since it had an abundant water source it was one of the most favored stations along the 2,800-mile mail route from St, Louis to San Francisco. It’s about a .7-mile round trip hike from the visitor center, however if you can’t manage the distance, there’s also a pullout along the highway near the stage stop. Although the Butterfield Overland Mail Coach only operated for a little over two years, it should be noted that it never missed a run — even in adverse weather.
Ruins of the Pinery Stage Station
Frijole Ranch History Museum
Frijole Ranch History Museum
Another must-see in Guadalupe Mountains National Park is the Frijole Ranch site, which is located just up the highway. Accessible parking is located near the accessible vault toilet. And since there are accessible picnic tables in a nearby covered pavilion, this stop is also a good spot for a lunch break.
The accessible Manzanita Spring Trail begins near the parking area, and leads over to the Frijole Ranch History Museum — an open-air exhibit which focuses on the history of this parcel, which was first settled by the Radar brothers in 1876. It was later acquired by the John Thomas Smith family in 1906. They grew apples, peaches, apricots and other fruits, and transported their harvest by wagon to Van Horn — a two-day ride away. The Smith farmhouse still stands, and it’s furnished as it would have been in the early 1900s. The Smith family operated the orchard until 1942, and it later served as a ranger residence, before it was added to the National Register of Historic Sites.
The paved undulating trail continues on past the old farmhouse and ends at Manzanita Spring. It should be noted that there’s a short 15-foot section of the trail that has rocks and dirt along it, from a washout. The good news is, that section is at the beginning of the trail, and if you can make it past that, you won’t have any problems completing the trail. On the other hand, if it’s been repaired, this trail is entirely passable for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. All it all, it’s a one-mile round trip hike that offers an interesting look at the farming history of the area.
Manzanita Spring Trail
Barrier-Free Travel the Grand Canyon for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
