Rockdale in Milam County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Rainbow Tourist Camp and Courts

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 18, 2025

1. Rainbow Tourist Camp and Courts Marker

Inscription. In the first decades of the twentieth century, affordable roadside accommodations began with campsites equipped with amenities. These eventually developed into cottage style courts in the 1920s. Nathan Monroe (N.M.) Bullock, a member of the State Mining Board, opened Rainbow Tourist Camp near his Rockdale home in 1918. By the 1920s, Bullock and his wife, Lenora, added cottages to the camp. A fire destroyed Bullock’s house in 1930, but he rebuilt it with an attached motel office and constructed additional cottages.

In 1936, when U.S. Highway 79 was built through town, business boomed and Bullock called in his brother, Ira Benjamin (I.B.), to assist in running the courts. After N.M. Bullock died in 1945, his brother purchased the tourist courts. He purchased additional space, added more rooms, and renovated much of the facilities. I.B. Bullock died in 1970 and in 1975 his wife, Algia Mae Bullock, sold Rainbow Courts Motel to their daughter and her husband.

Many of the cottages present are the original structures from the 1920s, although renovated. The cottages were originally constructed as wood frame with piers and

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beam foundations. The cottages were built to include carports within an inline power-sharing design. The mission revival style cottages’ parapets and flat roofs have been covered with gabled metal roofs.

The motel office was remodeled with an Austin stone veneer in the 1950s. The layout of the motel cottages is still a classic “u” shape. Iris plants, first planted by Lenora Bullock, still bloom on the property. Rainbow Courts had a significant impact on the evolution of travel and tourism in Rockdale and the State of Texas. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2015

Erected 2015 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18116.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places.

Location. 30° 39.613′ N, 96° 59.527′ W. Marker is in Rockdale, Texas, in Milam County. It is at the intersection of E. Cameron Ave and Houston Street on E. Cameron Ave. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 915 E Cameron Ave, Rockdale TX 76567, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

Rainbow Tourist Camp and Courts and marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 18, 2025

2. Rainbow Tourist Camp and Courts and marker

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Matinee Musical Club (approx. half a mile away); First Baptist Church of Rockdale (approx. half a mile away); Springfield Missionary Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); Historic African American Businesses (approx. 0.6 miles away); George Sessions Perry (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Kay Theater (approx. 0.6 miles away); Site of Mundine Hotel (approx. 0.7 miles away); Railroads in Rockdale (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockdale.

Rainbow Tourist Camp and Courts cottage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 18, 2025

3. Rainbow Tourist Camp and Courts cottage

Sign at road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 18, 2025

4. Sign at road

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 22, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.