The Old San Antonio – El Paso Road

— After the Mexican War, there was a need to establish a road through the rugged Texas country to advance west. The route would be used by mail carriers as well as pioneers and gold seekers heading to California. Two routes were then established. An Upper Road was built through the Guadalupe Mountains, while on the southern border of the state, the Lower Road would go through what is now known as the city of Fort Davis. Both roads lead to El Paso. The Old San Antonio Road is also known as El Camino Real (The King’s Highway).

If you visit the Fort Davis National Historic Site, you will see a section of that road, as shown in the photo above. This shot was made in January a few years ago, on a very cold and windy day. We often enjoy our stay in Fort Davis because of the rugged terrain, the historic fort, the McDonald Observatory and just the whole appeal of the area.