Chaparral Trail, TX: Farmersville to Ladonia Overnight MTB Trip
At approximately 31 miles of rough/overgrown gravel terrain, Farmersville to Ladonia TX on the Chaparral Trail offers a quick out and back, overnight MTB tour. A riding buddy and I tackled this trip on September 24/25, and enjoyed a fine adventure. Highlights included seeing small-town Texas up close (Farmersville, Meritt, Celeste, Wolfe City, and Ladonia), and a strong sense of pioneering, given the relatively overgrown state of much of the trail. Our overnight stay in Ladonia revealed an unexpected tiny gem of a town, with a few good restaurants, a great rustic lodge, and even a visit from the Mayor. We also got in a little fossil-hunting along the bed of the Sulphur River, less than 2 miles from Downtown Ladonia
During the planning stage, the first question was where to stay in Ladonia (not camping these days). A Google search turned up no nearby motels or B&B’s, but I came across Rick Barrett (barrett.rick@sbcglobal.net) and his Ladonia Log Lodge thru a Yahoo users group. This 7-bedroom lodge is located at the edge of Downtown Ladonia, and was absolutely perfect for our needs. Clean, rustic rooms, but with a fridge and cable TV for college football!
The internet also revealed the presence of a few restaurants in Ladonia, but I could not have hoped for the quality we experienced. Dinner on Saturday night was at Fat Boy's BBQ (www.fatboysb-b-q.com). We arrived a little beat, but were revived by great ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, as well as the unique treat of fried corn-on-the-cob. But get there early---Fat Boy's closes at 5pm on Saturdays. It is also BYOB, but the local gas station can stock you in that department. Breakfast on Sunday was at Gloria's Kitchen, clearly a local institution. Even Ladonia Mayor Jan Cooper showed up---and she had heard a few intrepid cyclists were in town.
Be forewarned----some sections of the Chaparral Trail are woefully unkempt and overgrown. Still rideable though. There are plenty of ways to make this trip longer/more challenging, including riding the trail further along toward Paris. And yes, there are clearly a few man-made obstacles---trenches and mounds that deter use and basic maintenance. However, the locals to whom we spoke along the way were very friendly and enthusiastic, and some (including Mr. Barrett) even pledged to push their localities to improve the upkeep. Bottom line: The more we use the Chaparral Trail, the better it will get.
