I-35 Attractions and Distractions Part One

Pulling out of my Allen driveway several weeks ago I found myself dreading the 300 mile drive (race) to San Antonio along I-35.

It’s difficult to say how many trips I’ve taken down I-35 but each time I seem to notice something strange or different. On this particular trip I finally took time to jot down just a few of the I-35 sights that fellow road warriors have passed by for years. The list is referenced by the mile markers that count down the distance to the highway’s end in Laredo.

Once I see the Dallas Zoo’s giraffe sculpture I know that Dallas traffic is behind me and the long haul begins. The statue is the tallest in Texas at 67.6’ and was built in 1997. It is no coincidence that the giraffe is 5” taller than Sam Houston’s monument which opened three years earlier. (425)
If your house stayed cool this past month, you can thank the folks at Owens-Corning and the massive plant in Waxahachie that produces fiberglass insulation. The company best known for its Pink Panther mascot, was founded in 1938 when Corning Glass and Owens Illinois joined forces to create glass fiber. (403)

Approaching exit 387 travelers spot one of the weirdest sights along the trip – Bruco the 240’ giant caterpillar. Bruco (Italian for caterpillar) is the headquarters for the Monolithic Dome Institute. The Institute was created by David South in 1975 to study alternatives for building construction. His company builds 100 monolithic domes each year which have been used for gymnasiums, churches and private homes across the United States and 52 countries. The Institute’s property on I-35 also includes 25 smaller dome home rental units. (387)

The exit also features an abandoned restaurant shaped like the Starship Enterprise. The place was called the Starship Pegasus Restaurant and featured roadside food, entertainment and photo opportunities with aliens all under, what else, a monolithic dome. (387)

Just far enough from Allen for a stretch break is Carl’s Corner. Originally owned by Carl Cornelius, the “town” became a favorite stop for truckers in the late 1980’s. Carl and his friend Willie Nelson co-founded a bio-fuel business in 2004 and turned the Carl’s Corner Truck Stop into Willie’s Place. The truck stop operated as a Willie Nelson museum, saloon, theater and headquarters for BioWillie fuel. Apparently the enterprise never made a profit and Willie’s Place declared bankruptcy. Travel Centers of America bought it at auction and have converted it into a modern Petro Truck Stop. The museum and theater are gone but the classic Carl’s Corner sign still invites travelers to stop in. (374)

The best way to ruin lunch in Waco is to stop for gas in West; the “Kolache Capital of Texas.” The Little Czech Bakery at the Czech Stop cranks out 200-600 kolaches a day and moves a fair amount of peanut brittle as well for 24 hours a day. My favorite Czech Stop memory was standing in line outside in the late November cold with Allen Eagle and Plano East football fans. Both teams had won big football playoff games earlier in Waco and fans needed some comfort food for the ride home. (353)

With almost 200 miles to go and so many more distractions, we will need to stop for some kolaches and continue our tour along I-35 in next week’s column.