Visiting Meridian State Park and Hico, Texas to Ponder: Is Billy the Kid Buried in Texas?

Mom, our family's Chief Financial Officer, loves it when we utilize our Texas State Park Pass.  With the Texas State Park Pass, day-use fees are waived and a discounted rate applies for camping stays of 2 nights or longer.  So, after an easy, safe, and relaxing 4-hour drive along mostly secondary roads, we reached the first stop of our summer travel adventure: 3 nights at Meridian State Park within the northern region of Texas's Hill Country.   Our nightly rate averaged $26 for a full hook up crescent-shaped pull through site.  This included an extra $5/night because having our Rambling RV Rat Pack Rubicon with us exceeded the 2 vehicles covered by the Park's nightly camping fee.  We had a private “backyard” that contains a picnic table, grill, and fire pit.   There are only 8 sites for RVs over 19 feet (our truck is longer than that!), so we were lucky to snag this spot, especially since we didn't make any reservations for this summer adventure until April 15.

 

The handiwork of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), who built the Park in 1933/1934 from limestone rock and timber on the premises, is clearly visible.

 

Pavilion built by CCC.

We went exploring, viewing the man-made Lake Meridian, created when the CCC built a dam along Bee Creek.  I loved watching families frolicking in the water, grilling, and playing games.  We came upon the Bosque Trail, 2+ miles around the Lake.  We didn’t read the pamphlet that described it as “challenging” and “arduous” (mainly because you are climbing the limestone hills).  Hence, we wore sneakers rather than our more sturdy, supportive hiking boots.  But we we were able to conquer the task.  Hiking the other trails was a breeze.  All the trails provide scenic views, natural beauty, and tranquility.

We viewed Lake Meridian from the earthen dam built by the CCC.

An upward climb...

...along Bosque Trail.

Fern Ledge, named for the ferns growing from the "roof" of the ledge.

Thankfully, this dude was DEAD.

I'm not saying Dad is overweight.  But when he sat down next to me on this single-timber bench along Shinnery Ridge Trail, I got ejected into the air!

 

The wildflowers were just past peak, but still offered a kaleidoscope of color.

A cedar forest.

The View from Bee Ledge

About 35 minutes from Meridian State Park is Hico, Texas, a quaint little town (population less than 1,500) dedicated to the outlaw Billy the Kid.  They erected a statue of him and devoted a museum to him.  Heck, they even have a sign and marking on the pavement (though both are hardly legible anymore) where he allegedly slumped over and died from a heart attack in 1950.  I can hear you saying, “But how can that be? Billy the Kid was killed and buried in New Mexico”.   Au contraire, some folks say.  Some allege that Billy was not killed.  Supposedly, he escaped to Hico, assumed the name Ollie Roberts, AKA Brushy Bill, and lived incognito until late in his life, when he admitted he was the infamous outlaw.  We planned to go into the Billy the Kid Museum to get the full story.  The Museum’s website says it is open from 9-3 daily.  Alas, it was closed when we arrived, with the sign saying back at 10 a.m.  Unfortunately, it was already 11:30 a.m., so that was not accurate either.  We phoned the number posted on the door.  It provided no information except, “please leave a message”.  We did, but never received a response—Strike 1.  We went 2 doors down to Jersey Lilly’s Mexican Restaurant to ask if they knew anything about the deviation in business hours for the Museum.  “Where’s that?” was the reply from the young food server—Strike 2.  Mom located the Hico Visitor Center within Blue Star Trading, an upscale merchandise and home furnishings boutique.  They were unaware the Museum was closed, stated it is usually open, and noted it was open yesterday.  But being customer service oriented, they proceeded to make a few phone calls.  Apparently, the Museum manager and his sole employee were unavailable to open due to medical reasons.  I was disappointed to strike out because my interest was piqued, and the Museum gets very good reviews.  Plus, it is free, asking only for nominal donations.  So, my advice to you should you wish to visit:  phone before you go.  The trip was not a total waste of time, however.  We perused a wonderful photo exhibit within the restored event center on the upper floor of Blue Star Trading.  The photographs depicted life in Hico from the 1880s to the 1930s.  We also viewed the gravesite of Brushy Bill/Ollie Roberts/Hico’s alleged Billy the Kid.

A sad commentary that Hico can think of no better person to honor with the town's solitary statue than the outlaw Billy the Kid.

The Hico Visitor Center is within the meticulously-restored Blue Star Trading Company building.

The photo exhibit was in the event center on the upper floor of the Blue Star Trading Company building.

I saw this same horse trough in a photograph from the 1880s within the Blue Star Trading Company historical exhibit.

Lots of folks come to see this gravesite believed to belong to Billy the Kid.

Giant Spur, A Roadside America attraction in Hico.

Our stay at Meridian State Park was peaceful and enjoyable, and the Park is most worthy of a Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award.

Sunset on Lake Meridian.

We stayed out late one evening hoping to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights.  Our photo captured lots of stars, but the aurora borealis avoided our camera....

.... but we did catch some cool lightening in the storm clouds over Meridian State Park.