The Nicest Rest Area

My husband and I were traveling to Austin one weekend and on the way home we stopped at a new Safety Rest Area in Bell County, Texas, on I35 between Austin and Waco. This rest area was beautiful.

The outdoor space was beautifully landscaped, it has a very large picnic area, a playground for kids, a place to walk your dog and let them do their business, and plenty of parking.

As we walked up to the buildings I saw a sign that I have never seen before at a rest area. The sign said Restrooms, and had an arrow directing you, and then it said Storm Shelter with another arrow directing you. That's right there were 2 storm shelters built into the rest area. One was in a smaller building, to the right of the main building, and one was in the larger main building. The shelter had a very heavy door that lead into a cinder block room with benches on each side. This room was in the middle of the building between the Men's and Women's restrooms. There was also a shelter between the restrooms in the large main building. That's right there were 2 sets of restrooms too, Awesome!

The main building had an interpretive display that made the building look like a museum. There was an old grist mill in the lobby area that had information plaques in front of it.  The Rest Area's design was inspired by the grist mill. There is a creek nearby called the Salado Creek and it was home to many grist mills. The grist mill was powered by the creek and would grind grain into flour.

The restrooms were very nice with tile and even separated urinals for the men. My husband took those pictures, obviously.

The Truck parking was in the back of the buildings and the the cars parked in the front. As you were driving out there was a long drive to exit and still more picnic areas on the exit side of the building.

I am not a person who uses rest areas because they usually gross me out. Not this one, I would, and now have, use this rest area anytime!