by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2024 Digital Issue
Sulfur Springs, Texas (KSLR)
Dave Weiman Photo
In May, Peggy and I planned a flight from Madison, Wisconsin (KMSN) to Sulfur Springs, Texas (KSLR), to attend a family wedding at nearby Emery, Texas. Unlike most of our hops in our Cessna 182, the 645 nm flight would require a fuel stop, and depending on the weather, we built in some alternates, mostly based on distance, but also on the availability of rental cars, restaurants and fuel prices. While I enjoy stopping in at small rural airports, few offer the amenities you need if stranded, so we tried to select mid to executive-size airports. And of course, we don’t leave home without Foreflight which is loaded with good information.
Despite all the planning that went into this flight, we experienced a mechanical that could not be fixed quickly, and we had to book a flight with the airlines. With the torrential rains and hail that week in Texas, we didn’t mind. But we have flown to Texas in the past, and look forward to flying there again.
Sulfur Springs, Texas is 73 nm northeast of Dallas Ft Worth International (KDFW), very much clear of congested airspace.
Courtesy cars are available for short jaunts around the area or for lunch at the Red Barn Café across the highway. Enterprise is the closest car rental company in the area, and there’s plenty of hotels within a few miles of the airport. The reviews of the airport are spot on, with a modern terminal and friendly people. The common denominator is our association with the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA).
Sulphur Springs is a unique community 90 minutes from downtown Dallas. The community offers a variety of specialty shops and dining opportunities. Downtown weekends include movies on the square, concerts, and a Saturday evening market.
A big Texas draw to the area are its lakes.
Cooper Lake State Park includes 2,560 acres of terrain and a 19,300-acre lake, offering a variety of water and land-based recreation for outdoor enthusiasts. Watersport fans can enjoy skiing, fishing, boating and sightseeing for wild game on the lake’s more than 25 miles of shoreline. Experiences here range from nature study and educational programs, to horseback riding, picnicking, primitive to RV and cabin camping, bike and nature trails, bird watching, and swimming and sunbathing on one of two designated beaches.
Lake Fork, world renown for trophy bass fishing, is located just 15 miles south of Sulphur Springs. The lake covers 27,000 acres, not only good for bass fishing, but crappie, catfish and bluegill, as well.
Completed in 1980, Lake Fork gained the reputation for being the hottest bass fishing lake in Texas after its first state record bass was caught in 1986. The current state record bass was caught there in 1992 weighing in at 18.18 lbs.
Other nearby attractions include the Sam Bell Maxey House, a historic house in nearby Paris, Texas. Samuel Bell Maxey, a prominent local attorney and later two-term U.S. senator, built the large two-story house in 1868 after serving as a major general in the Confederate Army. The house is built in the High Victorian Italianate style. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Lamar County, Texas on March 18, 1971, and is now open to the public on a tour basis.
The “Texas Eiffel Tower” is a landmark in Paris, Texas. The tower was constructed in 1993 next to the Love Civic Center, and is a model of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Another replica of the Eiffel Tower was built in 1993 in Paris, Tennessee.
Red River Valley Veterans Memorial
Paris, Texas
Dave Weiman Photo
We were most impressed with the “Red River Valley Veterans Memorial,” also built next to the Love Civic Center in Paris. This memorial was conceived and built by Rochester, Minnesota native and pilot, Doug Weiberg, to honor all veterans who have served our country in the past, and those who are currently serving in our military.
Doug joined the U.S. Air Force at the age of 17 and worked on B-52 and KC-135 fuel systems. After four years of service, he returned to Rochester to begin his career as a field engineer for IBM. Upon his retirement from IBM, he moved to Paris, Texas and became the owner of Professional Business Systems. It was after he returned to Rochester for his 50th high school class reunion, and seeing a veteran’s memorial there, that he was inspired to build a 
veteran’s memorial in Paris, Texas. Doug spoke with friends and leaders in the area, presented his vision for the memorial, and met with David Denney of Denney Architect, Inc., who helped make his dream come true, working side by side with the City of Paris 
which granted him a 99-year lease south of the Love Civic Center. In addition to the many hours donated by Denney Architect, Inc., the first cash donation was $10,000.00 from First Federal Community Bank. The bank’s president, Richard (Dick) Amis, encouraged others to likewise donate money.
Engraved in granite is this message:
“The Red River Valley Veterans Memorial is a place for reflection, remembrance and gratitude. It is our hope that this will also be a place to educate present and future generations of the sacrifice made by members of their own families and their community to secure the freedoms we all enjoy. May it be a reminder that ‘Freedom Is Not Free.”
The memorial’s centerpiece is the Ring of Honor, an elevated ring of granite walls containing the names of all men and women from the five county Red River Valley area who made the ultimate sacrifice in a combat zone while in service to our country. Surrounding the Ring of Honor are double-sided granite Conflict Walls etched with information and graphic depictions of each war or conflict beginning with the Texas Revolution, up to the present war with Global War on Terror, with room for depictions of future conflicts. Leading up to and surrounding the Ring of Honor are walkways with 1 x 2 ft. granite pavers engraved with the names of the men and women who served and were fortunate to return home, or those who are currently serving our country.
What first attracted me to the memorial was the U.S. Army Cobra helicopter on display. Refer to this website for additional information on the memorial https://www.rrvvm.org/.
If you are into Civil War history, the Lamar County Historical Society has preserved artifacts and historic sites within the county. Its museum exhibits uniforms used during the Civil War, replicas of pioneer homes, a blacksmith shop and shoes.
Another attraction is “The Trail de Paris” bike trail which runs for just over three miles from downtown Paris east into the countryside. The paved route follows a lovely corridor of shade trees and crossing bridges as it heads along a former railroad right-of-way. The trail includes benches, viewing platforms, mile markers, and interpretive signs. It offers access to a butterfly garden, junior college, neighborhoods, and parks. On its eastern end, it connects to the “Reno Rail-Trail,” which extends your ride another five miles. Both trails are part of the growing Northeast Texas Trail, which will stretch 132 miles across seven counties from New Boston to Farmersville. Other trails in the system include the Chaparral Rail Trail and DeKalb Trace.
After the wedding, we went down to Waco to see television home remodel personalities, Chip and Joanna “Jo” Gaines’ “Magnolia Manifesto” empire consisting of shops, restaurants and a hotel. Each one of their six shops has been curated by Jo with a specific style and theme in mind, ranging from bath + body, men’s provisions, bags + jewelry, Magnolia-branded goods, and books + paper. While the market will continue to host their more robust home decor and kitchen selection, the shops at the “Silos” offer a more intimate shopping experience and product selection.
A note from Jo: “When we first began the expansion plan at the Silos, my biggest hope was that we could create the feeling of something quaint and nostalgic. I wanted little shops that people could go in and out of as they strolled along tree-lined sidewalks at their leisure. For all the years that I’ve worked in retail, that’s the experience I’ve wanted to share with people. The seed of the idea was planted many years ago when I lived in New York City.
“Even though lots of time has passed, I still acutely remember the joy of passing in and out of my favorite shops there. In a season when I longed for familiarity and missed the comforts of home, the stories and curation of the products in those shops would speak to me. Perhaps it sounds odd, but they made me feel known and seen. I would leave with the renewed desire to create something beautiful myself – to risk and dream.”
Included in the Magnolia Manifesto is a baseball field. The Gaines wanted to share their belief that “it’s time for the pendulum of trend to swing back to the basics,” and they believe baseball is a reflection of just that. For so many of us, playing or going to a game is a nostalgic, community-led experience that fosters connection and, of course, a lot of fun. The rich history of this location (dating back to 1905) also inspired the Gaines to bring the idea of “home plate” back to this section of the Silos grounds. Not to mention, as a lifelong baseball fan, Chip was incredibly excited and involved in the planning of the field! Speaking of the history, the Gaines created a timeline to show the history of baseball at Katy Park and how it has evolved.
As a couple who also created a business from scratch, we understand the challenges, personal rewards and long hours required to make such a dream reality, and applaud the Gaines for what they have accomplished, both in the media, in building a major attraction in Waco, and in preserving history.
The Magnolia Manifesto and the Silos are located at 601 Webster Avenue, Waco, Texas. They are open Monday – Saturday, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, and closed on Sunday.
Waco is blessed with several general aviation airports. I urge you to go on Foreflight and explore and choose the one that best meets your travel needs!
