08/24/2023
In San Antonio, there's a fascinating quirk when it comes to street names that often leaves both locals and visitors scratching their heads. Among these quirks is the trio of roads with "Wurzbach" in their names: Wurzbach Road, Wurzbach Parkway, and Harry Wurzbach Road. Let's dive into the details:
Wurzbach Road: Imagine this as your starting point, just outside Loop 410 at Ingram Park Mall's entrance on Ingram Road. It heads northeast through the Medical Center, crosses I-10, and concludes at Lockhill-Selma Rd., transitioning into Wurzbach Parkway.
Wurzbach Parkway: Taking over from Wurzbach Road at Lockhill-Selma Rd., Wurzbach Parkway isn't just a continuation; it's a state roadway with expressway qualities along a good part of its route. Stretching across the North Side, it reaches O'Connor Rd. near I-35. Together with a stretch of Wurzbach Road, it's the sole east-west route connecting I-35 to I-10 between the loops.
Harry Wurzbach Road: Now, this is where the plot thickens. Harry Wurzbach Road runs independently from Loop 410 to Fort Sam Houston. Remember, it's crucial to call it "Harry Wurzbach Road" – simply "Wurzbach" won't cut it and might stir up some confusion. Back in the day, it had an even longer path, linking Fort Sam Houston to Camp Bullis via today's Loop 410 and NW Military.
Here's a fun tidbit: All three roads are named after members of the same family. San Antonio's tradition of naming roads after influential landowners from back in the day continues here. Wurzbach Road, and subsequently Wurzbach Parkway, were named in honor of William Wurzbach, who owned a ranch around the current I-10 and Wurzbach Road area. He crafted a road on his property and generously handed it over to the county, which then named it after him.
William's brother, Harry McLeary Wurzbach, was a lawyer and served as a congressman for the region from 1921 until his passing in 1931. He also fought in the Texas Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish American War and championed the cause of veterans during his time in Congress. To commemorate his contributions, officials decided to name the highway constructed around 1943 – connecting Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis – after him. Interestingly, his family reportedly opposed the naming due to concerns about potential confusion – a foresight that history proved right.