Jeff Henry often said that his goal in life was to make customers of his family’s legendary water parks happy—“to put a smile on their faces, to give them a thrill or two.” It was a beautiful vision. Until it went horribly wrong. Read Story
The Texanist: If You Can’t Take the Heat…
Q: Dear Texanist, I am a recent transplant from Big Sky Country, having arrived this past March, and was until fairly recently enjoying my first summer in my new home of Houston. I was aware that Texas warmed up in the summertime, but I now feel wholly unprepared. How the hell does one deal with this oppressive and unrelenting heat? Wesley Tiller, Houston A: Welcome to Texas, Mr. Tiller. And,… Read Story
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Brian Brushwood on the Difference Between Magic and a Good Old-Fashioned Con
On this week’s National Podcast of Texas, Andy Langer speaks with the magician and entertainer behind Scam School and The Modern Rogue.
Ed Lavandera: CNN’s Texas-Based National Correspondent on the Situation at the Border
On this week's National Podcast of Texas, Andy Langer also speaks with singer-songwriter Radney Foster on his newly recorded “prayer for the border.”
There Are Six Ways to Say ‘Pecan,’ But Only One That’s Right
In the inaugural episode of our new Talk Like a Texan podcast, we explore the proper pronunciation of our state nut.
Democrat Justin Nelson’s Campaign Is Making a Lot of Noise About Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Indictment
In our podcast, the Houston lawyer argues that Texans should be embarrassed by Paxton's criminal indictment.
Current Issue: July 2018
The Jackie Robinson of Rodeo
Five decades ago, Myrtis Dightman broke the color barrier in professional rodeo and became one of the best bull riders who ever lived. But his imprint on the sport was only just beginning. Read Story
Rum Service: Summer Cocktail Recipes from Austin’s Pool Burger
These tropical drinks are a breeze to make. Read Story
Mom, in Touch
My mom’s handwritten notes were an abiding feature of my childhood. They offered wisdom, encouragement, and comfort—and they continued to arrive long after her death. Read Story
From News & Politics
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Behind the Lines: Skip Hollandsworth and Schlitterbahn’s Tragic Slide
Texas Monthly's executive editor talks about his August feature tracing Schlitterbahn’s decades-long rise to its current perilous position.
For Local Activist, Discovery of Sugar Land Cemetery for Convict Laborers Was No Surprise
The Richmond resident warned Fort Bend ISD of the presence of graves, but no one listened—until they started finding human remains.
Schlitterbahn’s Tragic Slide
Jeff Henry often said that his goal in life was to make customers of his family’s legendary water parks happy—“to put a smile on their faces, to give them a thrill or two.” It was a beautiful vision. Until it went horribly wrong.
U.S. Army Mirrored Amazon’s HQ2 Search Tactics in Choosing New Futures Command Location
The Army chose Austin, citing its entrepreneurial culture and incentives from UT.
Bipartisan Road Trip By Two Texas Congressmen Wins National Award
When a Texas Republican and Texas Democrat drove 1,600 miles together to Washington and live-streamed it, the nation took notice.
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Ever since Hurricane Harvey wove a path of destruction along the Texas coast in August of 2017, people across the state and beyond have wondered the same thing: what’s been happening in Port Aransas? The answer comes in loud and clear to visitors the moment they drive off the ferry and onto the island: Port A is back. Read Story
From Food & Drink
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BBQ News Roundup: Whole Hog Barbecue, Rib-Eating Contests, and Grilling in a Graveyard
Every other week, Daniel Vaughn compiles the latest in barbecue news and unearths a few surprises. Here’s the roundup for July 12–July 19.
Texas-Style Brisket and Otherworldly Pulled Pork in … Huntington Park, California
Ray Ramirez fell in love with Texas BBQ and started an underground L.A. barbecue joint before they were cool.
Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue Offers Texas-Style Brisket in New Mexico
James Jackson, a Lockhart native, cooks up tender brisket and juicy Kreuz links—plus some New Mexico touches.
El Paso’s Desert Oak Barbecue Has Come a Long Way
Three large red letters caught my eye at a busy intersection in El Paso, and I knew I’d found the new home for Desert Oak Barbecue. “BBQ” is the only thing written above the door, but it stands out amid the strip center clutter. It’s a big step up from…
BBQ News Roundup: Pop-up Barbecue, Cajun Country’s Influence, and Twitter-Worthy Ribs
Every other week, Daniel Vaughn compiles the latest in barbecue news and unearths a few surprises. Here’s the roundup for June 22–July 5.
Dining Guide: Highlights From Our July 2018 Issue
We review more than sixty restaurants each month. Here’s a peek at what’s new!
Road Map: The Best Pitmaster Pit Stops in Texas
We've mapped out all the great pit stops along (and within ten miles of) the interstates that cross Texas.
At San Antonio’s South BBQ, the Meat and Sides Get Equal Billing
The talented Andrew Samia finally gets a pit of his own at this new joint on Mission Road.
Longform
Soldiers of Misfortune
For as long as the U.S. military has patrolled the border in search of drug smugglers, there has been the possibility that an innocent civilian would be killed. The government insists the chance is worth taking. Tell that to the family of Ezequiel Hernandez, Jr.
When the Sky Ran Dry
Bad as the current drought is, it has yet to match the most arid spell in Texas history. Nearly two dozen survivors of the fifties drought remember the time it never rained.
The Silver Kings
The wild and powerful tarpon once ruled the seas off Port Aransas. Why did the ancient fish disappear? And could they make a comeback?
The Day Treva Throneberry Disappeared
The North Texas teenager went missing in the late eighties. For years, no one knew where she was, or even if she was still alive-no one, that is, except a mysterious young woman two thousand miles away.
Maybe Darlie Didn’t Do It
Darlie Routier has been on death row for five years now, always insisting that she didn't kill her sons Devon and Damon. And as her lawyers prepare to head into court yet again, new information about her case raises the possibility that she may have been telling the truth all along.
Issue: July 2002
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The Texanist: If You Can’t Take the Heat…
A Montanan turned Houstonian’s first summer in Texas isn’t going all that well.
The Texanist: Can a Really Hot Pepper Burn the Tongue Right Out of My Mouth?
A Houston man knows that the Carolina Reaper will cause him pain. He’s worried that it might cause him real harm, too.
Take a Tour of Designer Hayden Lasher’s Childhood Home in Houston
After almost a decade in New York City, Hayden Lasher, the celebrated handbag designer and great-grandniece of fashion icon Henri Bendel, has returned to her hometown of Houston with her husband and young daughter. While they renovate a house in Tanglewood, she is spending time in her…
And Now, Some Little-Known Facts About Texas
In our new video series, David Courtney takes you into some of the weird, whimsical, and lesser-known aspects of our beloved state.
The Texanist: Where Have All the Horny Toads Gone?
The reasons why our state reptile—and beloved playmate for generations of young Texans—is so hard to find these days.
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Contrary to popular belief, optimism is neither intrinsic nor a passive disposition. In fact, optimism—choosing to look favorably at what’s possible in any situation—is a choice, a way of seeing the world, an active approach to living life that has real and tangible benefits. We know this trait well in Texas, and at Texas Monthly. Are you ready to put optimism to work for you? Read Story
