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Winkler County Historical Markers

Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Texas Brazos Trail Region

Map of Winkler County

Topics (click on a topic to jump to that section).
Blue Mountain | Sand Hills | Willow Springs | Wink | Winkler County | Winkler, Colonel C.M.
Blue Mountain

Marker Title: Blue Mountain
Address: SH 302, East of Kermit
City: Kermit
County: Winkler
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: From Kermit, take SH 302 East about 17 miles.
Marker Text: Winkler County's highest point (3500 Ft.), Blue Mountain has long served as a lookout and landmark on the west Texas plains. Here Indians found fuel, sheltering caves, and water. They left artifacts in the caves and pictographs on the cave walls that boasted their prowess as horse wranglers, hunters, and fishermen. A directional sign told of a water hole nine days by trail to the northeast. Pictographs also told the story of a fight between two lizards. The pass is called Avary Gap for John Avary, who first settled the area in 1880. (1964)

Sand Hills

Marker Title: Sand Hills
Address: SH 115 and 874, NE of Kermit
City: Kermit
County: Winkler
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: From Kermit, take SH 115 NE about 8 mile Junction N of FM 874.
Marker Text: Mapped by U.S. Government, 1849, for gold seekers and settlers. Known earlier to Indians and many Spanish explorers. A 100-mile belt of sand in Winkler and 4 other Texas counties and in New Mexico. Width varies from 3 to 20 miles; outer dunes are held by dwarf oaks. Water at 2' depth supports willows, cottonwoods, and a plum thicket. (The plums gave food to early settlers.) Many dunes more than 70' high. Heavy, shifting sands a natural barrier to travel. Campsite and game reservation for Indians. Now part of expansive cattle ranges and rich oil fields.

Willow Springs

Marker Title: Willow Springs
Address: SH 18, S of Kermit
City: Kermit
County: Winkler
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: From Kermit, take Hwy. 18 about 12 mile S.
Marker Text: 6.6 miles east in Sand Hills. Water hole vital to Comanche, explorer. "Judge" A. Hayes found charred remains of 40-wagon train massacre in 1901. Ox bows, human bones, flintlocks, other relics of the ill fated and unidentified group in Sul Ross State College Museum at Alpine. (1964)

Wink

Marker Title: Wink
Address: FM 115 and 3rd St.
City: Wink
County: Winkler
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: Jct. of N 3rd & FM 115, Wink
Marker Text: On land ruled up to 1874 by Comanche Indians, later part of famed "W" cattle ranch. Town "born" in 1926 when Roy Westbrook's Permian Basin oil discovery 1.5 miles to the north brought in 10,000 to 20,000 people, initiated area's conversion to industrialization. Named for Col. C. M. Winkler, famed Texas Confederate soldier. (1964)

Winkler County

Marker Title: Winkler County
Address: FM 115 and 874, W of Kermit
City: Kermit
County: Winkler
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: In Sand Hills Park on FM 874, Jct West of Hwy. 115, 8 miles North of Kermit.
Marker Text: Formed from Tom Green County; created February 26, 1887. Organized April 5, 1910. Named in honor of C. M. Winkler, 1821-1882. Statesman, soldier and jurist. Kermit, the county seat a petroleum producing and cattle raising area. (1936)

Colonel C.M. Winkler

Marker Title: Colonel C.M. Winkler
Address: Poplar and Winkler St.
City: Kermit
County: Winkler
Year Marker Erected: 1963
Marker Location: Courthouse Square, corner of Poplar & Winkler, Kermit.

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