Description
The Wedding Oak of San Saba is a magnificent Live Oak tree that can’t be missed if you happen to be traveling on China Creek Road, about 4 miles northwest of town. It is one of the favorite trees we have visited with a massive trunk, sprawling main branches and a huge canopy that has provided shade, refuge and protection for both animals and people for hundreds of years. In fact, locals claim that it is over 1,000 years old, but we have not yet been able to confirm this.
The tree has been recognized with a State of Texas Historical Marker that tells a short version of the story that makes this tree special. The full version is as follows:
The Comanche Indians chose this tree as site for council meetings, and it also served as a sacred venue for braves and squaws to exchange their wedding vows. Legend has it that they believed the tree to have magical powers to bless their wedding and ensure an everlasting and trusting relationship between the brave and the squaw.
In the mid-1800’s, early white settlers learned about the alleged powers of the wedding oak and began exchanging their vows there as well. In fact, there have been countless actual wedding ceremonies under its boughs including 3 that happened on Christmas Eve in 1911!
The tree lost a major limb during a big storm in the summer of 2017. But it appears to be rebounding nicely and with a little help from Mother Nature, will hopefully live for many generations to come!