The West Houston Archives

  Lake Houston was a man made body of water that dates back to 1953.  Before the excavation for the lake began, Old Atascocita Rd. was a primary transit route between downtown Humble and Atascocita.  My theory is that the road pre-dates FM 1960, so there was a time when both roads existed together, and Atascocita Rd. became the secondary route after 1960 came into the picture.

   When the lake was formed, it was probably less costly to build two bridges across the lake, so the end solution was to build a bridge for FM 1960, and Old Atascocita Rd. would be cut in two, with dead ends on both sides of Lake Houston.

   Today, the road on the west side of Lake Houston is called Farmingham Rd.  If you find it on the west bank of Lake Houston using Google Earth, travel back to the oldest aerial image from the 1940's, and you will see that the road once spanned the distance of Lake Houston and met up with Atascocita Road on the east bank.  This link was broken when the lake was filled up, and while the west bank dead end was eventually built over with houses in the 1980's, the east bank still looks very much like a road that runs off into the water.  

Apr 2013a 046.jpg : Standing on Old Atascocita Rd. on the east side of Lake Houston, looking west across the lake.

Apr 2013a 047.jpg : A closer look at the shore where the road once ran, and connected to downtown Humble.

Apr 2013a 048.jpg : Facing the ground between the dead end of the road, and the water, looking for traces of pavement.

Apr 2013a 049.jpg : Facing east along Old Atascocita Rd. from the shore of Lake Houston.

Apr 2013a 050.jpg : Eastbound on Old Atascocita Rd. from the banks of Lake Houston.

Apr 2013a 051.jpg : Another eastbound shot of Old Atascocita Rd. near Lake Houston.

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   It has since been largely developed, expanded, and widened, but even today, there are some older establishments operating along the shoulders.

   The following photos were taken during May of 2013.

May 2013a 135.jpg : Darrell Tully Stadium, just south of I-10, was open by the early 1960's.

May 2013a 134.jpg : Another view of Tully Stadium.

May 2013a 130.jpg : Facing south on Dairy-Ashford from Goar Rd.  Goar pre-dates Briar Forest, and this small section of Goar Rd. is a remnant.  Briar Forest overtook almost all of Goar Rd. during the 1960's, except for this small eastern tip.

May 2013a 112.jpg : Sweet Mesquite, a local tex-mex restaurant that was opened in 1993 to compliment the Copperfield location on Highway 6 that opened in 1986.  This Sweet Mesquite is the only one of the two still in business, and they have kept things exactly the same inside.

May 2013a 114.jpg : A view of the inside of Sweet Mesquite on Dairy-Ashford.

May 2013a 116.jpg : The countertops inside Sweet Mesquite, still sporting the original blue tiles.

May 2013a 118.jpg : 1722 Dairy-Ashford Rd., which was originally a Dairy Queen restaurant, dates back to 1969.  The Dairy Queen closed in the 1990's, and is now operating as George's Pastaria.

May 2013a 119.jpg : 1735 Dairy-Ashford Rd., a tire shop that was originally built as a gas station in 1968.  During the 1980's and 1990's, it was a U-Haul store, and spent some time vacant before this tire shop occupied it.

May 2013a 121.jpg : Southeast corner of Dairy-Ashford and Whittington, a flower shop that used to be a Stop 'N Go convenience store in the 1980's.  In the early 1990's, my dad used to live near this area, and we stopped here many mornings for honey buns and bottles of Snapple...or sometimes Tropicana Twister.

May 2013a 104.jpg : The shopping center at the northeast corner of Dairy-Ashford & Westheimer.  Back in the early 1990's, the Fiesta used to be a Kroger where my dad bought groceries when we stayed with him, and next door (where Kirkland's Home is now) used to be Sound Warehouse, later renamed Blockbuster Music.  This was the store where most of my early CD collection came from, as I would spend countless hours here on the weekends, listening to CD's for free and deciding which ones to buy.  

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 Eldridge Rd., also known as Eldridge Parkway, depending on which part of the road you are on, is now a major thoroughfare in West Houston, but until the very early 1980's, most of it did not even exist yet.  Eldridge was built over Addicks-Fairbanks Rd., an older right of way dating back to the early days of settlement in Addicks.  The original road had a southern terminus at Interstate 10, and a northern terminus at FM 529.

   In the early 1980's (I'm often told 1982 is the exact year), Eldridge Parkway was built over Addicks-Fairbanks Rd., starting at I-10 and moving north as a four lane highway, now elevated to avoid the flooding experienced in the Addicks Reservoir.  The new parkway avoided one 90 degree turn on Addicks-Fairbanks Rd. by skirting around it to the east, but that old section of Addicks Fairbanks Road remains intact today as it once was, on the northwest corner of Eldridge and Patterson Rd.   

As Eldridge Parkway consumed Addicks-Fairbanks during the early 1980's, the road continued further north than FM 529, running all the way to US 290, and even a few blocks north of that where Lone Star Chevrolet is today.  However, that portion of Eldridge came to a dead end beyond the dealerships until the late 1990's when the road opened all the way to FM 1960, completing a link that led all the way into the suburbs of Cypress.

   In the late 1980's and early 1990's, Eldridge was also being constructed separately in the Lakewood Forest community, and making its way south to eventually connect with FM 1960 and the Barwood subdivision.  In the early 1990's, that link was made, cutting right through a Cypress neighborhood, and consuming a street called Susquehannah (see the abandoned roads page for more details).

   Today, most of Eldridge has been completed as a four lane parkway, but it does dwindle down to two lanes in some areas of Cypress and far far south of Westheimer Rd.  Unfortunately my photo collection along Eldridge Rd. is very minimal, but I would like to eventually gather some photos of some historically significant landmarks on the road.  You can also visit my Abandoned Roads page to learn more about the abandoned segment of Addicks Fairbanks Rd.  Click this link:  abandonedrealignedroads.htm

 The following photos were taken on November 2013 while flying over Traders Village, located at the corner of Eldridge and West.  This was a busy Sunday around 3:00 in the afternoon.

Nov 2013 057.jpg  

These photos were taken at the same time, showing the FM 1960 bypass as viewed from Business FM 1960A at the end of Old Town Humble.

Apr 2013a 064.jpg : On Business FM 1960A facing east towards the merging of the new and old alignments.

Apr 2013a 066.jpg : Facing east along the present-day FM 1960 route from the tie-in to Business FM 1960A.

Apr 2013a 067.jpg : Facing west at the split between the newer bypass route and Business FM 1960A.

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   Today, FM 529 inside the Grand Parkway boundary is technically classed as Urban Road FM 529, though it retains its FM 529 street signs.  That expanse of road from 290 to Grand Parkway has all been widened to four lane concrete, and everything west of the Grand Parkway is still two-lane asphalt as of late 2015.  

   FM 529 remained relatively rural throughout its existence until around 1988, when the construction of the Northwest Freeway (290) prompted a reconfiguration of the intersection of FM 529 with 290.  The original intersection, which once ended at Hempstead Rd., was bypassed to the south by the present day below-grade level intersection in use today.  That was made into four lane concrete, but left alone for several years.  By 1995, the widening of FM 529 into four lanes had resumed at major intersections such as State Highway 6, and Barker-Cypress, but remained mostly two lane asphalt.  By 2010 it had been widened completely from 290 to Fry Road, and by the time the Grand Parkway E-segment was opened, FM 529 was fully widened inside the Parkway boundary.

Album 15 Pic 21.jpg : Intersection of FM 529 and Lakeview Haven Dr, March 2005.

Album 15 Pic 01.jpg : Facing the southeast corner of FM 529 and Fry Rd., Feb. 2006.

Album 15 Pic 29.jpg : Intersection of FM 529 and Queenston, June 2007.

Album 15 Pic 31.jpg : Intersection of FM 529 and Queenston, June 2007.

Album 14 Pic 10.jpg : HEB Grocery store, sitting vacant for over ten years at the corner of FM 529 and Barker-Cypress Rd., April 2009.

Album 14 Pic 11.jpg : HEB, April 2009.

Album 15 Pic 04.jpg : Walgreens & CVS Pharmacy at intersection of FM 529 and Fry Rd., facing east, April 2009.

Album 15 Pic 07.jpg : Intersection of FM 529 and Fry Rd., facing east, April 2009.

Album 15 Pic 08.jpg : The southeast corner of FM 529 and Fry Rd., April 2009.  A Shell station opened on this corner in 2012.

Album 15 Pic 24.jpg : Exxon station at the southwest corner of FM 529 and Barker-Cypress, April 2009.

Album 15 Pic 25.jpg : Langham Creek High School, FM 529 near Barker-Cypress.  The school is getting some expansion work done in this photo, April 2009.

Album 15 Pic 26.jpg : Citgo filling station at the northeast corner of FM 529 and Queenston, April 2009.

Album 15 Pic 27.jpg : Facing east along FM 529 between Queenston Rd. and Sonnet Glen, April 2009.

FM529 010a.JPG : This photo is facing east towards 290 along what used to be the original Spencer Rd. (2011)  This eastern tip was bypassed in the late 80's, and I go into a lot more detail on it with my abandoned roads page.

FM529 020.jpg : This is the present day intersection of FM 529 with 290, which sits below grade-level just to the south of the original alignment.

FM529 021.jpg : FM 529 undergoing expansion near Haven Creek Dr., Jan. 2012. (traveling eastbound)

FM529 022.jpg : FM 529 undergoing expansion at Haven Creek Dr., Jan. 2012.

FM529 023.jpg : FM 529 undergoing expansion between Haven Creek and Greenhouse, Jan. 2012.

FM529 024.jpg : FM 529 undergoing expansion at Greenhouse Rd., Jan. 2012.

Feb 2012a 080.jpg : FM 529 at Fry Rd., facing east along FM 529, Feb. 2012.

Feb 2012a 081.jpg : FM 529 at Fry Rd., facing east along FM 529, Feb. 2012.

Jun 2012a 032.jpg : Westbound on FM 529 in the Sommerall area, east of Langham Creek, Jun. 2012.

Jun 2012a 034.jpg : Grand Opening of Shell station, FM 529 at Fry Rd., Jun. 2012

Jun 2012a 035.jpg : Grand Opening of Shell station, FM 529 at Fry Rd., Jun. 2012

Jun 2012a 036.jpg : CVS Pharmacy at the northeast corner of FM 529 and Fry Rd., Jun. 2012.

Jun 2012a 039.jpg : Facing east along FM 529 from Fry Rd. Shell station, Jun. 2012.

Jun 2012a 040.jpg : Intersection of FM 529 and Fry Rd., Jun. 2012.

Jun 2012a 041.jpg : Intersection of FM 529 and Fry Rd., facing west, Jun. 2012.

Jun 2012a 042.jpg : Grand Opening of Shell station, FM 529 at Fry Rd., Jun. 2012.

Jul 2012a 047.jpg : Waffle House, located on FM 529 across from Langham Creek High School, July 2012.

Jul 2012a 049.jpg : Auto Zone across from Langham Creek, July 2012.

Nov 2015a 007.jpg : The Chase Bank building at the corner of FM 529 and Lakeview Haven Dr, Nov. 2015.

Nov 2015a 008.jpg : Tilden Auto Care, located along FM 529 just west of State Highway 6, Nov. 2015.

Nov 2015a 011.JPG : Food Town, Nov. 2015.  This grocery store originally opened as Albertson's in 1995, and did not stay in business very long.  Albertson's pulled out of the Houston market.

Apr 2016a 005.JPG : Aerial photo of the end of FM 529 into US 290, April 2016.  Notice that the old Spencer Road alignment, which was abandoned, is now being used for freeway construction staging.

   Groeschke Rd. in West Harris County is located near the original Addicks town site, and it's current primary use is providing access to West Houston Airport.  Groeschke was named after Louis and Charlotte Groeschke, a German immigrant couple who owned a farm in the area back in the 1850's.

   Groeschke is one of those roads that somehow managed to avoid realignment and expansion over the years, and pretty much remains in the same configuration in which it has been since they first paved it with asphalt in the early 20th century.  If you want an idea of what most of the roads in the area looked like before the 1950's, take a look at Groeschke between State Highway 6 and West Houston Airport.  Only two lanes wide, with lots of 90 degree left and right turns.  During the Christmas season, the road is used for an annual Christmas lighting display in which motorists can drive slowly along the road observing massive lighted decorations spanning both sides of the road.

The following photos were taken while driving along Groeschke in October 2011:

Mar 2016a 039.jpg: A Shell service station at the corner of Jones Road and Woodedge.  This hexagon roof design with the tiny store is a late 80's/early 90's design you don't see many of these days.

Mar 2016a 040.jpg : Northbound on Jones Road approaching Cypress-North Houston/Lou Edd.  At about this location was the original intersection of Lou Edd Rd with Jones.  The intersection was moved north to meet Cypress-North Houston directly sometime around 2001 or 2002.

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   On early aerial photos, Louetta appears to vanish shortly after passing what is now Champions Forest Dr.  A dirt trail that disappears and then picks back up closer to the railroad corridor, an area marked on Google Maps as Old Louetta Rd.  Today, Louetta has been expanded to a four lane road with medians, and runs all the way out to Grand Parkway.  As of 2014, most of the road was continuous but there were still some segments being tied together through the Cypress area and its many newer residential communities. I do not have a lot of photos of Louetta Rd. yet, because I did not begin covering the road until 2015, but this chapter will contain all published photos along Louetta from here on out.

Oct 2015a 022.JPG : Louetta Rd. at Stuebner-Airline Rd., facing east

Oct 2015a 023.JPG : Louetta Rd. at Stuebner-Airline Rd., facing east.

Strack's Restaurant: Strack Farms is a name that is well known throughout the Cypress, Tomball, and Spring communities.  In 1848, Prussian immigrants Herman & Heinrich Strack came to Texas, followed later by three other brothers, and purchased a 1,200 acre parcel of land along Cypress Creek that was one of the first two Texas Land Grants issued.  The land was used for farming for over a century, and as time passed, the land was divided further and further.  Strack's Vegetable Farm began selling barbecue sandwiches out of a little adjacent shack, and that little sandwich stand evolved into Strack's Restaurant, a fully functional enclosed restaurant with a take-away window, and a convention hall.  HCAD records show the structure was built in 1972.  Sadly the restaurant went into decline in the early 21st century, and began to lose their edge, according to a lot of local residents.  They said that the management that took over the operation began cutting corners on the food quality, and it just wasn't the same as the original attraction.  Strack farms closed in 2014 and with it went the restaurant.  There was a final day of business that turned up a lot of patrons, but that was the final hoorah for Strack's.  In October 2015, I got some photos of the vacant restaurant, in the event that the structure is torn down to make way for newer construction.  The restaurant sits at the southeast corner of Louetta and present day T.C Jester.

Oct 2015a 024.JPG : Strack's Restaurant on the southeast corner.

Oct 2015a 025.JPG : Strack's Restaurant

Oct 2015a 026.JPG : Strack's Restaurant

Oct 2015a 027.JPG : A distant show of Strack's to show its position and distance from Louetta Rd.

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   Following construction of the reservoir, the major roads in the area were expanded and built up higher to avoid flood waters, but for some reason, Patterson remained unchanged.  It is safe to say that Patterson Rd. has not changed since at least the 1940's, if you exclude tree growth.

   Patterson is one of many places in North America well known by ghost hunters as being a "hot spot" of paranormal activity.  Visitors have reported that they heard tapping noises all around their car if they parked on the bridge (closest to Eldridge Parkway) in the middle of the night and shut off their engine.  This could just be urban legend, but it's kind of fun to have places like this in your locale.  One thing is for certain; there have been lots and lots of unexplained car crashes in the area during the evening hours.  Some say it is more to do with the poorly lit streets inside the reservoir boundaries than a hex, but others will tell you that the original Addicks town site, including Patterson Road and much of Addicks-Fairbanks Road are cursed with the presence of evil spirits.  

   I wouldn't go as far as to say I have had a supernatural experience myself while visiting this area of the reservoir, but if you are in tune with your sixth sense, there is definitely an ominous feeling about the place.  A feeling like the place won't cause you any harm, but could.  This is a very old area of settlement with a lot more history than people give it credit for, and that is why Patterson Road and the surrounding area have always been a subject of interest for me.

PR 004.jpg : Eastbound on Patterson from SH-6, June 2011.

PR 005.jpg : Eastbound on Patterson from SH-6, June 2011.

PR 006.jpg : The east end of Patterson at Eldridge Parkway, Oct. 2011, facing north along abandoned Addicks-Fairbanks Rd.

PR 007.jpg : Colorful array of trees on Patterson Road near Eldridge Parkway, Oct. 2011.

PR 008.jpg : East end of Patterson Rd. facing Addicks-Fairbanks, Oct. 2011.

PR 009.jpg : East end of Patterson Rd. facing Addicks-Fairbanks, Oct. 2011.

Jun 2015a 018.JPG : Patterson Rd. blockaded at the east end due to heavy flooding from late May 2015.

Jun 2015a 019.JPG : Facing west along Patterson Rd. after heavy flooding in early June 2015.

Jun 2015a 020.JPG : Facing west along Patterson Rd., notice the men in the fishing boat in the distance, June 2015

Jun 2015a 021.JPG : A close up photo of the flood gauge for Patterson Rd., which at the time sat 2 feet underwater in early June 2015.

Jun 2015a 023.JPG : A shot of the surface of Patterson Rd. at Addicks-Fairbanks, which was covered in dried algae following the May 2015 floods.

May 2016a 075.jpg : Patterson Rd. following the "Tax Day Floods" of April 2016.  This photo was taken in May 2016 after Highway 6 was reopened to traffic.

May 2016a 078.jpg : Patterson Rd. following the "Tax Day Floods" of April 2016.  This photo and the one above are facing east from Highway 6.

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Telge Road was named for the Telge family, a German immigrant family that arrived in Texas in the late 1800's.  They owned land in Cypress around the Cypress Creek area.  Telge Road runs north all the way from 290 to FM 2920 (Waller-Tomball Rd.).  The route itself goes back to the late 19th or early 20th century.  I haven't confirmed the actual age of the road.  Since its original designation as a road, it has been realigned in several places along the way, most of which are difficult to detect today.  

   In 1980, Telge was extended south of US 290 to meet with West Road near the newborn Copperfield area.  The road that had previously continued south across the freeway from Telge was a business road now called Cameron, which is not open to the public.  The 1980 extension south of 290 has always been four lanes with a center median.  Until the late 1990's, most of the area around this road was still grass fields, except for the Cameron Iron Works forgery and the Randalls distribution center.  

   The realignment locations of Telge are listed below going from south to north:

1.)Spring-Cypress Rd.-  At the original intersection, Telge ran straight north into Spring-Cypress, which was divided into two sides by Telge.  At the intersection with the west end, Telge made a bend to the right, and went over Little Cypress Creek before coming to the east half of Spring-Cypress.  In the 1950's or 60's, Telge was realigned somewhat, creating a new bridge that would cross Little Cypress Creek to the right of the original alignment.  The old alignment was abandoned, and is now located within the fence line of Little Cypress Creek Preserve, a local park.

Aug 2014a 007.JPG : This pile of rocks marks the original Telge alignment where it crossed Little Cypress Creek.  The new Telge is on the right.

Aug 2014a 012.JPG : The old abandoned alignment within the Little Cypress Creek Preserve, facing south towards Spring-Cypress.

Aug 2014a 014.JPG : The abandoned alignment facing north.  Most of the pavement in this area is gone or buried by grass.

Aug 2014a 015.JPG : Some old asphalt paving peeking out from beneath the grass.  At least proving I was onto something legitimate.

Aug 2014a 016.JPG : More of the abandoned alignment looking north from the entrance to the park across from Spring-Cypress east.

   In 2006, Spring-Cypress Rd. itself was realigned on the west side of Telge.  The new road came to intersect Telge behind the gas station, rather than in front of it.  The original intersection was bulldozed, and dug out until the area was just a big bowl, for flood waters I presume.

Aug 2014a 003.JPG : The dead end of Old Spring-Cypress (west half) at Telge Rd.

Aug 2014a 004.JPG : Facing the bowl where Spring-Cypress and Telge once merged prior to 2006.

Aug 2014a 005.JPG : Facing north from the location of the original junction.  The pile of rocks on the far left was the old right of way for Telge that was abandoned in the mid 20th century.

Aug 2014a 006.JPG : Facing south along Telge from the bowl where the northern tip was truncated. (Note power line path on the right)

2.)Grand Parkway Crossing- At the point where Grand Parkway crosses Telge Rd., there was an old realignment done here to Telge's original right of way.  The road left behind after the procedure was named Self Rd., most of which was erased when the Grand Parkway crossed over the area. The realignment was done in the 1950's or 1960's.

Aug 2014a 017.JPG : The split between the new (left) and old (right) alignment of Telge near the Grand Parkway crossing.

Aug 2014a 018.JPG : Facing south along the old alignment towards the Grand Parkway construction.

Aug 2014a 019.JPG : Facing north along the old alignment where it meets the present day one.

Aug 2014a 024.JPG : Facing north along the old Telge alignment from the Grand Parkway construction area.

Aug 2014a 030.JPG : The present day alignment of Telge at Grand Parkway crossing as it looked in August 2014.

Jan 2015a 078.JPG : Aerial photo facing south along Telge Rd. at the Grand Parkway crossing, during construction of the parkway in January 2015.

Jan 2015a 079.JPG : Aerial photo, a closer look at the Grand Parkway under construction as it passes over Telge Rd., January 2015.

3.)Just South of Cypress Garden Dr.- Just a block or two north of the Grand Parkway was yet another realignment of a sharp turn done long ago.  There is some treeline evidence today suggesting a road was once there, but not much in the way of pavement.  This was a very old realignment done probably during the 1950's.

Aug 2014a 026.JPG : The old alignment of Telge, facing south (now private property)

Aug 2014a 027.JPG : The split between the new (left) and old (right) alignments of Telge.

Aug 2014a 028.JPG : Facing north along Telge Rd. at Cypress-Garden Dr.  This photo captures the beauty of the original Telge Rd.

4.)At FM 2920- Today, Telge Road ends its northern journey in Tomball at the intersection of FM 2920 (Once just Waller-Tomball Rd.).  Long ago, Telge was the road at which Waller-Tomball was split into two parts.  In the mid 20th century, Waller-Tomball was realigned at Telge, and there was a small corner of the old Telge transition into Waller-Tomball Rd. that was closed off.  This is hardly recognizable today except from an aerial view.

Other photos taken along Telge Rd. taken in July 2011.

Album 26 Pic 13.jpg : Christ United Church, at Telge & Huffmeister (now Telge & Tin Hall Rd.)

Album 26 Pic 06.jpg : PO's Burgers on Telge, open since 1980.

Album 26 Pic 07.jpg : PO's Burgers

Album 26 Pic 08.jpg : La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant on Telge, open since 1998.

Album 26 Pic 09.jpg : La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant on Telge

Here are some other random photos of Telge Rd. showing it still in its two-lane configuration north of Spring-Cypress Rd.  Taken in Aug. 2014.

Aug 2014a 029.JPG : Rounding a curve near Cypress Garden Dr.

Aug 2014a 031.JPG : Southbound crossing the Grand Parkway construction site.  Widening has already been started on the right.

Aug 2014a 032.JPG : Southbound on Telge approaching Boudreaux intersection, two lanes and a one way stop.

Aug 2014a 036.JPG : Southbound on Telge just past Grant Rd.

Aug 2014a 037.JPG : Southbound approaching a bend in the road just south of Grant Rd.

Aug 2014a 038.JPG : Southbound near Telge Manor Dr.

Aug 2014a 041.JPG : Southbound near The Reserve At Cypress Creek, tall trees on both sides of the road.

Aug 2014a 042.JPG : Southbound approaching the intersection with Spring Cypress (east half) near Little Cypress Creek.

The following photos are from December 2015, taken near Telge & Boudreaux.

Dec 2015a 024.JPG : Facing south along Telge near Boudreaux Rd.

Dec 2015a 025.JPG : Facing north along Telge near Boudreaux Rd. (Grand Parkway overpass in the distance)

Dec 2015a 026.JPG : Facing south along Telge at Boudreaux intersection.

Dec 2015a 027.jpg : Telge & Boudreaux Rd., facing east along Boudreaux (both roads still two lanes, no traffic signal).

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Westheimer Rd. today is one of the busiest and most densely populated streets in all of West Houston.  It has grown for over a century into the mega road it is today.  Running all the way from Elgin St. in Midtown Houston to George Bush Park in far West Harris County, Westheimer has a lot of history to tell.  

The story of Westheimer Rd. goes back to the year 1859, when a German immigrant named Mitchell Louis Westheimer came to Houston.  Westheimer was a businessman.  His name eventually found its way onto several ventures in the Houston area.  Westheimer purchased a 640 acre farm on what was once the outskirts of town.  On this land, he built a school for his own children; and as there was not yet a public school district operating in the area, he also schooled other local children.  The road to his farm/school was known as "The road to Westheimer's Place".  Many years later, the road would become Westheimer Rd., following the same corridor it does today, only much less developed, obviously.

   

   Today, Westheimer runs out west all the way to the Barker Reservoir where it splits into two.  The southern fork, named Westheimer Rd., runs southwest along the base of the reservoir into the town site of Clodine.  The northern fork is named Westheimer Parkway, which travels west through the middle of George Bush Park and merges seamlessly with Pin Oak Road just south of I-10 in Katy.

   Of course, the term seamlessly only applies as of 2010.  Prior to that year, Westheimer Parkway came to a dead end at Katy-Flewellyn Rd., which then turned onto Pin Oak.  The offset intersection was bypassed with a new small segment of Westheimer Parkway that veered north of the original road, directly into Pin Oak.  The old alignment was named Greenbusch Rd. 

   I have posted just about every photo I have ever taken along Westheimer Rd. on this page.  I didn't grow up in the area, so I only have memories as far back as 1991 of how the corridor looked.  Even since then so much has changed, but a lot of it has stuck around too.

May 2013a 080.jpg : Chase Bank building, Southeast corner of Westheimer & Rogerdale.  The building was constructed in 1981.

May 2013a 082.jpg : Intersection of Westheimer & Rogerdale, facing east on Westheimer.  Rogerdale is also another old road.

May 2013a 083.jpg : Facing west along Westheimer from City West Blvd., just west of Rogerdale Rd.

May 2013a 084.jpg : Facing west along Westheimer from City West Blvd., zoomed in.

May 2013a 085.jpg : Regus Office Solutions Building, Westheimer & City West Blvd.

May 2013a 086.jpg : Facing Rogerdale Rd. from City West Blvd.

May 2013a 087.jpg : The Kaleidoscope shopping center at Westheimer & Blue Willow, which was built in the 1980's. This is the streetfront sign on Westheimer.

May 2013a 088.jpg : Kaleidoscope Shopping Center, close up of sign.

May 2013a 089.jpg : Kaleidoscope Shopping Center, left side

May 2013a 090.jpg : Kaleidoscope Shopping Center, center view

May 2013a 091.jpg : Kaleidoscope Shopping Center, right view

May 2013a 093.jpg : Facing west along Westheimer from Kaleidoscope Shopping Center, in view is Mister Car Wash & Syms Clothing.

May 2013a 094.jpg : Establishing shot of the Kaleidoscope Shopping Center from Blue Willow Dr.

May 2013a 095.jpg : Streetfront signs for Mister Car Wash and Syms Clothing, which had already closed at the time of this photograph.

May 2013a 096.jpg : 10777 Westheimer Rd., a well known office building that reflects the sunrise beautifully in the morning.

May 2013a 097.jpg : An older convenience store/filling station on the Northwest corner of Westheimer & Walnut Bend Ln.

May 2013a 098.jpg : The Pavilion Shopping Center, Westheimer near Shadowbriar, built in the 1980's.  This Beauty Empire business was once a Blockbuster Video, the same one where my dad used to take my brother and I to rent movies around the time Terminator 2 was first released on VHS.

May 2013a 099.jpg : More of the Pavilion Shopping Center

May 2013a 100.jpg : More of the Pavilion Shopping Center

May 2013a 101.jpg : This restaurant (closed in this photo) used to be Wok Bo Asian restaurant, which opened in the later 1980's.

May 2013a 102.jpg : Another shot of the Wok Bo restaurant

May 2013a 103.jpg : Northeast corner of Westheimer & Dairy-Ashford Rd., also constructed during the 1980's.

May 2013a 104.jpg : This Fiesta originally opened as a Kroger.

May 2013a 105.jpg : More of the same shopping center.  Most of these businesses were not the same ten years ago or earlier.

May 2013a 106.jpg : The Kirkland's used to be Blockbuster Music, a short lived music store under operation of Blockbuster Video.  This is where 50% of my current CD collection probably came from.  The Subway pictured here was also there as far back as 1992 that I can recall.

  

You would never know it by looking around the area today, but not so long ago, there was once a small airport known as Andrau Airpark situated near Westheimer and Kirkwood, on the south side of Westheimer.  

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