The Stand

(An Ongoing Series with New Images & Stories to be Added)

Blue Parrot Ice Cream Bar
Danbury Township, OH

I love roadside stands, the kitschier, the better. It doesn’t make much difference where they’re found—the open road, a city street, the boardwalk, or even a neighborhood street corner. I can’t explain why, but they call me. I am sure that it has something to do with my childhood and our family travels. I hope I’ve instilled the same love in my kids, and they in their kids.

Here you will find stands of all sorts: Lemonade, hot dog, root beer, fruit and vegetable, perhaps even a tacky souvenir stand … and much more. Some appearing here might be found elsewhere in a different gallery.

Eford Orchards
Pittsburg, Texas

As often happens when we travel, we find ourselves wandering the back roads. Heading home to Austin we wandered upon Eford Orchards. We could help but stop. Boxes and baskets of peaches spilled out from a roadside stand that could only be described as a “Fruit Stand on Steroids.”

In 1972 the Eford family started selling peaches at a roadside stand with a dirt floor. Today that roadside stand has evolved into a tourist attraction. It’s worth stopping for, even if you don’t like peaches. Alongside the people stopping to buy peaches, veggies, and merchandise. The packers pack peaches to be shipped to grocery stores throughout Texas and around the country.

Although known for their peaches, Eford grows and sells a variety of produce and fruits, as well as jams and jellies made from their fruit. And then there is their homemade ice cream, made right there on the premise from seasonal fresh fruits.

Our adventure was in June of 2015. Nothing has changed today, other than perhaps growing a bit. By the way, we purchased a few peaches for the road and share a fresh peach ice cream cone. The peaches were drippingly delicious.