Judge Roy Bean Visitors Center

During our trip out to West Texas we came upon the Judge Roy Bean
Visitors Center in Langtry, Texas.This was the man deemed "the law
west of the Pecos". He was a true legend in his own time ruling west
Texas with his own kind of justice.The Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center
in Langtry, Texas is a Texas Department of Transportation's Travel
Information Center,. They have loads of information not only on Judge
Roy Bean, but all of Texas. Friendly Travel advisors answered our
questions and provided us with maps, travel brochures and different
points of interest. There are six dioramas that entertainingly portray
highlights of Judge Roy Bean's inside the visitors center.Behind the
visitor center, we were able to walk through the rustic saloon,
billiard hall, and courtroom where Judge Roy Bean held court with a
six-shooter by his side. He named his business after an English
actress that he was infatuated with. Known worldwide as "The Jersey
Lily", her name was Lillie Langtry. Due to a misspelling by the
painter, the sign out front of the saloon reads "The Jersey
Lilly".Judge Roy Bean had a sign on his home that read "Opera House,
Town Hall and Seat of Justice", because he hoped that the actress
would come there and perform one day. Despite several letters inviting
her to come, she ignored his request. That is, until he wrote that he
had named the town after her. Unfortunately, by the time she made the
trip to Langtry for a visit in 1904, he had been dead for several
months.Today railroad historians state that Langtry was named for one
of the foremen on the construction crew, but Miss Langtry was never
told that.Besides the "opera house" and "The Jersey Lilly" saloon,
there is also a Cactus Garden Interpretive Trail which is home to
prickly pears, agave, and yucca plants.Whether you are interested in
learning more about Judge Roy Bean or not this is a worthwhile stop,
if for no other reason than the free travel information and clean
restrooms.