George Getschow and the late Larry McMurtry in the Booked Up lobby in Archer City Credit: courtesy of Archer City Writers Workshop

McMurtry Center Sneak Peek

The Archer City Writers Workshop will hold a preview opening of the Larry McMurtry Literary Center in the late author’s used bookstore, Booked Up, on the second weekend of March.

The LMLC, featured in a December “Day Trips,” is opening the showroom and front area of the former bookstore to the public for a limited time. The center is still very much a work in progress. Visitors will get to see the building before major repairs and renovations.

The preview opening happens on March 8 and 9 from 10am to 5pm, and on subsequent weekends of March. During these openings, the public can acquire books from McMurtry’s collection for a $25 donation to the nonprofit center (limit 10). Most of the books have markings or comments in McMurtry’s own hand.

Credit: photo by Gerald E. McLeod

A lot of credit for the creation of LMLC goes to Joanna and Chip Gaines of Fixer Upper fame. The power couple from Waco purchased Booked Up from the McMurtry heirs. After taking a few volumes for the library in their new Hotel 1928, the couple made the Writers Workshop an offer it couldn’t refuse.

McMurtry always wanted his hometown of Archer City to become a world-class book town. Now the author who set the standard for Texas writing will have a world-class literary center in his name.

Release of rescued cold-stunned sea turtles on Feb. 1 Credit: courtesy of Wildlife Rescue Center

Gulf of Mexico Sea Turtle Update

The Center for Wildlife Rescue at the Texas Aquarium said that 904 cold-stunned sea turtles were taken from the frigid waters of the Texas Gulf Coast in January.

During the first cold snap on Jan. 10, the center and its partners rescued 297 sea turtles from Laguna Madre. On Jan. 21 a second cold front hit the coast, and the center admitted another 607 sea turtles.

The Center for Wildlife Rescue is one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation centers in the U.S. Besides sea turtles, the state-of-the-art veterinarian hospital can treat marine mammals, birds of prey, and shorebirds.

1,743rd in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere: Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/daily/travel.

This article appears in February 21 • 2025.

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Gerald E. McLeod joined the Chronicle staff in November 1980 as a graphic designer. In April 1991 he began writing the “Day Trips” column. Besides the weekly travel column, he contributed “101 Swimming Holes,” “Guide to Central Texas Barbecue,” and “Guide to the Texas Hill Country.” His first 200 columns have been published in Day Trips Vol. I and Day Trips Vol. II.