The Texas Historical Commission has bestowed a historical marker on the City of Ennis in recognition of its famous fields of bluebonnets, an annual display that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each spring.
The marker identifies the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails as an important and educational part of local and state history. The dedication ceremony occurred Thursday at the Ennis Welcome Center at 201 NW Main St., where the marker was permanently placed for viewing.
The marker details the history of the Bluebonnet Trails, which can be traced back to the 1930s, when a resident, John Louie Clark, first cleared a path near Kachina Prairie so folks could enjoy the abundant bluebonnets growing there. In 1952, the Ennis Garden Club took on the role of promoting the state flower of Texas by sponsoring the first annual Bluebonnet Trails event.
A few years later, the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival was added to the annual trails event, and the state legislature named the Ennis Trail the official bluebonnet trail of Texas.
The timing of the annual trails event can vary somewhat each year, depending on when the flowers begin to bloom. This year’s Ennis Bluebonnet Trails began on April 1 and will continue through April 30. Visitors can pick up maps at the Welcome Center showing 40 miles of driving routes and hiking trails where they can view bluebonnets in their finest springtime splendor.
The related Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival takes place this year from April 11 to 13. The festival includes a schedule of live musical performances, along with food, wine, and beer vendors. Shopping vendors will also be onsite, offering plenty of bluebonnet-themed merchandise.