Universal City, part of the San Antonio MSA and located on the northeast corner of Bexar County, starts at Randolph Air Force Base's north gate. The main drag through the city from the entrance to Randolph is Pat Booker Road, which connects Loop 1604, San Antonio's "outer loop," to State Highway 78 and the all-important Southern Pacific Railroad that parallels 78. The city was named by a developer to designate the universal importance of the air base, which opened in 1931.
The photo shows workers sprucing up the "Taj Mahal," the control tower at Randolph AFB.
Pat Booker Road (SH 218) was named after Capt. Francis Booker, a pilot who served at Randolph. You can get just about any service or product on Pat Booker Road, from auto parts to cars, from tattoos to dental work, from fast food to family restaurants.
Speaking of restaurants, one of the most popular ones in the area is La Fiesta Patio Cafe. It's a Mexican restaurant that offers vegetarian options and uses peanut oil instead of lard for cooking. Prices are reasonable for delicious food (especially their hot sauce!) and generous servings.
Universal City is located near several thoroughfares that make it convenient to commute not only to Randolph AFB, but to Fort Sam Houston, Brooke Army Medical Center, and downtown San Antonio. At the intersection of Pat Booker Road and Loop 1604 is the corner of the Forum Shopping Center, a collection of big box stores, such as Kohl's, Home Depot, Target, Ross, and Borders books, as well as restaurants including Macaroni Grill, TGI Friday's, and Sea Island Shrimp House.
The owner of Acme Lumber Company built the first homes in the Rose Garden area in the '50s. However, Universal City didn't begin to really grow until the transfer of the Air Force Manpower Personnel Center from Washington in 1963.
Thus, Universal City has been estimated to have 90 percent active and retired military residents. Training jets from Randolph AFB fly overhead just about every day of the week. If you're on SH 78 in front of the base, they will come in for landings right over your car--very exciting!
Universal City comprises two school districts: Judson Independent School District, centered in the nearby town of Converse, and the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District.
Two of the six public parks in Universal City are situated in the heart of the community, near the Rose Garden and Red Horse neighborhoods. Red Horse Park has two playgrounds, a softball field, a covered pavilion that can be rented for parties, shady walking trails and picnic tables, a basketball court, two tennis courts, and restrooms.
Universal City Park is almost four times larger than Red Horse Park, with 32 acres. It includes three lighted softball/baseball fields with dugouts, bleachers, and score-keeper's box. There's even a concession building with restrooms. It also features walking/jogging paths, a large pavilion, two sand-volleyball courts, a regulation-size football field, and two playgrounds. There is also a disc golf course. I'm not sure what disc golf is, but it's bound to be fun.
The city hosts two annual events. There is a Veterans' Day parade, naturally, and an annual Children's Christmas Party, sponsored by the Universal City volunteer fire department. The photo below is of the V-day +50 celebration in 1995.
A bit of trivia: Universal City holds the distinction of being the first community in Bexar County to get cable television.
Photos from the Department of Defense
Air conditioning
