Magnolia

Story and Photographs by Bonnie McKenna On the southernmost corner of the lush, green Piney Woods is one of the small towns that reflect the friendliness of Texas and welcomes visitors throughout the year, Magnolia. The town was established in 1840 when Montgomery County extended its southern boundary to Spring Creek. Initially, the area was known as Mink. In 1908 the city was officially renamed, Magnolia. The commerce of the town revolved around several large sawmills, cotton, and farms. The city grew along the route of the Northern Huntsville Railroad, and Magnolia became a shipping center for lumber, cattle, and farm products.

Unity Park is a 30-acre combination of a wildlife preserve and a municipal park. The Williams Pavilion hosts several annual events throughout the year and is available for private use. The Park also maintains a skateboard park, splash pad, tennis courts, and a playground for children. For birding enthusiasts, the Park has well-maintained pathways and lookout points for optimal viewing.

The Stroll is a popular half-mile, tree-shaded walking path in the heart of Magnolia’s Town Center. At the north end of the trail is the newly refurbished Sullivan Park and the Farmers Market. Every Saturday, 3050 vendors meet to sell local products and crafts. The Park hosts many community events throughout the year The Depot is Magnolia’s iconic link to its railroad history. The Depot is a beautiful example of depot architecture in the glory days of train travel. The interior of the main room displays exposed wooden trusses, plank flooring, and sliding freight doors. In 2005, due to Highway expansion, The Depot was moved to a new location directly across from the railroad tracks without compromising its historic integrity. Members of the Magnolia Historical Society maintain and operate The Depot and sponsor the annual Halloween and Christmas events. The Depot is also available for numerous civic and private parties. Depot Day happens every year in April. Vendors, craft booths, food, auctions, and entertainment make for a great time for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the friendliness of Magnolia. The Annual Christmas Parade, the Hometown Christmas event, will be held this year, on December 4, at 5:30 p.m., there will be vendors, visits from Santa, and activities for children.

Texas Renaissance Festival. Each year, Magnolia, the Official Host City, welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world to the Texas Renaissance Festival. The festival comes alive for nine themed weekends starting from October to November. Put this on your calendar for 2022 and come early. The Texas Renaissance Festival opens at 9:00 a.m. with the boom from a cannon echoing through the trees. The King and Queen declare the festival open, and the visitors standing outside the gates yell out a mighty “Hazzah!” as they enter the magical kingdom. The festival closes with a fireworks display each night at 8:00 p.m. The easiest route to Magnolia from the New Caney Splendora area is to take Texas 99 (Grand Parkway) to State Highway 249 until the Magnolia turn-off or from Porter or Kingwood take FM 1314 to 242. Follow 242 to 1488, go left and that will take you into Magnolia. Or if you are traveling from Humble or further south take Beltway 8 to 249 into Magnolia. Magnolia is definitely a place that the entire family can enjoy.

Meetings held every Tuesday at noon at: Magnolia Event Center, 11659 FM 1488 in Magnolia. Guests are always welcome to attend, no RSVP needed! Guest speakers each week. Learn more at https://www.magnoliarotaryclub.org

Bonnie McKenna is the co-editor of Scuba H2O Adventure Magazine, focusing on travel and environmental issues. Her experiences include being a stringer and a travel photojournalist for Houston Community Newspapers, The Tribune, and The Houston Chronicle.

She has been traveling all of her life and likes to tell you “ I have often thought I was born in a car during a road trip.” After college, she joined the Peace Corps in Thailand as a parasitologist, lived in the highlands of Viet Nam, returned home, and became an international flight attendant for Continental/United Airlines.

As a retired flight attendant, she is still flying the world’s oceans, freelancing stories, and exploring the world with her cameras above and below the water. She is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association, International Travel Writers & Photographers Alliance, and the Texas Photographic Society.

Bonnie is a pure delight and is sure to wake up your desire to “get on the road”