As a little girl, one of my favorite places to visit was Brackenridge Park in downtown San Antonio.
Full of attractions and an oasis of beauty in the bustling city, many of my public-school field trip picnics occurred here.
Whether we went to the zoo, Japanese Tea Garden, the Witte Museum, and/or the Butterkrust Bakery (down the road on Broadway which bordered the park), picnics were always at Brackenridge Park under the shady Live Oaks.
And that is exactly where I enjoyed my picnic lunch in this beautiful park with my kids after a morning at the Japanese Tea Garden and the zoo…all because of George Washington Brackenridge.
George Washington Brackenridge
San Antonio’s great philanthropist, George Washington Brackenridge, moved to the city after the Civil War.
Purchasing land surrounding the headwaters to the San Antonio River and beyond, Brackenridge built his mansion, Fernridge, near the headwaters. (at today’s Incarnate Word University)
From the headwaters flow the San Antonio River, through Brackenridge Park then into downtown San Antonio, before heading to the Gulf of Mexico.
Brackenridge Park
In 1899 Brackenridge donated 199 acres to the city for a park that would bear his name.
Designed as a rural retreat from the hustle and bustle of busy Broadway and downtown San Antonio, a drive through a forest of trees established serene oasis views.
Attractions Galore
Attractions galore added to the area beginning in 1915, include a Japanese Tea Garden next to a unique zoo.
Also added was the Witte Museum (which I’ll blog tomorrow).
Long lost attractions from the park include Kiddie Park (which was the world’s oldest amusement park in the country), horseback riding, and paddle boats on the San Antonio River.
Famous Golf Course
In 1915 a golf course was set to be built in the same location as the exotics.
Opening the next year, the golf course is Texas’ oldest 18-hole public golf course and was the first inductee into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame.
The Brackenridge Golf Course not only played first host for the Texas Open but also hosted the event for most of the years from 1922-1959.
Winding Roads and Low Water Crossings still Exist
Yet the winding road with low water crossings continued through the 1940, and today…which I’ve always loved splashing through.
Brackenridge Eagle Miniature Train
A huge favorite that still exists is the Brackenridge Eagle that was established in 1957 as Old 99.
At the time the railroad it traveled on was the longest for a miniature train in the world.
I grew up with the thrill of riding this charming train ride over the river, through the woods, into a tunnel, stopping at the Witte Museum then picking people up, and continuing around the park and through more woods, finally circling around hundreds of acres back to where we started.
I’m glad I got to take my kids on that excursion numerous times.
The Last Train Robbery in Texas History
On July 18, 1970 two robbers held up the miniature train, a stunt that many of the guests thought was part of the attraction.
The crooks got 10-20 years in prison.
Then there used to be reenactments…albeit forewarning the passengers first.
For more pictures of the Brackenridge Park area, click here to see my Flicker set.
