Page 62 - Visit Fayette | 2017 - 2018 Visotors Guide

Take a Scenic Drive Through Southern Fayette County

See Ammannsville, Dubina, Praha, Freyburg

By ANDY BEHLEN find Sts. Cyril and Methodius
The Fayette County Record Catholic Church, one of the
Fall is the best time of the year area’s famous Painted Churches.
to take a drive through beauti- Dubina is one of Fayette
ful southern Fayette County. County’s first Czech settle-
For a few weeks in October and ments. The name Dubina in
November, the weather here is Czech means “oak grove.” As the
just perfect for cruising with the name implies, ancient live oak
windows rolled down. Here’s a trees cover the area. The shaded
37 mile trip through the coun- church grounds are a great place
tryside you might want to try. to have a roadside picnic, just
Schulenburg is a great place please pick up after yourself.
to start your drive. Stop at the From Dubina head north
Original Kountry Bakery (110 on FM 1383 toward Am-
Kessler Ave.) for authentic mannsville. Stop at Tofel’s
Czech kolaches and pigs-in- Place on your way into town.
the-blankets. Then head over This nondescript white build- Historic Freyburg Hall, just one of several scenic stops on this driving tour of
to the Hitching Post (14 N. ing sits on the north side of the southern Fayette County.
Kessler Ave.) for fuel. While highway on the eastern “outskirts”
you’re there you can pick up a of town. Inside you’ll find some
pair of boots and a cowboy hat. of the coldest drinks and greenest Dancehall. Both are great places the historic Catholic Church.
From there head north on walls in the county. If it’s cold out- to visit. You’ll see the church on Speeches by distinguished veterans
US 77 for about a mile and a side, proprietor George Tofel will FM 2238. If you want to see the and a flyover by the Com-
half and take a right on FM 615. usually fire up the wood stove. dancehall, you’ll have to turn onto memorative Air Force follow the
This backroad ends up in the Have a drink and play a game of Freyburg Dancehall Road. It’s less Mass. Attendees can also enjoy
town of Dubina after it turns dominos. And if you don’t know than a half-mile off the highway. a fried chicken meal prepared
into Piano Bridge Road. About how, George will show you. Once you hit Engle, by parishioners of St. Mary’s.
3.5 miles off 77, the road starts Head west into town on FM turn west on US High- From Praha, head back north
twisting along the East Navidad 1383 until you see St. John the way 90 toward Flatonia. on FM 1295 to Highway 90
River bottom. Here you will Baptist Catholic Church, a short Those traveling through the and turn west toward Flatonia,
cross the historic Piano Bridge. distance off the highway to the area around Nov. 11, especially a great place to end your drive.
Fayette County partnered left. St. John is also on the Painted veterans, might consider attend- The town’s railroad tracks shaped
with Texas Department of Churches circuit. Get back on ing the Veterans Day Service Flatonia’s history. Explore that
Transportation in 2012 to restore FM 1383 and head east again. at Praha. This unique Veterans city’s history at the Central
the bridge, which was built The road makes two big Day observance takes place on Texas Rail History Museum
1885. A wide shoulder on the curves before you get to US 77. the Sunday nearest Veterans (104 South Main St.) and the
west side of the bridge provides Turn south on 77 and drive two Day (this year on Nov. 12), at E.A. Arnim Archives and Mu-
a nice parking spot. Get out and miles until you get to FM 956. Church of the Assumption of seum (101 E. North Main).
walk across, look at the river Take a right and drive about St. Mary in Praha, a tiny village Also check out Flatonia
below, and take a few pictures. 3.5 miles until the road T’s into in southern Fayette County. Rail Park in downtown. The
The bridge got its name from FM 2238. Turn south and drive The town is located between park includes a preserved
the loose wooden planks that about seven miles to the town Engle and Flatonia on FM 1295. railroad tower and Southern
used to bounce up and down like of Engle on US Highway 90. This picturesque hamlet, Pacific Caboose. The park is a
piano keys when cars crossed. The drive from Ammansville with a population fewer than great place to relax and watch
That was before the 2012 restora- to Engle may be one of the most 100, lost nine sons in the fi- trains pass through town.
tion. Today the bridge is sturdy scenic in the county. Farm- nal months of World War II. Flatonia offers several great
enough to support a school bus. houses and barns dot the rolling Since then, the community has places to eat and spend the night.
Continue west on Piano countryside. You’ll pass through gathered every Veterans Day to Visit Flatonia Chamber of Com-
Bridge Road until you run the town of Freyburg, home of honor them and all other ser- merce (208 E North Main St.) to
into Dubina, less than a mile the historic Freyburg Method- vice members killed in war. find out more. Find them online
from the bridge. There you will ist Church and the Freyburg The service always begins at http://www.flatoniachamber.com.
with a Mass for veterans in

62 Visit Fayette | Fall/Winter 2017