SENIORS ENJOY TEXAS



Seniors Stop In Nocona

250px-Nocona_welcome_signNocona is a city along U.S. Highway 82 and State Highway 175 in Montague County, Texas. The population runs right at 3,000, so it is small, but senior visitors will find it worth a stop.

The city, its lake, and its resurgence as a regional travel destination were featured in the June 2012 edition of Texas Highways magazine.

The city is named for Peta Nocona, a Comanche chief. The area was first known to white settlers as the last stop in Texas before crossing the Red River on the Chisolm Trail.

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It was founded in 1887 along a particular bend in the Gainesville, Henrietta and Western Railway line, which soon became part of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, connecting Gainesville and Henrietta, and later Wichita Falls.

Nocona assumed the role of economic and industrial center of northern Montague County, and many older towns in the area, bypassed by the railroad, shuttered and its citizens moved to Nocona.

 Seniors Find Lake Nocona

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The “North Field”, an oil field between Nocona and the Red River, contributed to Nocona’s economy for much of the 20th century and continues to do so on a small scale.

Lake Nocona or Farmer’s Creek Reservoir is approximately 10 miles north of the city. It is a highly popular recreational lake with folks  from across north central Texas offering many recreational opportunities! Three public parks are scattered around the shores of Lake Nocona: Weldon Robb Park, Joe Benton Park and Boone Park.

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On Lake Nocona senior visitors will find Nocona Hills, an attractive gated lakeside “city” with many homes, a hotel, golf course, landing strip, and other amenities. Nocona is also home to  one of the finest city parks in all of Texas.

Seniors Also Find Nocona Boots

Seniors, while you are in Nocona, pick yourself up a handsome pair or two of the famed Nocona Boots. In 1925, Nocona Boots was founded by Enid Justin, the daughter of Justin Boots founder H.J. “Joe” Justin, in Nocona, Texas. Enid’s goal was to carry on her father’s tradition of making quality western boots in the town he loved.

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Mr. Justin, or “Daddy Joe,” was a perfectionist with every detail of his handcraft. In 1879, he started his tradition of fine boot-making in Spanish Fort, Texas. His cowboy customers could order custom-fit boots that were ready to pick up after their return from cattle drives.

One of Nocona’s more notable residents was “Jackrabbit” Jack Crain: 1939, 1941 All Southwest Conference and two-time All-American Halfback, Texas legend, and the man who saved Texas Longhorns football team in 1939.

Mr. Crain also served four terms as a Texas state representative. Nocona’s high school football stadium is named for him. An account of the game that changed Texas football is at Mack Brown’s Texas Football, and believe me, football is BIG in Texas.

Seniors, set your GPS for Nocona and enjoy Texas hospitality. -jeb

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