PULP & ROBERT E. HOWARD PANELS DEEMED A SUCCESS BY FANS WHO ATTENDED THE
FIRST ALL-CON!
Dallas, TX - The first All-Con in Dallas, TX made for an exciting weekend.
Although not as many guests attended as was hoped for (due in part to
weather and the Super Bowl), fans had a great opportunity to meet and talk
with comic book artist Adam Hughes; former game designer and author of many
“Star Wars” books, Troy Denning, Star Wars actors Gerald Home & Christine
Hewett; Bill Johnson, who played Leatherface in “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.”
Local comic artists/creators included James Disco & Myk Friedman for “Echoes
With The Lost Boys Of Sudan,” Tom Martin & Chris Peel for “Some Big
Lumberjack” and Kit Lively who writes and draws for “Cracked” and “Hustler.”
Fans of pulp magazines, as well as fans of Robert E. Howard were treated to
a series of small panels. Once again, there weren’t many attendees at the
event, but those who came to the pulp panel, presented by P.E.O.N. TX (Pulp
Enthusiasts Of North Texas) had a chance to discuss pulps, authors and
artists with LIVE’N’LOUD’s Ethan Nahté and guest speakers Paul Herman and
Bill Linblad. They also got to view many old pulps from the various
speakers’ collections, some dating back to 1921 and quite a few from the
late 1920s and from the 1930s. It seemed odd, yet appropriate that some of
the attendees at the panel discussing early Sci-Fi & Fantasy were wearing
Storm Trooper gear.
On the second and third days of All-Con, Mr. Nahté presented, along with
Paul Herman & Barbara Baum, a panel on Robert E. Howard. A last minute
addition was the attendance of Jack Baum, who also answered some questions
from the audience. The audience was treated to a showing of the rough demo
of the 2-part documentary on REH, a Power Point presentation discussing some
of Howard’s life and his work and a great update about what is currently in
the works with various books and film projects due out. Many who attended
the panels complimented the panelists on how informative the panels were and
how nice of a job they thought the panelists did in presenting the
information. The REH panel was one of the only multi-media presentations at
the event and the only panel that was 2 hours in length. Anyone who had
questions afterwards were welcomed to stop by the LIVE’N’LOUD booth.
The booth itself did well, considering the attendance. There were a lot of
compliments and many questions and answers provided by Mr. Nahté and his
assistant, Rebecca Fetch. Many people signed up to be added to a list that
will be forwarded to Project Pride to receive information about this year’s
Robert E. Howard Days, which will feature Wandering Star’s Marcelo Anciano,
according to Mrs. Baum who confirmed the information with REHupa’s Leo Grin
and made the announcement during the panels.
LIVE’N’LOUD also held a drawing for a set of Trading Cards featuring art by
Mike Hoffman and a softcover version of “The Coming Of Conan The Cimmerian,”
autographed by illustrator Mark Schultz. The cards were won by Tim Morgan of
Flower Mound, Texas. The book was won by Don Mangus of Dallas, Texas. The
drawing helped raise over $100 which will go towards the production and
post-production costs to finalize the documentary.
More information can be obtained about the documentary by calling (972)
447-7599 or visiting
http://www.livenloud.net. If you are in the Dallas area, please feel
free to visit Ethan at Titan Comics (http://www.titancomics.com).
Anyone interested in picking up a registration form for REH Days will be
able to find copies of the form at Titan Comics probably by the beginning to
middle of March.
More information about REH Days and some of the upcoming book and film
productions that Barbara Baum mentioned at the panels is available, or
should soon be available at
http://www.rehupa.com.
Anyone interested in possibly finding some rare or cool Sci-Fi/Fantasy
books, and maybe some pulps, can find Bill Linblad at ConDFW the last
weekend in February in Richardson, Texas.
Project Pride, the
organization in Cross Plains that runs the Howard Days
Festival, has released the official schedule for Howard Days 2005. Here is that
schedule, along with some additional information added by myself.
The annual Robert E. Howard Days will be held this year on
Friday and Saturday, June 10th and 11th, 2005. As vacations
go it is quite cheap, and every year the attendees have an absolute blast.
If you have never made the trek, you are missing out on a lot of fun, as
well as a lot of interesting Howard events. Many Howard
luminaries will be there, many Howard books will be premiering for the
first time, and there will be a plethora of new Howard panels and tours.
It's an incredible weekend, one no Howard fan should miss. This year there is much more to do than ever before, so read
all of the accompanying information carefully when planning your trip.
Pre-registration is necessary for
the Friday Dinner Banquet, so mail in your registration by
May 31st.
2005 GUEST OF HONOR - Marcelo Anciano
Project Pride in
Cross Plains
is proud to
announce that the Guest of Honor for the 2005 Robert E. Howard Days is none
other than Wandering Star publisher Marcelo Anciano. Marcelo has had a storied
career in entertainment: promoter for rock group Duran Duran, music video and
feature film director, producer, and for the last eight or so years, publisher
of the Robert E. Howard Library of Classics.
While
in Cross Plains Marcelo will be giving the keynote address at the annual Howard
Days Banquet, a twenty-minute speech entitled "'Let His Name Not Fade...':
Interpreting Robert E. Howard in Books, Films and other Media." He’ll also be sitting on several panels expounding on all things
Howard, and along with many other authors will be signing Wandering Star books
for fans. Marcelo
is a fountain of knowledge on the state of various Robert E. Howard projects in
Hollywood and elsewhere, and as he is coming all the way from England just to
visit with Howard fans, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pick his
brain about whether a Solomon Kane movie is going to be made, what the story
might entail, what the long-term plans are for the Library of Classics, etc. So
don't miss out, come on down.
SILENT AUCTION
Last year's Silent Auction was the best one yet, raising
thousands of dollars that were used to conduct much-needed repair work on
the foundation of the Howard House, along with paying for the paving of part
of the lot for parking. This
year Project Pride is hosting the silent auction again, so please donate
whatever you can in the way of Howard books and memorabilia. Any old
paperbacks you may have, any artwork or comic books or movie scripts or
anything else Conan or Howard that you wouldn't mind parting with...every
little bit helps. Let's make this year even
better, and do our part to help Howard's legacy stay alive in his hometown.
Cross Plains is one of the smallest towns in all of Texas that
has managed to build a library, as well as one of the smallest that has
created a historical museum. Neither of these things magically popped
into existence: both took years of hard work and sacrifice before they
became a reality. People who don't live in very small towns seldom realize
what an achievement this is. It is a constant struggle for the people of Cross
Plains to raise enough money each year to keep these two bastions of Howard
history alive.
This is a chance to help along Howard's legacy in a tangible
way, and as an added bonus all donors will get their name in lights by being
officially noted at the Howard Days banquet. The silent auction will also
be a great way for Howard Days attendees to find some interesting new items to
read. So don't delay, send Project Pride some Howard stuff to auction today!
The address is:
Project Pride
P.O. Box 534
Cross Plains, TX 76443
ATTN: REH Days Silent Auction
BARBARIAN FESTIVAL
The "Barbarian Festival" is an annual one-day fair/hunting
festival which Cross Plains hosts on the same weekend as Howard Days. It is
like a huge sidewalk sale/BBQ/county fair, with dozens of booths selling all
kinds of neat stuff, lots of food, singing and dancing, games for kids, and much more. Howard Days attendees (especially non-Howard fans like spouses and kids) will
be able to spend time at the festival and have a lot of fun things to do.
The festival will run from 10am-4pm on Saturday. There
will be food and craft booths, an old-time car/tractor/motorcycle show, a
hoola-hoop contest, a petting zoo, and various other entertainments. The
festival was a big hit last year with Howard fans, so come on down and join
in the fun.
HOWARD PANELS
This year there are seven Howard Panels being held during
Howard Days, covering a wide range of subjects. In each of these panels, attendees
get to listen to Howard experts pontificate on a
variety of subjects. Attending these panels is one of
the joys of Howard Days, because it is a rare occurrence to have so many
Howard experts gathered together in one place to share their knowledge with an
audience. See the schedule for detailed breakdowns of all the panels,
and plan on attending the ones which interest you.
GREENLEAF CEMETERY
One of the highlights of Howard Days is to be able to visit
Howard's gravesite and pay your respects. Howard's final resting place is in
one of the more idyllic and peaceful cemeteries you are ever likely to
visit, and I highly recommend you schedule the time to go while you are down
there.
Howard is buried in Greenleaf Cemetery
(located on Brady Highway, right off Highway 377 in Brownwood TX, 76801).
This is about a 1/2hr drive south of Cross Plains, so many people go to
Brownwood, eat lunch or dinner there, then visit the grave in the same trip. Some people take the Cross Plains Walking Tour on one afternoon, then visit the grave
on the other afternoon. Other people use Thursday afternoon or Sunday
morning to do this. The cemetery is right off Highway 377, it is hard to miss. There is a
historical marker by the grave. If you are worried about getting lost, ask around
for someone who's been there before to go with you. There is a website on the
Internet called FIND-A-GRAVE which has information and directions to Howard's gravesite.
Last year, REHupan Rusty Burke found yet another gravesite
worth visiting, that of Novalyne Price Ellis, the author of One Who
Walked Alone, and the protagonist of the movie The Whole Wide World.
Novalyne is buried in Clear Creek Cemetery, near Bangs, Texas (a few miles
directly west of Brownwood). For directions on getting there, go
here.
Directions to Clear Creek Cemetery from Brownwood: Clear
Creek Cemetery is located 7 miles west from Brownwood on Highway 67. Make a
left turn on County Road 153 South, which is about 1 1/2 miles. Turn
right on County Road 180 West, approximately 2 miles. The Cemetery is
on the left side of the road. Map Coordinates are Latitude 314211NM
Longitude 0990507 East. S to County Road 180 west. Go approximately 2
miles, the Cemetery is on the left side of the road. Latitude 314211N,
Longitude 0990527W. Bangs East.
2005 HOWARD DAYS SCHEDULE
The
Howard House is located at 625 W. 4th Street (aka Highway 36 where it
meets Mesquite street, just a half mile west of Main Street, which is the big
north-south street in Cross Plains). It is now a museum and official
historical landmark. It will be open Friday from 9am-4pm, and on Saturday from 9-11:30am
and again from 2-4pm (note, that means it is opening one hour
earlier than last year). There will be frequent tours of the Howard
House conducted by Project Pride, various souvenirs and mementos will be available to purchase, and a
nice pavilion sits next door where you can talk, eat lunch, and
mingle with other guests and with Cross Plains residents.
When you first arrive on Friday morning it is recommended that you register at
the front porch, where you will receive a nametag and other useful materials. There will also be a guestbook for you to sign your name and city of origin
in, and they will use this information to introduce you at the banquet on
Friday night. There are bathrooms and a full kitchen in the Pavilion for
those who need them.
Several restaurants are located close by:
Jean's Feed Barn: (349 West Highway 36) Most people
come here for breakfast each morning, usually around 8-9am.
Jack's Place: HAS CLOSED AS
OF 2005
Dairy Queen: (Highway 279 & 36) Great place to stop
for lunch or a cold drink after the walking tour.
Subway Sandwiches: (416 South Main Street - aka
Highway 279 - Cross
Plains TX 76443)
Mexico City Cafe: NEW 2005
RESTAURANT. Has opened near Subway.
And in Cisco:
Linda's Corner Cafe: (116 E 6th St, Cisco, TX 76437).
Very similar to Jean's Feed Barn, this is THE PLACE to eat a great breakfast
in Cisco.
Many Howard fans can be found eating breakfast at Jean's Feed
Barn between 8am-9am on Friday and Saturday morning, so if this is your first
Howard Days, feel free to come over, introduce yourself, and join one of the
tables full of Howard fans.
Friday Schedule:
9 AM - 4:00 PM: Howard House open for tours, starting at the
front door. There are also many interesting souvenirs being sold in the back
room, including a wide variety of posters, books, t-shirts, hats, etc.
10 AM - 11AM: A Walking Tour of the Cross Plains
Cemetery. Join Rusty Burke on a walk through part of the town and to the
cemetery, where you will learn about all of the Howard luminaries buried
there. Many REH fans personally knew several of the cemetery's more-recent
residents, so this is also a fine time to pay your respects to those friends
now gone.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: "Lunch in the Howard Pavilion."
Project
Pride always prepares a nice lunchtime spread for all attendees. The
lunch will be free, but donations are encouraged and gladly accepted.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: "Bus Tour of Howard's Cross Plains
and Environs, led
by longtime Cross Plains resident and historian Alton McCowen." Alton McCowen is a longtime resident who
has forgotten more about Cross Plains than most of us will ever know. This
tour will take you on a leisurely ride through the town and backwoods of
Howard's Cross Plains, showing attendees the place
where the old town was, where Howard's school used to stand, and more. There will even be an interesting geographical lesson where attendees will
learn the difference between mesquite trees, post oaks, live oaks, and sand
roughs. All of this is of deep interest to Howard fans, as Howard often
mentioned such aspects of the Texas landscape in his writing.
You do NOT need a reservation to take this tour, just
meet Alton in the Pavilion outside the Howard House at 12:30 PM..
Note that this same tour is offered on Saturday afternoon as well, so you can
decide on which day you want to go.
1 PM - 5 PM: "Viewing the Howard Holdings of the Cross Plains Public Library"
(149 N. Main
Street, Cross Plains TX 76443) The Cross Plains Public Library will be open for the purpose of viewing their
Howard collection. The Library has an extensive collection of original Howard
typescripts, rare Howard books, and old Weird Tales magazines. There will also be Howard books for sale here,
including the excellent memoir by Novalyne Price Ellis, One Who Walked
Alone. You are unlikely to ever see so many interesting and rare Howard
items in a single place, so don't miss your chance to visit the library at
some time during the festivities.
2:30 PM - 3PM: Pavilion Panel #1: "Caring for a Howard
Collection" Hosted by Paul Herman. Learn from one of Howardia's most
knowledgeable collectors everything you need to know about preserving those
old pulps, deluxe Wandering Star Books, and everything in between.
panelists: PAUL HERMAN (prolific Howard
editor for Wildside Press, and creator of the Howard Works website, the most
comprehensive database of Howard collecting information).
3:00 PM - 4PM: Pavilion Panel #2: "Official
Book-signing Event". Hosted by Bill "Indy" Cavalier. Many
brand new Howard publications will be making their exclusive debut in Cross
Plains this year. Here is your chance to get them signed and dated while
everyone is in one place, while listening to Bill Cavalier interview various
publishers and get the lowdown on what fans can expect over the next year.
panelists: BILL "Indy" CAVALIER (longtime
official editor of REHupa, the Robert E. Howard United Press Association).
4:00 PM - 5PM: Pavilion Panel #3: "Writing a Howard
Biography". Hosted by Rusty Burke and Mark Finn. Both of these
panelists are working on biographical Howard projects. Learn all about the
fascinating problems such projects face, and how the biographers have gone
about solving them. Attendees will be sure to get some never-before-heard
insights about Howard during this conversation.
panelists: RUSTY BURKE (series editor of the
Wandering Star Library of Classics, along with many other Howard projects,
most recently two of the Bison Books from the University of Nebraska Press).
MARK FINN (prolific Howard essayist and author of a forthcoming biography of
Howard).
7PM: "Friday Night Banquet." The yearly Friday Night Banquet
is an event you don't want to miss. It is held at the
Cross Plains Community Center (located at 701 E. 8th street, a couple blocks
east of Main St.). The food is always great (with luck, it will be
chicken fried steak with all the trimmings like last year). After dinner, Howard Days Guest of Honor
Marcelo Anciano is going to
delight attendees with an informative speech on the many ways in which Howard
has been portrayed and publicized in books, film, and other venues. The speech is titled
"'Let His Name Not Fade...': Interpreting Robert E. Howard in Books, Films
and other Media." Don't miss the banquet, it should be one of the
highlights of the weekend.
To attend this event you must have pre-registered through the
mail (see
below for information on pre-registering). NO
TICKETS will be sold at the door, so don't procrastinate, pre-register ASAP.
After-banquet festivities: After the banquet, the night is far from over. One of the best parts about Howard Days is going back to the Howard House
after the banquet to sit with other Howard fans and talk
into the wee hours of the morning. Generally we meet in the Howard
pavilion or in front of the 36
West Motel (501 West 4th Street aka West Highway 36)
which is right down the street from the Howard House. It has a nice garden
area out front with numerous park benches to sit and talk, and many people
bring soda or snacks to share. Numerous Howard fans stay at the Motel, which
means restrooms are generally available to all for as long as everyone is out
there talking. All Howard fans are encouraged to show up, make new
friends, and have some interesting Howard discussions.
Something to remember: beverage-wise, Cross Plains is still as "dry"
as it was in Howard's time, if you get my drift (or draft, so to
speak). Anyone who has an idea to bring little fiesta-beverages to the
late-night discussions would be wise to keep that fact discreet while amongst
the Cross Plains locals (and they would be wise to do their shopping long
before they enter Callahan County...the closest package store is off of
Highway 279, about halfway between Cross Plains and Brownwood).
Saturday Schedule:
8 AM - 10AM: "Postal cancellation at the Post
Office."
Bring postcards or mail to the post office, where upon request it will be
stamped with an official Robert E. Howard design and artwork before being
mailed. You can buy postcards at the Howard House, address it to one of
your Howard friends who couldn't attend, get it stamped with the official
Howard Days logo, and mail it to them as a souvenir. Or have Howard
Days attendees autograph a postcard and then mail it to yourself as a memento.
9 AM - 11:30 PM and 2PM -4 PM: Howard House open for tours, starting at the
front door. There are also many interesting souvenirs being sold in the back
room, including a wide variety of posters, books, t-shirts, hats, etc. Note
that the House will be closed for a bit around lunchtime, but will re-open
at 2 PM.
9 AM - 5 PM: "The Annual Barbarian Festival." As noted
earlier, Cross Plains will be holding their annual "Barbarian Festival" on
Saturday. This isn't a festival dedicated to Howard, it is more of a
country fair-type event. There will be food and craft booths, an old-time
car/tractor/motorcycle show, a hoola-hoop contest, a petting zoo, and various
other entertainments. The festival is a great place to go and have lunch
on Saturday afternoon.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: School Panel: "Pigeons
from Hell screening." Hosted by Rusty Burke, Marcelo Anciano,
and Michael Scott Myers. In the early 1960s, Boris Karloff's horror series
Thriller aired an episode based off of Robert E. Howard's famous
story "Pigeons from Hell." Watch the movie with the panelists as they give
commentary on elements of the film, how it compares to the original Howard
story, etc. If you haven't seen it, this is your chance.
This panel will convene at the Cross Plains High School (1464
N. Main Street, aka Highway 279, at the north end of town).
panelists: RUSTY BURKE (series editor for the
Wandering Star Robert E. Howard Library of Classics), MARCELO ANCIANO
(publisher of the Wandering Star Robert E. Howard Library of Classics),
MICHAEL SCOTT MYERS (screenwriter of the Howard film The Whole Wide World).
LUNCH: attendees can have lunch at the Barbarian
Festival on Saturday, or at the various restaurants in town.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: "Bus Tour of Howard's Cross Plains
and Environs, led
by longtime Cross Plains resident and historian Alton McCowen." Alton McCowen is a longtime resident who
has forgotten more about Cross Plains than most of us will ever know. This
tour will take you on a leisurely ride through the town and backwoods of
Howard's Cross Plains, showing attendees the place
where the old town was, where Howard's school used to stand, and more. There will even be an interesting geographical lesson where attendees will
learn the difference between mesquite trees, post oaks, live oaks, and sand
roughs. All of this is of deep interest to Howard fans, as Howard often
mentioned such aspects of the Texas landscape in his writing.
You do NOT need a reservation to take this tour, just
meet Alton in the Pavilion outside the Howard House at 12:30 PM.. Note that this same tour is offered on Friday afternoon as well, so you can
decide on which day you want to go.
1 PM - 3 PM: "Viewing the Howard Holdings of the Cross Plains Public Library"
(149 N. Main
Street, Cross Plains TX 76443) The Cross Plains Public Library will be open for the purpose of viewing their
Howard collection. The Library has an extensive collection of original Howard
typescripts, rare Howard books, and old Weird Tales magazines. There will also be Howard books for sale here,
including the excellent memoir by Novalyne Price Ellis, One Who Walked
Alone. You are unlikely to ever see so many interesting and rare Howard
items in a single place, so don't miss your chance to visit the library at
some time during the festivities.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Pavilion Panel #4: "What Would
REH Have Written Had He Lived" Hosted by Bill "Indy" Cavalier, Rusty
Burke, and James Reasoner. Learn about all the interesting theories of what
direction Howard's career may have veered in had he lived. Hollywood,
writing noir stories with the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Leigh
Brackett? Personal screenwriter for John Ford and John Wayne? Conan
migrating from Weird Tales to Argosy, with a whole new canon
of adventures greater than any which had come before?
This panel will be held outside of the Howard House in the
Pavilion.
3 PM - 4:30 PM: Pavilion Panel #5: "The Wandering Star
Way." Hosted by Marcelo Anciano, Rusty Burke, and Jim Keegan. Get
the inside story on what it takes to make the deluxe Wandering Star books,
along with information on the future of the series. Learn about the texts,
art, design, marketing, and plan for getting Howard into ever-wider
publication in a variety of formats.
This panel will be held outside of the Howard House in the
Pavilion.
panelists: panelists: RUSTY BURKE (series
editor for the Wandering Star Robert E. Howard Library of Classics), MARCELO
ANCIANO (publisher of the Wandering Star Robert E. Howard Library of
Classics), JIM KEEGAN (designer for Wandering Star on a number of
projects, including The Illustrated World of REH and the forthcoming
Complete Poetry of REH).
5 PM: "Sunset BBQ on Caddo Peak."
Once again we will be able to
partake in the wonderful Howard Days tradition on Saturday night of heading
over to West Caddo Peak in a caravan, eating a great BBQ dinner, and watching
the sun set from an excellent vantage point in the hills.
West and East
Caddo peaks are popular landmarks in Cross Plains, being the two highest
points for miles around, and Howard mentioned them
in his letters fondly. It's very beautiful and serene, and Howard likely
watched the sun set on occasion there himself. People planning on going to
the peak generally meet outside the Howard House between 4:30pm-5pm, and then
at 5pm everyone carpools together from there. This event is hosted by the
Middleton family from Abilene, who own the ranch and surrounding property and
are always gracious enough to let all of us Howard fans onto the peak.
When everyone arrives at the Peak, one finds a vista of lush
rolling foothills, among which are setup tables and chairs for the BBQ. While
dinner is being prepared, those who are up to the challenge can make the hike
up West Caddo Peak. Those that do will find a beautiful place with
stunning views of the surrounding countryside in all directions. If you
climb the peak, bring your camera.
After everyone is settled, a full BBQ dinner will be served,
and you get to sit and eat in a pristine and idyllic wilderness. After dinner, attendees will get to
listen to some Howard readings, stand on the
foothills, watch the glorious Caddo Peak sunset, and say goodbye to their
local friends. This is always a fitting conclusion to a memorable
weekend.
Soon after sunset people head back to Cross Plains. Technically this is the official end of
Howard Days, but again,
many people stay out in front of the Howard House or the West 36 Motel on Saturday night and talk
into the wee hours of the morning. Far too many attendees always miss
these great Saturday evening discussions. Frequently it's one of the best
things about Howard Days, a time when new friendships are solidified and much
interesting Howard conversation is heard. Don't miss it.
As stated above, you need to mail in a reservation (preferably by MAY 31)
for the Friday Banquet ($10 per person). Project Pride would also
appreciate a head count for how many people are going to Caddo Peak for the
BBQ on Saturday, so include that information as well.
To register, simply send Project Pride a letter telling them
how many people are coming to the Banquet and Caddo Peak, and enclose a check
or money order for the appropriate amount made out to PROJECT PRIDE. It is
helpful to include the names of the people in your party and the city you are
from, so they can properly introduce you at the banquet (they introduce all of
the out-of-towners). Mail your registration information and check to:
Project Pride
PO Box 534
Cross Plains, TX, 76443
ATTN: REH-Days Registration
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Some further helpful tidbits....
FLYING IN: Most people fly in to either Dallas or Austin,
rent a car, and drive to Cross Plains from there. Dallas is slightly closer
(about a two-hour drive), but the Austin drive is more scenic and pleasant.
DRIVING TIP: When driving in Texas and not being sure where
to go, you may be tempted to head down one of the many side streets that
branch off the highways, streets that are usually just labeled by a number. This is a bad idea, as these are generally ranch roads that lead out aimlessly
into the middle of nowhere. Nothing Howard-related (Howard House,
Greenleaf Cemetery, Lakeview
Inn and other hotels, etc.) are hidden on side-streets. Everything is located on main highways
and roads, so stick to them. This advice goes especially for the Lakeview
Inn. When driving towards the Inn from Brownwood, you will see several roads
with "Resort" or "Lake Brownwood" signs branching off from the main highway. Do NOT take these. The Lakeview Inn is all by itself right on the highway,
so just keep driving north on the main highway and don't give up and turn
around, you'll see it.
LODGING: The two most popular places to stay are the 36 West
Motel in Cross Plains and the Oak Motel in Cisco (which is on the frontage
road right off the 20 highway coming from Dallas). As of April both these
venues are fully booked. Many Howard fans have taken the fallback position
of lodging in Brownwood this year, so check on the e-mail lists, find out
where people are staying, and plan on staying where you can talk to fans and
perhaps carpool to and from Cross Plains.
The other popular places Howard fans stay are the
Best Western hotel in Cisco, and The Lakeview Inn, which is halfway between
Cross Plains and Brownwood.
Below is lodging information recycled from last year for your
convenience. Some prices might have changed a bit:
| MOTEL |
TOWN |
RATES and INFORMATION |
|
36 West Motel
(254)725-4550 |
Cross Plains
Highway 36 |
$43.85/night
for a single, plus $5.50 extra per extra person (usually books up early,
but cancellations are always possible).
Located a short walk from the Howard House and Museum.
RUMORED TO BE FULL |
|
The Oak Motel
(254)442-2100 |
Cisco
300 East
Interstate 20 |
@ 35.00/night. Where a lot of REHupans
are staying. They have a very nice motel with a huge courtyard where
Howard fans can be found talking late into the night. Only a quick 20
minute (21 mile) drive away from Cross Plains.
RUMORED TO BE FULL |
|
Lakeview Inn
(formerly the Flagship Resort)
(915)784-5432 |
Lake Brownwood
Highway 279 |
$80.00/night.
Located on 279 halfway between Cross Plains and Brownwood. About 20
minutes from Cross Plains. |
|
Best Western
(254)442-3735 |
Cisco
1898 Highway 206
West |
$54.00/night
plus tax. 21 miles (about 20 minutes) from Cross Plains.
RUMORED TO BE FULL |
|
NEW THIS YEAR
Holiday
Inn Express
(325)641-8085 |
Brownwood
W.
Commerce
504 West
Commerce Street, Brownwood, TX 76801 |
$85.00 per
night and up. |
|
Best Western
(915)625-4176 |
Coleman
1401 Highway 84
Bypass |
$58.00/night
for King Size, $65 for two Queen-sized. |
|
Best Western
(915)646-3511 |
Brownwood
410 East
Commerce |
$70.00/night
for Single, $80 for Double.32 miles (about a half hour) from Cross
Plains. |
|
Post Oak Inn
(915)643-5621 |
Brownwood
606 Early
Boulevard |
$48.00 32
miles (about a half hour) from Cross Plains. |
|
Gate 1 Inn
(915)643-5463 |
Brownwood
4410 Highway 377
South |
$45.00 32
miles (about a half hour) from Cross Plains. |
|
Days Inn
(915)646-2551 |
Brownwood
515 East
Commerce |
$59.00 for
Single, $64.00 for Double. 32 miles (about a half hour) from Cross
Plains. |
|
Lake Brownwood
State Park
(512)389-8900 |
Campsites
Available (must make reservations by phone) |
$12.00 per night
+ $2.00 entrance fee per person per night. |
RESTAURANTS: In addition to the four previously-mentioned
restaurants in Cross Plains, there are many more restaurants in Brownwood,
about a half an hour south of Cross Plains, and many people go there to eat. In addition to the normal array of fast-food joints, there are several
restaurants in Brownwood that are noteworthy.
HUMPHREY PETE'S is a good steakhouse. PULIDO'S is a good Mexican restaurant. There are many other restaurants
throughout
Brownwood.
If you have any further questions about REH-Days, including
where to stay, what to do, who is going, sharing a room, etc. you should post
your question to the REH Inner Circle List, where many REHupans and attendees can assist you.
Or you can email the
webmaster.
REHupa Home Page
