Spend Spring/Summer Break in Glen Rose/Granbury Area!

The historic town of Glen Rose is located on the Paluxy River in the Texas Prairies and Lakes Region of Texas, 160 miles north of Austin, 54 miles southwest of Fort Worth, and 75 miles southwest of Dallas. The town is known for its dozens of well-preserved petrified wood buildings, and its downtown historical buildings, including the 1893 Somervell County Courthouse, and the 1934 Somervell County Jail.  Outdoor attractions include the Glen Rose Bird Sanctuary on the Square, the Glen Rose River Walk, the ever popular Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, the fish stocked Wheeler Branch Reservoir (Lake) & Park, the stocked Towne Lake, and Big Rocks Park on the Paluxy River. The city owned Oakdale Park on the Paluxy River offers tent campsites, cabins, RV sites with full hook-ups, the Hang-Out building, and the seasonal Plunge Swimming Pool. Dinosaur Valley State Park on the Paluxy River is a favorite of children, and offers dinosaur prints, camping, a seasonal concession, 2 playgrounds, trails, the Blue Hole Swimming area, and equestrian use.

Dinosaur Valley State Park     TPWD Copyright

Other Glen Rose attractions include Bernard’s Mill & Art Museum, the Somervell County Historical Museum, the Creation Evidence Museum Archaeological Excavation, “The Promise” Theatre Production (Sept-Oct), the Land of the Dinosaurs Theatre, the Somervell County Heritage Center, and the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Power Plant & Visitor Center. The town and the Somervell County Expo Center host rodeos, bluegrass festivals, and other events throughout the year. An annual Rattlesnake Round-up is held in early March in Walnut Springs, Texas, 12 miles south of Glen Rose. The Glen Rose Farmers’ Market is held on Fridays. Glen Rose has several good restaurants, including Loco Coyote Grill, Storiebook Café, Riverhouse Grill, Hammond’s BBQ, and the Bernard Street Bakery.

Downtown Glen Rose        NZ Russ CC BY-SA 2.0 

The historic town of Granbury, the county seat of Hood County, is located on the Brazos River, 16 miles slightly northwest of Glen Rose. The historic courthouse square features the 1890 Hood County Courthouse, the 1886 Opera House, and the 1914 Depot which now houses the Genealogical Museum. Other museums include the Hood County Jail Museum, the Granbury Doll House Museum, the Yeats-Duke 1858 Yeats-Duke Working Museum & Teddy Bear Shop, the U.S. Veterans Museum, and the Bridge Street History Center Museum. The 1903 Granbury Light Plant and Waterworks’ 1923 and 1938 diesel engines are powered up during special town events. The Light Plant is open by special appointment. Arts include the Granbury Theater Company, the Big City Music Revue, the Lake Granbury Art Association and Stanley House Gallery, the Dora Lee Langdon Cultural & Education Center at Tarleton State University, and the Brazos Chamber Orchestra. The City of Granbury Wi-Fi Network covers approximately 10 square miles. Take the exciting Ghosts & Legends tour. The Brazos Drive-In Theater has been closed for screen repairs, and should reopen spring, 2016. The town hosts many annual events including General Granbury’s Birthday Party the third weekend in March, the annual Cruisin Car Show Memorial Day Weekend, the three day 4^th of July Celebration, and the Labor Day Granbury Biker Bash. The City of Granbury Airport’s Pancake Breakfast Fly-In is held on the fourth Saturday, April through September. The Barking Rocks Vineyard tasting room is open on Saturdays, 12pm-5pm, or by appointment. The Revolver Brewing offers brewery tours on Saturdays. Granbury has several really good restaurants, including Grumps Burgers, the Rib Shack, Stumpy’s Lakeside Grill at the Lake Granbury Marina, Babe’s Chicken Dinner House, Eighteen Ninety Grille and Lounge, Joe’s Pizza and Pasta, and the Pearl Street Station. Granbury outdoor attractions include Lake Granbury, the Granbury City Park on Lake Granbury, the Granbury disc golf course, a skate park, the Hidden Oaks Golf course, and Brazos River kayaking and canoeing,

Granbury - Hood County Courthouse     bk1bennet CC BY-ND

Granbury Revolver Brewing      steevithak CC BY-SA

The historic 1906 Bluff Dale Tabernacle, the historic 1891 CR 149 Paluxy River Suspension Bridge, and the Bluff Dale Vineyards & Tasting Room are located in Bluff Dale, Texas, 15 miles southwest of Granbury, and 23 miles northwest of Glen Rose. The Acton State Historic Site, the site of Elizabeth Crockett’s grave (Davy Crockett’s widow), is located in Acton, Texas, 23 miles north of Glen Rose, and 7 miles east of Granbury. While in Acton, check out Fall Creek Farms’ "you-pick em" strawberry patch, and the 74 acre Acton Nature and Education Center. The Windmill Farm in Tolar, Texas (8 miles southwest of Granbury) is open daily for drive through tours, and is open for guided tours by appointment. Lake Cleburne and Cleburne State Park are located 24 miles northeast of Glen Rose, and 23 miles southeast of Granbury. The state park amenities include the 116 acre spring-fed Cedar Lake, 5.5 miles of mountain biking trails, hike and bike trails, tent campsites, screened shelters, a boat ramp and boat dock, a designated swimming area, playgrounds, and more! Camping is also available at Meridian State Park & lake, 23.7 miles southeast of Glen Rose, and 40 miles south of Granbury, Texas.

Cleburne State Park Cedar Lake    Earl Nottingham, TPWD Copyright

Bluff Dale Vineyards & Tasting Room    Vinotrails CC BY-SA