#336 - Inn at the Art Center in San Angelo, TX

A Night at the Art Center
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On the first day of August, Don and I spent the last evening of our 18-day road trip, in the Texas town of San Angelo. 

We followed GPS to the northeastern edge of town. After turning down Martin Luther King Drive and passing Stardust Trailer Park, we suddenly spotted this colorful building. The artwork was a good hint that we'd found the right place. Inn at the Art Center.

Art at the Chicken Farm

Lots of frolicking images greeted us! I noticed a painted rooster near the feet of 2 dancing figures. Near their heads I read the words, Chicken Farm Art Center. 

Next we saw a tall metal figure holding a round sign, The Old Chicken Farm Center. We were entering a place with many names.

This would be more than a stay at an inn. It was also an art center... which had once been a chicken farm!

Artist's Pencils

We parked our car next to a colorful pencil fence! Each pencil-board had its own name and color.

Surely this fence hasn't been standing since 1971. That's when the farm property became an art center Lots of locals came together, more than 5 decades ago, to make it happen. I'm guessing the names belonged to artists and other locals who have contributed over the years. 

Stardust Gallery
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After parking, we peered through a different kind of fence. A decorative metal one, with chicken shapes. More chickens! We walked inside, the quiet little "gated community", hoping to find someone to guide us.

There were lots of buildings (and things) on the 3-acre property. We moved towards the building with the stoplight and read a sign telling us the Stardust Gallery would be closing at 4:00. We had 5 minutes.

The gallery inside was filled with bright ceramics and colorful paintings. We were greeted by a smiling woman with a long gray braid and tattoos. She was excited to tell us the monthly Art Fest Weekend was coming up.

As I browsed a few minutes, I gushed about how excited we were to stay after hearing about the place from a friend. I told her we had booked a room at the inn months ago, making sure we landed on a night when the Silo Restaurant was open. 
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​Quick Tour

I was excited to find the tiniest ceramic dish to purchase. I was paying up, when Sabrina arrived. She lives on the property and helps the owners with guests.

It was over 100 degrees, but Sabrina was enthused about showing us around the property. I was happy to hear any bits of history I could learn.

​Roger Allen

We were told a little about Roger Allen, the local HS art teacher who quit teaching and purchased the old 1940s mom and pop chicken farm, in 1971.

There was an image of Roger on the side of the same colorful building we'd spotted from the road. Roger passed away 5 years ago, but his spirit is clearly very much a part of the Art Center community today.

The whole backside of the building was covered in whimsical art.

This building was one of the 9 original farm buildings.

I loved the curious figures and the all chickens, here and there.

I was intrigued by the Chicken Farm history. I pictured an old fashioned farm and chickens running around. Then I learned that the building with colorful walls had once been used for slaughtering chickens, not raising them. Ugh. There were actually troughs in the floors, to handle some of the messy business! I hadn't really stopped to consider what Chicken Farm meant.

One of 8 Guest Rooms 

After wandering the property we came to the building that held our guest room. I know this was one of the original buildings. Possibly a chicken coop. At least I'm hoping it was all about live chickens.

Sabrina led us past 2 sets of oddly low windows.

She guided us to the door, near the white folding chair., Once inside, Sabrina pointed out the shared kitchen where we were welcome to anything in the fridge. 

Ponderosa Room

Next, Sabrina showed us to the Ponderosa Room, where we'd be spending the night. The door opened to an entryway, with enough wood to make you dizzy! Looking left, we could see a couple of steps leading up to our bathroom.

Just outside of the bathroom door was a landing, with some pretty amazing tile work.

Was that a lizard in the tile?

​Knotty Pine Bathroom

There were hints of some recent updates. A modern vessel sink.

There were hints of the old west as well. A saloon door to the toilet area!

Woody Space

Our spacious 500 sq-ft room was absolutely jammed with wood! I was totally delighted as I studied every detail.

Besides a few fabrics here and there, we were surrounded by wood

Plugged Holes

Sabrina pointed out the corks in the wall. She explained how those corks plugged up holes, made long ago by Civil War musket balls. 

I tried to absorb all Sabrina's info, but she spoke rapidly. Did she say these boards had been beams from an old textile factory?  Or did she say these boards were used for firing practice during the Civil War? Or both?

Freckled Pecan

And then we had some wonderful floors, made from freckled pecan wood.

What about that cypress wood supporting the ceiling! Is that cypress?

A Puzzle of Wood

Above the 2 oddly low windows, was a puzzling mosaic of wood!

Pine, cedar and cypress, dark and light, curves and angles, smooth and lumpy, slick and rough!!

​Hidden Treasures!

Sabrina mentioned that we might want to look for some surprises in the wood designs.

I eagerly set to work looking for treasures, before Sabrina left us.

In tiny crevices and crannies, I found a hippo and scorpion and a Madonna... endless goodies.

No Silo Tonight!
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I was starting to feel at home in our quirky little temporary home, when Sabrina returned with news that she'd heard from the chef. The Silo Restaurant would not be open that night. What? ! I'd spoken to the chef 2 nights before, when making reservations. ​Just moments before, we'd spotted the funny round building, when touring.

I didn't hide my frustration with Sabrina. "Are you kidding me?" Poor Sabrina was given the job of telling us that the Chef had a family crisis and wouldn't open that night. I was crushed and also slightly skeptical. ​

I know about the complications of running small businesses, in remote areas. I could think of many reasons for closing, which might not include a crisis. Sigh...

​Mostly I was just bummed. We'd heard great things about the fine dining within the old grain silo!

Sabrina gave us suggestions for places in town, but we were too beat to get back in the car. We'd have to make it a notable night without the Silo.

Studios

We'd arrived too late to visit the studios, but I figured I'd get out and wander anyway.

Near a branch-less tree with blue paint, I noticed more colorful doors and art beneath a metal roof. Sad to think this brightly painted building filled with studio spaces, was once used for slaughter or processing. But the  open door to Pirate Monkey Gallery made me forget chickens. It lured me!

I stuck my head inside the storm door. I was greeted by a very welcoming artist, who invited me to look around. 

I enjoyed her upbeat artwork (including the rooster!) while we talked about kids and art. A fun converstaion. I was starting to feel better about the old Chicken Farm.

Buildings

After cooling off in Heathre's studio, I stepped back out into the sweltering afternoon and explored the walkways, wondering about the stories behind each building. 

I wondered about the original artists 50 years ago, who took over the ramshackle property and made it a place to live and produce art. 

Obvious Art

​As I followed a few shady pathways I noticed endless samples of artwork.

From bright roosters to rusty sculptures.

 
Covered Spaces

A few covered patios held equipment and materials that left me imagining art in the process!

Juston

It was hard to imagine this quiet property filled with artists and musicians and locals, 2 days later. All seemed so empty and still and almost forgotten. But then I spotted a man on a raised deck.

We started to chat and I learned that I was talking to Juston.. He and his wife Chasity purchased the inn a few years ago. (not sure if it's just the inn that they run)

Questions

Juston was friendly and open to all my questions. He told me about this whimsical piano, made by one of the Center's special artists, who recently moved on.

"...The Purpose of education is human freedom" - Milton Mayer

We chatted quite a bit about the history of the Art Center. I began to picture a 1970s commune, with artists living and working together. Sharing and teaching and creating.

When I mentioned my frustration about the closed Silo, Juston seemed a little surprised to hear the chef had needed to close. But he gave me some fun news. "It's open for breakfast, though!" He quickly looked up the hours on his phone. Yay! We could get up early and have a dining experience in the old grain silo, before hitting the road!

​Happy Hour

I headed back to the Ponderosa Room to tell Don my plan for the rest of our stay. It would start with Happy Hour.

I'd seen some retro gold goblets in our room. Yay for that! We grabbed some snacks and headed off to find our Happy Hour Spot.

We searched the property for a shady spot and found some cushioned chairs under some trees.

We toasted to our funny little Farm Center and got excited about rising early for breakfast in the Silo. It was about 98 degrees but there was a decent breeze and we were good.

The breeze seemed to bringing us some good smells from the Silo. We could hear the exhaust fan and smell some great smells. Sausage? Bacon? Yum? 

We visited with a roaming cat for a while and then Juston wandered by. We 3 sniffed the air and agreed it smelled wonderful. I told him we had decided to go for breakfast the next day. We were happy.

Dinner in the Coop

After a good hour in the warm evening air, we headed back to our coop and enjoyed an evening of Peanut Butter & Jelly. (all that we had on hand) 

The couch was comfy and we were grateful to have a TV for a change. We laughed for a good hour over some old SNL skits, before turning in early.

Breakfast?

We were showered and the car was packed up before 7.  While making a couple trips to the car, I was pretty darn aware that once again, the property felt eerily quiet.

We knew the Silo opened at 7, but waited an extra 10 minutes. Not a sound or smell. Not a car parked nearby. We gave it another 5 minutes. What was with those cooking smells the night before. 

Water Lily Therapy

I was sort of furious as we walked to the car. But I guess I didn't fully expect this Silo thing to happen. Don started the car and I gave him my plan B.

We could settle for a fast-food breakfast, but only after a quick detour before hitting the freeway home. My daughter-in-law just the day before had texted me about the International Water Lily Collection in San Antonio!

We found the park easily and we were the only park visitors! 

The sight of these lovely lilies brought me so much joy. I was ready for the long drive home! Cheers for water lilies!!

What's Notable?

We stayed at an Art Center that had once been a Chicken Farm! A first for that combo!

The weather was impossibly hot, which made the property feel extra desolate and wilted. And yes, I was totally frustrated by the Silo failing us twice! But I do appreciate this place. I know if we stayed again, with others around, on a fresh spring evening, when the Silo and studios were open and welcoming... our experience would have been very different.

Glad we stayed. Glad my travel buddy is flexible and willing to find a way to make things fun, no matter what! Don passed this travel test with flying colors!
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