Even those who have never made the trek to the English countryside outside of Salisbury will recognize Stonehenge. It is one of the world’s most famous historical sites. Scholars aren’t exactly sure what motivated the people who built Stonehenge. It was certainly a burial ground of some sort. But was it more than just a graveyard? Perhaps a dwelling for departed spirits? Or a place for miraculous healing? Or pagan worship? Or ????  The purpose of Stonehenge remains a mystery.

Texas offers its own Stonehenge mystery. Several months ago I was driving through the Hill Country outside of San Antonio on FM 1340 (Farm Road). All of a sudden, a couple miles west of Hunt, I found myself looking at Stonehenge, or at least something very much like it. What was this? I wondered.

No, Stonehenge II (as it’s called) was not created by aliens or Druids or Hill Country pagans looking for a place to worship. It was built by two men, largely for fun. You can read the story at their website. It all began when Doug Hill had an extra block of limestone after building a patio. He gave it to his friend, Al Shepperd, who stood it on end in the middle of his field. Soon Hill and Shepherd added to the stone, turning it into an arch. Then Shepperd, who had visited the original Stonehenge, became inspired. Soon he and Hill were producing giant “stones” made of metal and plaster. Nine months later, Stonehenge II was finished. I’ll bet the neighbors are glad that Al Shepperd hadn’t visited the Great Wall of China or the Great Pyramid of Giza!
So, if you can’t make it to England to see the real Stonehenge, come visit us in Texas and see Stonehenge II.  Besides, it’s only 82.5 miles away from the Alamo, Alamo I, that is.