Ranch to Market Road 187 is an Ranch to Market Road located in Zavala, Uvalde, Bandera, and Kerr counties in the US state of Texas. The route passes through the cities of Sabinal, Utopia, and Vanderpool. The road helps connect several small south Texas ranches to major highways. RM 187 was first designated in 1945, and was extended three times during the 1940s. As of 2012, it is the longest Ranch to Market Road in the state of Texas.
Route description
RM 187 begins at its southern terminus with US Highway 57, near Batesville, as a paved, two-lane, asphalt road. RM 187 winds through several miles of Southern Texas grassland dotted with trees. The highway passes several large ranches and farms along this course and intersects with several county routes and private roads. For this stretch of the route, RM 187 is heading in a northeast direction. The highway turns north about south of an intersection with FM 140. The two highways run concurrently for nearly a mile before FM 140 turns westward. RM 187 continues north through rolling grasslands for almost before turning in a northeast direction. The route continues in this direction for about two miles before returning to a northerly direction. After about, RM 187 intersects with US 90 and State Highway 127 in the small town of Sabinal. The highway continues through more hilly, rolling grasslands. A few miles later, the highway crosses the Sabinal River and proceeds past the Waresville cemetery, the Links of Utopia Golf Course, and the Utopia on the River Airport before passing through the "downtown" area of the village of Utopia. RM 187 winds through nearly of brushland, passing several large ranches and farms alongside the Sabinal River. The highway heads through the unincorporated community of Vanderpool and runs concurrently with RM 337 for a length of. Separating and running northward, RM 187 continues along the southwestern edge of the Lost Maples State Natural Area. The highway turns northeasterly through a long stretch of brushland before reaching its northern terminus at SH 39.
History
RM 187 was first designated as Farm to Market Road 187, a stretch of road going from Sabinal to the Bandera County line on June 11, 1945. Just 14 days later, on June 25, 1945, it was extended from the Bandera County line up to Vanderpool. The highway was extended from an intersection with US 90 to Garner Field on April 1, 1948, which added approximately to the route. The highway was lengthened on November 23, 1948 to a point south of Sabinal, while the previous extension was cancelled and redesignated to FM 1023. The highway was again lengthened southward by to a dead end point on July 15, 1949. FM 187 was redesignated as RM 187 some time later. RM 187 was again extended south on March 24, 1954 to an intersection with FM 140. This added approximately, giving the route an overall length of 48 miles. On May 2, 1962, the road was extended northward, totaling long. The road was extended to its modern-day northern terminus at SH 39 on June 26, 1963, which added about to the route. On June 21, 1967, FM 2557 was redesignated to RM 187, bringing the route to its southern terminus at US 57, though this did not take effect until construction on the from FM 140 to FM 2557 was completed. This added approximately, totaling the road length to.
