Over 140 people stood at the Lobanillo Swales on the El Camino Real de los Tejas on Monday, April 16 and many could visualize the traffic that began traveling the route over 400 years ago. First were the buffalo and Indian tribes that roamed the land here for thousands of years. The Indians traveled the route even before they had horses. In the 1600s, Spaniards claimed the land and named it Tejas after the Caddo meaning friend.
The Swales were discovered several years ago by Jeff Williams, a professor at Stephen F. Austin University. The National El Camino Real de los Tejas Association raised money to purchase the land with the assistance of Judge Darrell Melton of Sabine County. Serving on the 16 member board at that time were Chief Rufus Davis of the Adai Caddo Tribe, Linda Curtis-Sparks, Director of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, Duke Lyons of San Augustine, Christopher Talbot of Nacogdoches, and 12 additional board members.
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