Texas History at its Best - The SmokeStack Restaurant in Thurber, Texas

It's really amazing how much you miss when you're crusing along at highway speeds. At first glance you might think the 128 foot brick smokestack just off the Texas interstate is a remnant of a by-gone era and, in a way, you'd be right. The folks in Thurber, Texas won't agree with you and they would gladly point out the reasons why.

Thurber once bustled with more than 10,000 people, many from the far reaches of the world. Local historians say it was the first totally electrified city in America. It was also, many of them say, the first completely unionized town. Like many of the best Texas

hideaways, it was the last place where a regularly scheduled stagecoach made a rest stop. There is a neat, compact red-brick building which is the new W.K. Gordon Center for Industrial History of Texas. The $3.2 million facility is a joint venture of the Texas Department of Transportation, Tarleton State University and its foundation, Erath County and Mrs. W.K. Gordon Jr. The building serves as a museum and visitors center for the public, as well as a research facility for Tarleton State University

Thurber was founded in 1886 when coal mining began in the area. Two years later, the land was purchased by the Texas and Pacific Coal Co., and Thurber became the largest coal-mining community in Texas, producing nearly $11 million in coal by 1900.
Just after World War I, residents included immigrants from Italy, Poland, Britain and Ireland who found work in the coal mines and the brick plant, which was added in 1897.
It is said the local priest had to hear confession in six different languages.

The baseball team had several uniforms, and it often traveled to Fort Worth and Dallas for tournaments. The opera house was the envy of North Texas. A brewery in Fort Worth traded one railroad car of beer every month for a railroad car of coal. There was no aversion to having a good time in Thurber.
When the demand for coal declined, the coal mines were closed in 1926, and the brick factory followed in 1931. W.K. Gordon Sr. is credited with locating oil in nearby Eastland County when the McClesky No. 1 blew in at nearby Ranger.
The company changed its name to the Texas and Pacific Coal and Oil Co., after that and moved its headquarters to Fort Worth in the late 1930s.
Thurber became a ghost town.

Now in a new century, Thurber's revitalization is in full swing. What better way to get folks who are blazing down I20 than to offer a great Texas grub stop. The SmokeStack Restaurant can do just that.

The Bennet family started the SmokeStack over 31 years ago in Thurber's old drugstore and it has been a favorite meeting place for families traveling I-20 ever since. The old drugstore burned in 1992, and the restaurant was rebuilt in the north end of the old Texas & Pacific Mercantile building. Made with original Thurber bricks in the late 1890s, the Mercantile used to sell everything from cribs to coffins to the company miners.

In it's new location, the SmokeStack offers breakfast until 10:30 a.m., and a lunch and dinner menu fit for any traveler's growling stomach. If you're an early traveler or riser there are a whole menu full of eye-opening, stick-to-your-ribs offerings. A variety of three-egg omelettes served with hash browns, Buttermilk biscuits or toast, jelly and butter. Omelettes range from Plain at $3.75 to Western for $4.95. If you're really hungry try the Coal Miner's Special. It will fill you up and get your day started right with a 6oz. Sirloin Steak, two large eggs, Hash Browns, Buttermilk biscuits with down homemade country gravy for a mire $6.95. If that doesn't get you down the road nothing will.

The lunch menu is equally smattered with sumptuous choices too numerous to list. For first timers to the SmokeStack, the menu indicates "Recommendations from the Regulars" which makes selecting something tasty a little easier.

Dinner also boggles the mind with choices but the mainstay on any Texas restaurant menu is the Chicken Fried Steak. The SmokeStack touts its CFS by being chosen as the Best Chicken Fried Steak on Interstate 20 by Southern Living magazine. Made fresh and covered with home made gravy, the contender is offered in a small 1/4 lb. for $6.26 or a large 1/2 pounder for a dollar more. The list goes on and on with Tex-Mex dishes, pies, smaller portions for the kids and even an impressive wine list.

The Only Place to Eat in Thurber for Over 31 Years. Exit 367 on I-20. If you're a true Texas traveler, you've got to try it! Go here and check it out. http://www.smokestack.net

Some images are from the Thurber website: http://www.thurbertexas.com,

Portions of this text came from:

New museum preserves memories of Thurber

By Art Chapman
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Texas Biker Gourmet Review: 4 out of 5 bikes. I don't do stars.

As usual with a restaurant with these credentials the SmokeStack is a true Texas grub stop. The wait staff was friendly, knowledgeable and prompt. The service was casual as expected. We visited on Memorial Day and there were six in our group and the orders were right on and served hot with little or no delay. The Chicken Fryed Steak was good but still isn't Texas' Best. The special was Meatloaf and was tasty. Fresh rolls are great! Parking a motorcycle isn't a problem unless it is raining (the parking area is large but packed gravel over dirt). The atmosphere is rustic in this old historic building. Pictures and signage add to the ambiance. It really isn't that far to Thurber, only 65 miles from the metroplex. For a real Texas treat the SmokeStack is worth the trip. Not only does the food make it worth the trip but after your meal Thurber is the footstep to some great scenic back roads.

From the restaurant follow the road north a short distance north until it intersects with FM108, turn right (north) toward Mingus. In Mingus, at the only stop sign turn left onto FM193 keep an eye out for Rock Creek Rd. and turn right. Follow it past Fox Mountain and the Boles/Rector Gas Field to Calhoun Rd. Calhoun ends at SH919 turn left again and look for a right onto FM3137 across the north end of Palo Pinto Lake. FM3137 ends at SH4.

Turn left on SH4. There aren't any signs that indicate you're heading to Palo Pinto but this road is the most scenic back road, state highway I've ridden. Speeds should remain low because of the many twisty curves, scenic overlooks, and blind corners. There isn't an oversized gas station in Palo Pinto but you're only 12 miles from Mineral Wells, 24 miles from Weatherford and it is downhill. Just turn right in Palo Pinto onto SH180 East.