The Custodian′s Cottage, also know as the Keepers Cottage and Caretakers Cottage, was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s as a test project in constructing a building in the 1700 Spanish Colonial Era style architecture. This project was to be a proving ground for their ability and talents in this endeavor because after completing the Custodian Cottage, they would next restore and rebuild the Mission Espíritu Santo which was then standing in ruins.

The talented young men of the CCC not only built this cottage, but from the structure, they managed to innovate some amazing features, like the two log stairway that leads up to the upper quarters. Once, the cottage was completed, then it became the home of the custodian who would be stationed there and serve as a caretaker of the completed Mission Espíritu Santo across the state highway.

Then for years after, this amazing cottage would sit in the maintenance area until it was later cleaned up, restored, repurposed as an interpretive museum and open to the public as the El Camino Real de Los Tejas Visitors Center. It is definitely one of the must-see hidden architectural gems of Goliad state park.

The exhibits and interactive elements tell a story of the Spanish royal highway, know as the El Camino Real de Los Tejas, or otherwise known as The Royal Road of The Texas Indians, who, during the Spanish colonization period were indigenous people know now as the Caddoan culture.

However, the building itself is the creation of the CCC architects who sought to recreate the bygone time of the Spanish Colonial Era, both in the visitors center and later by restoring the nearby mission.

Later, about ten-fifty, I begin packing out, unplug, stow the extension cord, start the jammer engine, drive out of the state park and stop briefly for a photo of the old Spanish mission, but don′t go in because I had already done that years earlir.

Then, I turn left and drive north on US 183, but only after about one hundred yards, I turn right into the Custodian Cottage, park, and walk inside for a few photos.

I have long wanted to re-photograph the log stairs from a different angle and after taking several photos, decide that the stairway is just in the wrong place for a good photo.

Finally, on my way out, I stop to read the information sign and take another photo of the Visitors Center and I notice how the outside walls and sidewalks need some pressure washing.

After driving back into the bottom of Texas during the February 2021 Arctic Blast, when the extreme cold temperatures ended, I resumed the northbound direction of my journey.

Upon arriving back at Goliad state park, I obtain a park permit, drive to the shower house for some hot water and find that the shower house in the full hookup loop is a newer building and has steamy hot water. If I come back here, I will shower in this building instead of the one adjacent to the group dining room, an area of the state park where I camped for several nights during the Arctic Blast including Day 907 TG.

Upon leaving the state park, I drive south and stop at the Presidio La Bahía just across the San Antonio river, then I turn back north on US 183 only a short distance to the El Camino Real Custodians Cottage, a museum that I have never toured before, so I park the jammer and then walk to the front door.

Immediately, upon entering the cottage, there is, on the right, a staircase rising to an upper level. However, this staircase is unlike any I have ever seen before. The ingenuity and uniqueness grabs my attention immediately and I examine it from all sides.

The CCC men used two logs in which to cut a series of identical steps and then offset the logs to achieve a series of adjacent half steps. The staff tells me that this method of building steps allows for a very steep incline.

The room where the office currently occupies was the dining room adjacent to the kitchen. I walk in briefly to take a look. Then, I walk out the back door to see the rear patio area.