Easter Sunrise on The Flower Mound

Mark Glover

Easter Sunrise Services on the Flower Mound this year are March 31, 6:55 a.m. It is always a special morning, but this year is very special. This year marks the 30th Anniversary that The Flower Mound was deeded to the Flower Mound Foundation, to be kept in its natural beauty for perpetuity.

The Flower Mound (the Mound) was created some 66 to 144 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period. Once the oceans receded from this region, the Mound towered some fifty feet above the adjoining Blackland Prairie.

Although undistinguishable today, the Mound sits on Long Prairie, which was a one mile wide by four miles long prairie amidst the Cross Timbers. Early travelers emerged from fighting their way through the thick brush of the Cross Timbers onto Long Prairie, with the Mound rising above. It must have been a welcoming sight. Many weary travelers rested, camped, and surveyed the landscape from the Mound.

Myths about the Mound include that it was built by an Ancient Culture or is an Indian burial ground. Edward Marcus had several locations on the Mound excavated by SMU Archeologist, but no Indian remains were found.

The very first recorded religious sermon in Denton County was on a Sunday morning in May of 1841, somewhere on Long Prairie. Most likely, it was on the Flower Mound. John Denton, namesake to Denton County and the City of Denton, presided over a morning sermon to Texas Rangers that were in pursuit of hostile Indians, who were raiding neighboring settlers.

The Mound has had several owners, starting with John Wiswell in 1844. Subsequent owners were George Beavers, Ray Lester, Edward Marcus, Flower Mound New Town, and Bellamah Community Development.

Bellamah deeded the Mound to the Flower Mound Foundation on July 25, 1983. The Foundation’s purpose is to keep the original character of the site and to promote and encourage educational, scientific, and historical interests. The Foundation maintains and secures the Mound for all to enjoy, and to preserve for future generations.

The Mound exists today as it did when the first pioneers first saw it. It has never had a plow in it.  The same Bluestem, Indian Grass, Switch Grass and Wildflowers grow there as they did hundreds of years ago, when Buffalo and Antelope grazed them. It is one of the last remaining pieces of unaltered Blackland Prairie.

According to Alton Bowman, over 400 varieties of plants and flowers grow on The Mound. Bowman is author of The Flower Mound, Flower Mound, Texas; A History and Field Guide to the Flowers and Grasses. The Flower Mound Foundation sells this book for $20 to help pay for maintenance of the Mound.

Edward Marcus said when he owned the Mound, “The Mound would be a perfect place for a Sunrise Easter Service,” according to Bob Rheudasil. Bob was the First Mayor of Flower Mound and maintained The Mound for decades.

In 1971, local leaders including Bob Rheudasil held the first Sunrise Service on The Mound. Bob and his crews from Black Mark Farms carved the first crosses for this service. Edward Marcus attended that first Sunrise Service and “was thrilled to attend,” according to Bob.

Early Flower Mound civic leaders formed The Summit Club of Flower Mound in 1974 and the Women of Flower Mound (WOFM) shortly after. Summit Club and WOFM have preserved the tradition of having Easter Sunrise Service on The Flower Mound ever since.

Last year, approximately 1,400 people gathered on the Mound for Easter Sunrise Services. It was a record attendance for the event.

Every year, a different Church is invited to help host the Sunrise Service. This year, Trietsch United Memorial Methodist Church will host the service. Rev. Joe Shafer will preside over a 25 minute service, with music provided by Trietsch’s 5th Sunday Youth Band.

Everyone is invited to attend the Sunrise Service. Parking is in the Tom Thumb parking lot to the West of the Mound. Please plan on arriving by 6:30 a.m. Coffee and pastries are provided by the Summit Club and WOFM.

-Mark Glover lives in Flower Mound, Texas with his wife Penny Rheudasil Glover. Mark is the Principal of iMark Realty Advisors and helps clients buy, sell, lease, develop and invest in commercial real estate. Mark enjoys writing about history, commercial real estate, and hobbies . Mark also raises backyard chickens and Labrador Retrievers. Penny is an avid gardener and raises vegetables, herbs, and wildflowers. They have a prized crop of Texas Bluebonnets every spring. Their 2.75 acre mini-farm is named Rheudasil Farms after Penny’s father, Bob Rheudasil, who once owned their property. Bob was a respected cattle rancher, tree farmer, and the first Mayor of Flower Mound. Mark can be reached by email at Mark@iMarkRealty.com or by phone at 214-550-5017.