Name this Contest!
(115) Lou Hudson
We’re starting off today’s Texas Weird with a photograph. Your challenge is to identify what’s going on.
The photograph is from the Big Bend Chamber of Commerce via Facebook. It was taken in Terlingua, and represents an annual event.
It takes place during the annual Texas Independence Day celebration and parade (March 2).
“This contest promises to bring together the community in a fun and unusual way, showcasing the quirky charm of Terlingua,” says the Big Bend Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Bend.
”The entire planet is eligible to enter,” said theterlinguamoon.blogspot.com. “Don’t let the tourists beat you.” Be proud of your entry, it said.
By the way, there’s an entire category on Etsy.com with the same name as this contest.
Meanwhile, here are a few facts about what’s probably the second most famous Texas ghost town, Terlingua, ranked only slightly less famous than Luckenbach: And technically, it’s not really a ghost town, although there is a section that’s labeled a ghost town:
Jerry Jeff Walker’s 1973 live album, Viva Terlingua introduced Texas anthems like Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother and London Homesick Blues and including the line about going “home with the armadillos.”
That was one thing that kept Terlingua in the public eye. A probably more famous one is the annual Terlingua International Championship Chili Cook-off in November (fourth through the seventh this year). It began in 1967 thanks to the creative juices of former newspaper columnist and chili king Wick Fowler and Dallas News columnist Frank X. Tolbert.
Terlingua, although officially a ghost town, does have a population of around 150. That’s unlike Luckenbach, official population 3, although nobody actually lives there. And it’s usually crowded. But there’s actually a section of the Terlingua area that is a ghost town.
“In the mid-1880s, the discovery of cinnabar used to make mercury or quicksilver, brought miners to the area, and created a city of 2,000 people,” funkytexastraveler.com says. “The scarred and gutted landscape is part of the remains of Howard Perry’s Chisos Mining Company and several nearby capped and abandoned mines.”
Ghosttowntexas.com says, “Today you’ll find a ghost town made up of decaying buildings, mine shafts, tall tales, ruins, crotchety old-timers, a three-legged dog, too much cactus, and semi-friendly rattlesnakes.” Not sure how to determine if a rattler is friendly or even semi, but I’ll leave that determination to others. Rapidly.
Texas Weird Facts of the Day:
As it happens, Walker recorded Viva Terlingua in that more famous ghost town, in 1973. It all led to the birth of Willie and Waylon and the Boys.
The chili cookoff isn’t all fun and games. It raises lots of money for good causes. Last year’s take: $114,000 to ALS causes; $14,000 to Terlingua School, and $6,000 to the Terlingua Fire Department/EMS. Chili cookoff founder Wick Fowler died from ALS in 1972. Tolbert died of heart failure in 1982.
There is a partially buried submarine conning tower, ID 593, and a partially buried pirate ship called Passing Winds (repeat after me: I am not making this up) on Texas 170 not far from the Ghost Town section.
Population density of the Big Bend region is about 1 person per square mile, says the funkytexastraveler.com.
Tolbert’s daughter, Kathleen Tolbert Ryan, re-opened a Tolbert’s Restaurant in May 2006 on Main Street in Grapevine. Tolbert’s Restaurant serves Frank X. Tolbert’s famous chili recipe and has been named one of the “52 things Every Dallasite Must Do” by D Magazine as well as one of the best chili spots in America by Bon Appétit magazine. (Wikipedia). Wick Fowler’s most famous brand is Wick Fowler’s 2-Alarm Chili Kit, on sale at most grocers.
Smart-Alec Question of the Day:
OK, OK, what’s the name of the contest I’ve been talking about? Answer, finally, below (no fair peeking at the names of the following websites):
Notes:
https://theterlinguamoon.blogspot.com/2024/02/moon-7-november-vol.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/695427291063940/posts/1907748543165136
https://funkytexastraveler.com/terlingua-big-bend-area-ghost-town-wont-die/
https://www.etsy.com/market/ugly_feet
https://tolbertsrestaurant.com/
And the Answer!
It’s the annual Terlingua Ugly Feet Contest. I’m not … etc ... . Allison.tx on Instagram reported participating in the contest. “They told me they needed some decent feet for comparison but my score screams otherwise!” Etsy’s Ugly Feet category brings up almost 1,000 entries, most of them not. Finally, the search term “Terlingua ugly feet contest” on Google only brings up two pages. Only time I’ve ever had fewer than a bunch of pages on a search.
Random Quote:
“No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.” Queen Elizabeth II. Allegedly.
Next: I Saw the Light!
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