Taylor's Camp

Taylor's Camp marker at Sarita, TX rest stop

NPS/Ruben Reyna

Quick Facts

Location:

US 77, about 20 miles south of Kingsville, located in the median serving traffic both directions.

Designation:

Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2143)

MANAGED BY:

Texas Department of Transportation

Amenities

7 listed

Accessible Sites, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Restroom - Family, Water - Drinking/Potable

The Kenedy County Rest Area is home to a U.S.-Mexican War historical marker. However, the marker you’ll find there is proof that you shouldn’t believe everything that you read. Zachary Taylor never camped under the tree that now stands at this rest area. The U.S. army did pass this way en route to the Rio Grande in March of 1846. But the marker has not always been at this spot.

This is a Centennial Marker—one of many placed by the State of Texas in 1936 on the 100th anniversary of Texas independence. In 1978, officials of the Texas Department of Transportation received a request to move the marker several hundred yards to this rest area.

The marker was relocated and plaque explaining the monument had been repositioned was supposed to be added. The monument was transferred, but the new plaque never was attached.