The Singing Trees

Texas Live Oaks, Quercus fusiformis

The Story

The Singing Trees stand behind The Inn on the River in Glen Rose, Somervell County, Texas, overlooking the Paluxy River.

In addition to the river, there are several streams, as well as hundreds of natural springs and artesian wells. These water features drew buffalo to the area and the American Indians who hunted them. Their trails lead to a low-water crossing which the first settlers, traveling from the west side of the Brazos River followed. And in 1859, Charles Barnard, who had traveled this route, returned to the area and built the first store in what is now the town of Glen Rose.

By the late 1800s, Glen Rose was known for its natural springs and artesian wells and it had become a bustling town as well as a desired location for doctors and sanitariums (health and recreation centers of the time). The most popular of which was the resort-style Snyder Sanitarium. During the 1950s, A.C. Solberg, a patient at the sanitarium was inspired by the Live Oaks to write the namesake song, “Singing Trees”, performed and recorded by Elvis Presley in 1967 for the movie Clambake.

Today, the Singing Trees reside on the grounds of the Inn on the River and have continued to witness celebratory events for generations of area residents. The Texas Historic Tree Coalition formally recognized the trees as historic and added them to our historic tree registry on September 23, 2023. The Live Oaks are living witnesses to the rich history of Glen Rose, as well as the great state of Texas.