Don’t miss this small yet powerful shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe along southbound Highway 17 north of  Balmorhea. Cared for by the nearby Christ the King Catholic Church, the modest shrine features an approximately three-foot-tall statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe within a semicircle of cemented creek rock from the surrounding area.

A group of tall, thin poplar trees is a visual marker for passersby, including those traveling through West Texas en route to Mexico (about 120 miles southwest) who stop to pray for a safe journey. Many light a candle or adorn the Virgin with jewelry, flowers, or personal tokens. Rosaries and necklaces grace the statue, while artificial flowers in a rainbow of colors rest at her feet.