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Articles by Natalie Moore
Texas Highways Is Hiring 2024 Summer Editorial Interns
Are you a college undergraduate or graduate student with a passion for journalism and a love for all things Texas? If so, Texas Highways magazine invites you to apply for our summer internship program. As an editorial intern, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside our staff, gaining hands-on experience with our print and digital products.
Texas Highways Is Hiring 2024 Summer Editorial Interns
Are you a college undergraduate or graduate student with a passion for journalism and a love for all things Texas? If so, Texas Highways magazine invites you to apply for our summer internship program. As an editorial intern, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside our staff, gaining hands-on experience with our print and digital products.
Texas Moonshine Distillers are Bringing the Spirit Back
More than 100 years after moonshine surged in popularity during Prohibition, distilleries across the state are reviving the once illegal spirit. Congress established the 18th Amendment in 1919, which made the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol illegal—but not its consumption. Bootleggers had to improvise to make contraband whiskey, using anything that fermented, including corn, rye, wheat, barley, vegetables, fruits, or even sugar.
Texas Moonshine Distillers Are Bringing the Spirit Back
More than 100 years after moonshine surged in popularity during Prohibition, distilleries across the state are reviving the once illegal spirit. Congress established the 18th Amendment in 1919, which made the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol illegal—but not its consumption. Bootleggers had to improvise to make contraband whiskey, using anything that fermented, including corn, rye, wheat, barley, vegetables, fruits, or even sugar.
The Sky Never Ends in Terlingua
The West Texas ghost town of Terlingua beckons visitors with its expansive desert landscape, easy access to Big Bend National Park, and the renegade spirit of its tightknit community. For photographer Jessica Lutz, who has called the area home for 10 years and took the photos for “Viva Terlingua”, it was just what she needed after a decade on the East Coast. “One of the reasons I left New York was because I couldn’t see the horizon and stars. Terlingua was the perfect antidote,” she says.
The Sky Never Ends in Terlingua
The West Texas ghost town of Terlingua beckons visitors with its expansive desert landscape, easy access to Big Bend National Park, and the renegade spirit of its tightknit community. For photographer Jessica Lutz, who has called the area home for 10 years and took the photos for “Viva Terlingua”, it was just what she needed after a decade on the East Coast. “One of the reasons I left New York was because I couldn’t see the horizon and stars. Terlingua was the perfect antidote,” she says.
The Lasting Legacy of Willie’s Picnic
Dave Dalton Thomas was a 23-year-old copy editor for the San Angelo Standard-Times when he happened upon a Texas entertainment scoop that would change his life. Thomas trekked to Luckenbach, his spiritual recharge spot, on a day off in 1995. While at the storied dance hall, he ran into promoters for Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic, a landmark event of longhaired country music fans that had thrived in the ’70s but nearly went defunct in the early ’90s.
The Lasting Legacy of Willie’s Picnic
Dave Dalton Thomas was a 23-year-old copy editor for the San Angelo Standard-Times when he happened upon a Texas entertainment scoop that would change his life. Thomas trekked to Luckenbach, his spiritual recharge spot, on a day off in 1995. While at the storied dance hall, he ran into promoters for Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic, a landmark event of longhaired country music fans that had thrived in the ’70s but nearly went defunct in the early ’90s.
Editor's Note: Outlaw Spirit
The outlaw ethos remains a central element of Texas’ nonconformist identity. Though the term is often flattened into pop culture claptrap, scratch beneath the surface of the cliché and you’ll find layers of richness. The stories in this issue explore the breadth of the concept, from the literal definition, of those who break the law, to the notion of outlaws as outsiders, rebels, and pioneers. The 1970s outlaw country movement is a common touchpoint for Texans’ outlaw reputation.
Editor's Note: Outlaw Spirit
The outlaw ethos remains a central element of Texas’ nonconformist identity. Though the term is often flattened into pop culture claptrap, scratch beneath the surface of the cliché and you’ll find layers of richness. The stories in this issue explore the breadth of the concept, from the literal definition, of those who break the law, to the notion of outlaws as outsiders, rebels, and pioneers. The 1970s outlaw country movement is a common touchpoint for Texans’ outlaw reputation.
Texas-Themed Items are Full of Pride
The Texas General Store might sound like a place you could pick up groceries or other odds and ends. But walk into one of the locations, Mineral Wells or Grapevine, and you’ll find a plethora of Texas tchotchkes. The stores specialize in Texas-themed gifts, souvenirs, home décor, apparel, and locally-sourced products. Some of the bestselling items include seasonings, barbecue and hot sauce, peanut butter, and Texas T-shirts.
Get Lost in the Shelves of the Massive McAllen Public Library
Walking into the 123,000-square-foot McAllen Public Library in the Rio Grande Valley on a sizzling summer day is akin to stumbling upon a lush oasis after traversing the blazing South Texas desert. With temperatures reaching 115 degrees by late August, the sleek, blissfully cool athenaeum is inviting to all who stroll through its doors.
First Fridays on the El Paso Mission Trail Uncover Region’s Storied Past
In 1680, after nearly a century of persecution and maltreatment from Spanish colonizers, the Pueblo Indians besieged Santa Fe and successfully expelled their oppressors from New Mexico for 12 years. What became known as the Pueblo Revolt resulted in a caravan comprised of Spanish conquistadors, Franciscans, and Native Americans—including the Tigua, Piros, and Jemez, among other groups—seeking refuge in different camps over 300 miles south in a region that would later be known as El Paso.
Frosty the ChemCam: Sols 3902-3904
ADVERTISEMENT Frosty the ChemCam: Sols 3902-3904 by Natalie Moore | Mission Ops - MSSS Pasadena CA (JPL) Jul 28, 2023 Earth planning date: Friday, July 28, 2023: Our Thursday drive on sol 3901 was successful and put us ~30 meters further from Bradbury Landing! That's a pretty typical-length drive for us, with the longest I've seen in my 3 years on this mission being ~100 meters or so.
Sols 3882-3884: Weekend Routine for a Red Rover
Search News Archive Home News Sols 3882-3884: Weekend Routine for a Red Rover Write a comment Pasadena CA (JPL) Jul 12, 2023 Earth Planning Date: Friday, July 7, 2023. Happy Friday, Earthlings! Few things are better than planning an action-packed weekend on Mars.
The Fate of Jacob’s Well Remains Uncertain
I look down upon the blue-and-green-tinted waters of Jacob’s Well, the headwaters of Cypress Creek. Even barely full on this spring morning, the storied swimming hole remains enchanting. “See how it changes with the light?” muses Katherine Sturdivant, education coordinator for Jacob’s Well Natural Area. In the receding shadows, Jacob’s Well reveals itself like an awakening eye. The dark, mirror-like surface transforms into a crystalline stone tunnel.
Flow Away
The undercurrent of this month’s river stories is the tenuous stability of our beloved waterways. A combination of factors, including drought, population growth, and water rights issues, threatens the viability of some of the state’s most popular swimming holes and rivers. One expert, in a story about the Narrows on the Blanco River, suggests a simple step we can all take to help turn the tide—introduce a child to a treasured body of water.
The Daytripper’s Picks for a West Austin Adventure
The city of Austin is a crossroads—a place where hippies and cowboys commingle, where blackland prairie meets limestone hills, and where the eastern and western halves of the state collide. Texas’ capital city boasts new, inventive ideas about art, cuisine, and entertainment. Austin’s a big place, so we’ll tackle the city’s west side, where a Hill Country adventure awaits. Mount Bonnell Just east of Lake Austin, Mount Bonnell is one of the highest points of elevation inside Austin city limits.
On Deck with Texas’ Lone Marine Archeologist
Titanic-obsessed Amy Borgens searches for lost treasures along the Gulf Coast Written by , Photographs by Erich Schlegel | From the July 2023 issue | Updated: June 26, 2023 | Filed Under: CultureHistoryPeople Many people assume Amy Borgens’ job is full of action and intrigue—she’s heard her share of Indiana Jones references.
On Deck with Texas’ Lone Marine Archeologist
Andy Hall, a Galveston-based member of the Texas Archeological Stewardship Network, first met Borgens when they were investigating Will O’ the Wisp, a Civil War blockade runner that surfaced after Hurricane Ike. Borgens came up after her initial dive and immediately told everyone the ribs of the ship were spaced unusually far apart and the hull plating was unusually thin, both of which were key factors in identifying the vessel. “She said that right off the top of her head,” Hall says.
The Rivers Take You Home
I tell myself to keep moving and fight the urge to turn back to the sun-warmed riverbank. As if you didn’t grow up coming here, I scold myself. As if you didn’t spend hours, days, long weekends, and swaths of summer in these waters. But it’s strange being here today, in the wake of my years gone and the people no longer here and the last 11 months that have profoundly changed me, changed us all. Standing in the river reminds me how far some of us have drifted away.
Under the Setting Sun at Lake Meredith
About 40 miles north of Amarillo sits Lake Meredith, the only Texas lake along the Canadian River. Formed by Sanford Dam, it’s a popular spot for camping, water sports, and fishing—particularly for walleye. Photographer Sean Fitzgerald shot this view of the national recreation area from an overlook near the Sanford-Yake Campground. He became enamored with the Canadian River and its stories more than a decade ago and turned that interest into the photo feature “Force of Nature”.
Texas Highways Is Hiring an Art Director
Texas Highways is seeking an art director to conceptualize designs and produce layouts for our award-winning travel magazine and other ancillary publications. Ideal candidates are passionate about magazine journalism and all things Texas—the state’s culture, food, history, and, of course, travel destinations.
The Righteous Gemstones’ Edi Patterson Likes Playing ‘Weirdos’
The deep-water port of Texas City has long been known for its refineries, shrimp boils, and the longest human-made fishing pier in the world at 5.3 miles. But it now also lays claim to one of the most bonkers Southern characters on TV: Judy Gemstone, as played by native Edi Patterson in HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones. The show’s writer, producer, and actor grew up in Texas City and draws inspiration for her character from her hometown. “I’ll always love Texas City,” Patterson says.
Beekeeping for the End of the World
by Celia Bell I keep my bees in the city. The hives are in a nature preserve in South Austin, just east of Interstate 35, where the neighborhood is gentrifying like so many other Austin neighborhoods. New modern houses, half-built, tower over the single-story homes from an earlier generation. The apiary is next to one of these construction sites, down a narrow and pitted dirt road.
Meet Isabella Neff, the Mother of Texas State Parks
Gov. Pat Neff, who established the Texas State Parks Board in 1923, wasn’t the only member of his family who played a crucial role in developing Texas’ parks system. Isabella Neff, the governor’s mom pictured above with Neff, was known for her hospitality to visitors: Chisholm Trail cowboys nicknamed her “Mother Neff” because she offered travelers food and coffee when they passed through her property.
The Promise of Summer at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
While working on the 2018 revised edition of his book Official Guide to Texas State Parksand Historic Sites, photographer and writer Laurence Parent drove from Winnsboro toLake Bob Sandlin State Park near Pittsburg hoping to catch fog on the lake. “I always enjoyshooting when something special is happening with the light or weather—the mist in thiscase,” Parent says. He selected the expansive view of the park’s swimming area to capturethe rising sun shining through the April morning haze.
The Promise of Summer at Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Photographer and writer Laurence Parent catches a morning fog while working on the 2018 revised edition of his book, 'Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites' Written by | From the May 2023 issue | Updated: April 26, 2023 | Filed Under: While working on the 2018 revised edition of his book Official Guide to Texas State Parksand Historic Sites, photographer and writer Laurence Parent drove from Winnsboro toLake Bob Sandlin State Park near Pittsburg hoping to catch fog on the lake.
How Longhorn Cavern Was Carved by Hand
As soon as I descend the stairway leading into Longhorn Cavern, the temperature drops. A great rush of air envelops me while water drops fall from the natural rock bridge overhead. Looking up, I see hanging vines descending from one of the sinkholes, and just beyond them, a clear sky. The entrances at Longhorn Cavern State Park, an hour and a half northwest of Austin, originated as sinkholes, or dolines.
How Longhorn Cavern Was Carved by Hand
The grueling story behind the Civilian Conservation Corps construction of Texas State Parks’ largest cavern system Written by | From the May 2023 issue | Updated: May 24, 2023 | Filed Under: Hiking + BikingHistoryParks As soon as I descend the stairway leading into Longhorn Cavern, the temperature drops. A great rush of air envelops me while water drops fall from the natural rock bridge overhead.
How Longhorn Cavern Was Carved by Hand
The grueling story behind the Civilian Conservation Corps construction of Texas State Parks’ largest cavern system Written by | From the May 2023 issue | Updated: May 24, 2023 | Filed Under: Hiking + BikingHistoryParks As soon as I descend the stairway leading into Longhorn Cavern, the temperature drops. A great rush of air envelops me while water drops fall from the natural rock bridge overhead.
How Longhorn Caverns Was Carved by Hand
The grueling story behind the Civilian Conservation Corps construction of Texas State Parks’ largest cavern system Written by | From the May 2023 issue | Updated: April 27, 2023 | Filed Under: Hiking + BikingHistoryParks As soon as I descend the stairway leading into Longhorn Cavern, the temperature drops. A great rush of air envelopes me while water drops fall from the natural rock bridge overhead.
A Look to the Future of Texas State Parks
Andrew Sansom got his first job in 1959 as a lifeguard at Lake Jackson Municipal Pool in his hometown about 55 miles south of Houston. Little did the 14-year-old know the job would set the stage for a lifelong career in parks administration and environmental conservation. “I stayed with that summer job for eight or nine years, literally until after I was married,” recalls Sansom, who later became executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The Daytripper Visits Big Spring’s Namesake Attraction
Tracing the ancient roads established by the Comanche tribe led travelers to this West Texas town and its namesake spring. More than just water draws folks in to explore the rugged city full of big views, big burritos, and big legends. Comanche Trail Park Comanches were masterful at traversing the vast Texas landscape along the Comanche Trail. This familiar route stretching from Colorado to Mexicoconnected natural springs like constellations in the sky.
Editor's Note: The First 100
Written by | Updated: April 19, 2023 | Filed Under: The Magazine Though our family has traveled to far-flung parks like Big Bend National Park out west and Caddo Lake State Park in East Texas, it wasn’t until last month that we finally visited McKinney Falls State Park in South Austin, about 25 minutes from our home. It can be easy to take local destinations for granted, thinking you’ll get around to visiting at some point.
Editor's Note: The First 100
Though our family has traveled to far-flung parks like Big Bend National Park out west and Caddo Lake State Park in East Texas, it wasn’t until last month that we finally visited McKinney Falls State Park in South Austin, about 25 minutes from our home. It can be easy to take local destinations for granted, thinking you’ll get around to visiting at some point. The planning process for this issue celebrating the Texas State Parks system’s 100th anniversary inspired me to explore more state parks.
Wild Child
This morning, before I sat down to write this, a flock of wild turkeys wandered into our backyard in the Driftwood area. We bought our home in the Hill Country six years ago, and it still offers delightful surprises on a regular basis. The feeling of living in a natural playground is why we chose to settle here when we moved to the Austin area from inner-loop Houston.
Editor's Note: Wild Child
This morning, before I sat down to write this, a flock of wild turkeys wandered into our backyard in the Driftwood area. We bought our home in the Hill Country six years ago, and it still offers delightful surprises on a regular basis. The feeling of living in a natural playground is why we chose to settle here when we moved to the Austin area from inner-loop Houston.
The Restored Hall of State Tells the Story of Texas at Fair Park
Restored in 2020, the art deco Hall of State at Dallas’ Fair Park boasts 76-foot-tall lime-stone pillars, colorful tiles, and Allie Victoria Tennant’s gilded Tejas Warrior statue among its decorative elements. “I love the architecture at Fair Park and often take my camera and look for odd angles, the play of the light off of the curves, and thoughtful details on the buildings,” says photographer Sean Fitzgerald, who lives nearby and enjoys walking and bicycling around the park.
The Restored Hall of State Tells the Story of Texas at Fair Park
The art deco-inspired building is the centerpiece of the South Dallas complex created for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition Written by | From the April 2023 issue | Updated: March 27, 2023 | Filed Under: Restored in 2020, the art deco Hall of State at Dallas’ Fair Park boasts 76-foot-tall lime-stone pillars, colorful tiles, and Allie Victoria Tennant’s gilded Tejas Warrior statue among its decorative elements.
Sols 3776-3777: Spring Past the Marker Band – NASA Mars Exploration
Our Tapo Caparo drill campaign is officially concluded and our wheels are turning again! Specifically, we’re back on the strategically-created route up Aeolis Mons (aka Mount Sharp), “paving” the path as we go. As a personal habit, when we leave a distinct area I like to look back at the road behind and all we’ve accomplished along the way. So, a quick sentimental summary... we drove our wheels up on the Marker Band for the first time back in November (sol 3645) ~4.5 months ago.
Czech Stop Is Going To Be Okay, Y’all
“One person had to step away simply because of the noise,” she said, adding that concrete poles had previously been installed after a similar crash into another part of the building occurred more than a decade ago. Wolf said she’s grateful for the outreach from the public and that it’s been business as usual at the bakery. Jake Scott, who commutes from Fort Worth to Waco, is a regular customer to the McLennan County bakery.
The Golden Glow of Sunset and Prickly Poppies in the Hill Country
Theresa DiMenno was driving to Llano for a Hill Country photography trip one April when she came across this field of white prickly poppies just south of town on State Highway 16.“It’s always been one of my favorite photos—the warmth of the light, the vibe of it,” says DiMenno, who lives in Austin.
The Golden Glow of Sunset and Prickly Poppies in the Hill Country
Photographer Theresa DiMenno’s springtime trip reveals picturesque blooms just south of Llano Written by | From the March 2023 issue | Updated: February 27, 2023 | Filed Under: Travel News Theresa DiMenno was driving to Llano for a Hill Country photography trip one April when she came across this field of white prickly poppies just south of town on State Highway 16.“It’s always been one of my favorite photos—the warmth of the light, the vibe of it,” says DiMenno, who lives in Austin.
A Local Boy’s Pioneering Efforts To Protect the Big Thicket in East Texas
The Big Thicket of Southeast Texas is one of Earth’s most biodiverse regions, home to more than 4,300 documented species of plants, animals, and insects. Self-taught naturalist Lance Rosier grew up in the heart of the Big Thicket. He was born near the town of Saratoga in the late 1800s, and as a boy, he explored the surrounding forests and bayous, building an encyclopedic knowledge of local botany.
Happy Trails
Over the last decade, Senior Managing Editor Matt Joyce has written dozens of stories about Texas’ majestic landscapes, charismatic people, and multifaceted history. While he’s moving onto a new job at Texas State University, he leaves behind an impressive legacy of creative influence across 125 issues of Texas Highways. Before his departure, I asked him to share some memorable stories and travels.
Editor's Note: Happy Trails
Over the last decade, Senior Managing Editor Matt Joyce has written dozens of stories about Texas’ majestic landscapes, charismatic people, and multifaceted history. While he’s moving onto a new job at Texas State University, he leaves behind an impressive legacy of creative influence across 125 issues of Texas Highways. Before his departure, I asked him to share some memorable stories and travels.
‘Moonshine Capital’ Glen Rose Recalls the Tumultuous Era of Prohibition
Red flames flicker under a century-old still at the Somervell County Historical Society Museum in Glen Rose. Though the cookfire is a wood-and-paper replica and the vintage copper tank hasn’t been used to make liquor for at least 60 years, the exhibit recalls the Prohibition era, when outlaw distilleries bubbled with moon-shine among Glen Rose’s cedar breaks and limestone creeks. The still belonged to the late Charlie Moss, a moonshiner who donated his old equipment to the museum in 1965.
Travelers Put Their Love on Lock in Valentine
“Then, people throw the key over the fence to lock their love, like everlasting love,” says Rita Simpson, a Marfa local. When Simpson noticed the locks at Prada Marfa, she and her partner Chuck decided to hop on the trend. They bought a lock from the local Dollar General and painted their initials on it with nail polish. They drove out to Valentine, and at sunset, they found a spot for their lock, kissed the keys and tossed them into the desert.
How a Houston-Born Singer Became a Tex-Mex Star in the 1930s
Lydia Mendoza was only a teenager when she became an icon of Mexican American music. The year was 1934. The song was “Mal Hombre,” or “Bad Man.” A brave choice for a solo debut, the bitter tango of lost innocence and contempt forever defined her. The lyrics, quite possibly a prostitute’s lament, struck a nerve. But the moment was more than that. The beautiful singer from Houston with piercing Cleopatra eyes was speaking for every woman who had been hurt by a thoughtless guy.
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