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Last week, I found myself lost in the small town of Pilot Point, Texas!  After a few of my most recent adventures, I’ve decided that getting lost in a small town with your camera is the perfect way to spend an afternoon!  As long as you can find your way back home before carpool…

This is what made the drive to Pilot Point take longer than an hour. Every mile or so, there were several Hawks just perched on poles. Of course, I had to stop to check them out!

For me, that is 2:45, and sometimes I’m amazed at how quickly the time passes.  I’ve cut it close a few times, but so far, I have always made it back in time (with just a few close calls).

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you have probably gathered that I have a passion for old, run-down barns, deserted buildings, oil derricks, quaint little churches, trains and train tracks.

I don’t know what it is about those things, but recently, I’ve been heading out in my car to find them, and hopefully, a few birds or other fun wildlife along the way.

What I’ve found, in addition to some of my passions, are lots of little towns just a stone’s throw away from where I live in Allen that are charming, simple, quiet, and perfect in their little imperfect way.

My first adventure searching for such a town led me Downtown Pilot Point, Texas.

It took me about an hour to get there (maybe a bit more due to a few Hawk and barn distractions along the way), but not too far when you’ve got your large Diet Coke from Sonic with you for the journey.

Here is one of the many barns that distracted me on my way to Pilot Point. So many cool things to see out that way…

When I pulled in to what they referred to as their “downtown,” I thought maybe I had taken a wrong turn.  I checked my map, and realized that what I saw was it – I had actually found the downtown section of Pilot Point.

It sort of reminded me of a small (and mostly empty) downtown McKinney.  But, even with lots of deserted buildings, I could see the potential.

There were a few quaint little stores – a Barber Shop and a little local coffee shop seemed to be the most popular places on this downtown square, but I could certainly envision a much larger, more populated Downtown Pilot Point, Texas in the coming years.

Don’t you just love the front of this store? It totally makes me want to go in, look around, and sit down at a table and enjoy a fried pie!

Is becoming a hot spot and more populated a good thing?  I’m not sure.  Probably good for the people of Pilot Point, but there was something about the way it was right now that was appealing (at least to me).

Unless of course, you’re craving a fresh Diet Coke from Sonic or a Starbuck’s coffee!  Not going to find either of those things close by.

But what you will find is the Old West Coffee Cafe.  What an amazing discovery.  Sadly, I did not have time to go in and enjoy a fried pie, but I’ve read all about it, and I quickly peeked in the window. I cannot wait to go back when I am not running late for carpool.

I read so many wonderful words about this place all over the Internet.  I’m not a coffee drinker, but I think it will be worth going back for a visit based on what I read about their fresh fried pies, not to mention the friendly people who work there!

In addition to their fried pies, they sell Arbuckles’ coffee, also known as “The Coffee That Won the West” as you can see from the many signs advertising their coffee outside the store! Coffee is not my thing, but based on reviews of Arbuckles’, this must be some pretty good stuff.

Maybe I’ll try a cup next time I visit.  Probably not, but who knows…or maybe they have some soda in there for sale as well!

Below are some quotes from people who have visited the Old West Coffee Cafe.  Lots of nice things said on Yelp about this quaint little place.  Very excited to go back sometime and see what it’s all about inside.

“Great coffee; spent several hours listening to the owner and world champion rodeo saddle bronc rider, Don Decker, converse about horses, dogs, and cowboy logic!  Don’t miss the opportunity to check out a coffee shop for real mean!  Lots of original western art, artifacts and history.”

“Don’t miss the chance to talk with Mr. Decker about his life in the rodeo.  He is a descendant of the Arbuckle Coffee family.  If you are from Pittsburgh, Coffee Way in downtown is named after the Arbuckle roasters that once was located in the alley.”

“Great little coffee shop!  They only serve regular coffee so don’t expect a Starbucks experience but this place is great.  Great conversation with the owner, Don, too.”

“The coffee is great.  The atmosphere even better.  D.C. Decker is a cowboy who tells tales of John Wayne and Tom Selleck.  His place is a genuine one of a kind.  My children love eating the vegetable fried pie and for dessert, the chocolate fried pie.”

When I returned from my little adventure to Pilot Point, I decided to read a bit about their little town.  I was very surprised to learn that Pilot Point was the location where they filmed a famous bank robbery scene from “Bonnie and Clyde” starring Faye Dunaway & Warren Beatty back in 1967.  I also read that Bonnie and Clyde, and many other famous outlaws were known to hang around this area back in their day!
If you are a fan of Bonnie & Clyde, then you will be thrilled to learn that one of the big events in Pilot Point is called Bonnie & Clyde Days!  Yes…you read that right.  And it is certainly an event that I want to attend.  It will be happening again on October 13 of this year (2018).  Check out the video below that they posted to advertise for the 2017 Bonnie & Clyde Days event!

For those of you who are not familiar with the movie Bonnie & Clyde, it is a biographical crime film from 1967 that starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the title characters, Clyde Barrow & Bonnie Parker.

The movie takes place during the Great Depression, and begins when Clyde tries to steal Bonnie’s mother’s car. Bonnie is intrigued by Clyde, and decides to join him for a life of crime, pulling off small holdups to start, but eventually moving on to the big time – robbing banks!

In the video below, you can see a clip from the movie of Bonnie & Clyde robbing a bank.  Watch them as they hop into their getaway car – you can see the bank building they are leaving.  Look familiar?  If you’ve been to Downtown Pilot Point, you will recognize it.

Did you get a good look at the bank as they were hopping in to their getaway car?  If not, go back and watch again.  What do you think? Does  it look like the picture below?  I sure think so.  How cool, right?

I love the fact that I was drawn to this building even before I knew that they had filmed a bank robbery scene from the movie Bonnie & Clyde right in this very spot!

You can read more about this place on their Facebook page if you’re interested.  Be sure to “like” them if you want to stay up to date on what’s happening.  You can also follow the city of Pilot Point on their Facebook page as well!

So there you have it!  Lost in the small town of Pilot Point, Texas!  A perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Definitely worth the drive out there, but make sure that when you visit, you go when the Old West Coffee Cafe is open.

And don’t forget to mark your calendars for Bonnie & Clyde Days!  October 13 will be here before you know it.

Enjoy your visit to Pilot Point, Texas!  Be sure you take your camera with you.  Send me some pics, and be sure to let me know what you think of the fried pies at the Old West Coffee Cafe!  Until next time…