Ride Texas puts Rusk on the map
Magazine names Rusk as a 'must-visit' small town
BY LELAND ACKER

Rusk is getting national attention as a motorcycle destination after an article in the February/ March 2008 edition of Ride Texas magazine named it one of the seven must visit small town destinations. Bill Keese, freelance writer and photographer for Ride Texas said Rusk's "down-home" atmosphere and beautiful scenery captured his attention.

"If you're a motorcyclist, it's a beautiful place to ride, with the square, footbridge and the landscape," he said.

Mr. Keese said he took several photographs of the downtown area before going to the Iron Horse Mercantile for lunch.

"I went into the post office," he said. "They had 'wanted' posters on the bulletin board. You don't see that much anymore. I was fascinated to see that. The people there were amused that

was taking pictures of it."

Mr. Keese said one of the reasons he likes Rusk is it exemplifies Southern culture.

"Rusk is an old Southern town," he said. "It could be Tupelo, Miss. I went into the Iron Horse. There was a counter there with people sitting there talking. East Texas is molded by the Old South."

In his article, Mr. Keese cited Bob Bowman as describing Rusk as a town that Mark Twain might have lived in.

"Twain might not have lived in Rusk, but it feels like a town right out of Huckleberry Finn," his article stated.

He described how several residents spoke to him during his visit, telling him something interesting about Rusk.

The article goes on to give a brief history of Rusk, as well as highlighting some of the area attractions, such as the footbridge and the Maydelle Winery.

He closes his article by saying, "Rusk represents all that is good about East Texas, and if you're out for a weekend adventure, Rusk is a mighty good destination."

Ride Texas is published in Austin and is distributed nationwide.

"I once had a reader from Omaha, Neb., write a letter to the editor about one of my articles," Mr. Keese said. "The magazine is primarily about rides in Texas, but it has been extended to rides beyond the state as well."

Mr. Keese holds a B.A. from TCU and an MBA from SMU. He covers the East Texas Pineywoods for Ride Texas.

For more information, visit the magazine's Web site at www.ridetexas.com.