TPW-TV: SIGNS OF THE TIME: Willie Steinhauser makes the 
signs of your time…in state parks. We introduce you to 
him on Passport to Texas. 

This is Passport to Texas

Ask Willie Steinhauser, “what’s your sign?” and he’ll likely 
say: all of them. That’s because Willie makes the iconic 
wooden signs with yellow lettering you see at Texas state 
parks.

07— They go throughout the entire state park system, small or 
large, and I make them all.

From his workshop at Bastrop SP, Willie explains that the 
old-school method of hand carving signs has given way to 
new technology.

15 — [SFX-keyboard] It’s a printer if you want to use that 
comparison, but it has got a router bit.  The machine basically 
just does all the work.  If I have misspelled something in the 
software, the machine is going to misspell it in the real world.  I 
truly don’t think I’ve ever made a spelling mistake--I check it all 
the time, just to make sure it’s spelled right. [SFX-router]

Occasionally, Willie receives unusual sign requests.

21— I had an order for a sign, it was two signs, actually, for Big 
Bend Ranch State Park. One side said simply, nowhere.  And the 
other sign that went with it said The Other Side of Nowhere. I 
assume these signs go out somewhere in the desert and they’re 
mounted on the same post opposite each other. So that’s 
probably the most unusual sign I’ve made.

Watch Willie Steinhauser in his workshop the week of July 
28 on the TPW TV series on PBS. 

04— It’s not a bad gig to have.  I enjoy doing what I do, I like 
doing it.  

Check your local listings.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti. 


Total sound bite time:		                 0:47.0
Maximum Script time:		                 0:38.0                     Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25