The first place you should stop in Sanderson and Terrell County is our Visitors Center.  There you can visit with our Center manager and arm yourself with brochures and books to make your stay informative and to help you understand our local history.  You won't be disappointed.

Come visit us at the Corner of Highway 90 and Third Street     ~     Call us at 432-345-2324

 

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Terrell County Visitors Center

     The Terrell County Visitors Center, located at the corner of 3rd and Oak, is housed in the historic Rancho Grande Bar building.   The Visitors Center was created by a joint effort of local citizens and the county, who procured the building and carried out renovations to make it  suitable for public use.  The interior was restored, and stepping inside is like taking a trip back in history to an original Terrell County saloon, complete with the wooden bar, brass rail and other paraphenalia. (Don’t step in the spittoon!)    

 

     Our center is well stocked with information about Big Bend National Park and other scenic attractions in this part of Texas. Terrell County merchandise, curios and informative books, including the Terrell County history book, are for sale.  The Center also stocks postcards of local scenes and historical views.  Brochures from the Sanderson Chamber of Commerce, including our walking tour of historical sites and informational brochures on the history of Terrell County are available.  Many hours of hard volunteer labor went into creating this setting and the citizens of Terrell County are proud of the results.

     Outside, the area to the east of the building has been cleared and landscaped with native plants representing the flora of Terrell County.  Terrell County is designated the Cactus Capital of Texas because of its unique location at the confluence of three ecological biomes, the Chihuahuan Desert, the Edwards Plateau and the southern reaches of the Great Plains.  Cacti found in these biomes are present locally, making  this a one-of-a-kind paradise for cactus aficianados.  As one wanders about the grounds, informative signage identifies the plants for those who are curious about desert ecology.

     Located among the plantings in the outdoor interpretive area are monoliths of native limestone which were erected by county crews to serve as backdrops for simulated petroglyphs explaining the history of Terrell County. 

     Local school students have given an enthusiastic reception to the historical depictions, which bring local lore and history alive for them.  We also entertain visitors from all over the world, who are attracted to this hands-on history lesson.

     Local artist Ayako Monier painstakingly  recreated symbols found in local caves and rock shelters, inscribed by the original prehistoric inhabitants of the area, and representing their history and influence.  In addition, she added more modern symbology to represent the march of time as the area entered the historic era. 

     Our current Visitors Center Director Carolyn Hutto can answer most questions about accommodations in Sanderson and Terrell County, as well as the Big Bend area.  She has a wealth of literature and maps which can fill in the blanks.  This is the lady to go to if you have a question about travel in Terrell County and the Big Bend.