Granbury Texas
My sister Cindy lives in a small town thirty miles southwest of Fort Worth Texas. She has lived there since the 1980s and I have visited her there many, many times over the years. With each visit, I come to understand why she loves the town of Granbury.
A few weeks ago, my son and I flew from Atlanta for another visit. Sam and I always look forward to his time with his aunt. He enjoys the fun times with Cindy and I like showing him some of the family values Cindy and I share. As always, Cindy continues to instill in him a large part of herself and the things she loves.
The drive from Fort Worth to Granbury is a drive into the past. Exiting the heavy traffic on US-20 at Benbrook and entering the rolling plains on which US Route 377 is placed takes you to another era. Although communities are springing up along this route, the enormity of the Texas country side engulfs them. Driving over the rolling hills allows you to see for miles and appreciate what was once the dreams of many men--land and lots of it.
Now, beginning ten miles north of Granbury and thirty minutes drive south of Benbrook, cookie cutter American is starting to intrude. Car dealerships, fast food restaurants, and drugstores expand into giant superstores and more fast food restaurants. But the center of Granbury has somehow held its own; the heart of the town is much like it was in the late 1800s.
Most of the buildings on the town square are registered historic landmarks. The most notable is the Victorian styled Courthouse. It is the first building you see as you enter town--it towers above every other building. Surrounding it is a ring of old building which house independently owned businesses, banks and restaurants. Recently, the readers of Texas Highways magazine voted Granbury as "The best Town Square in Texas".
Among the square's buildings is the Granbury Opera House. Meticulously preserved, the Opera still offers live theatre much as it did over one hundred years ago. Legend has it that John Wilkes Booth, the alleged assassin of Abraham Lincoln, escaped and performed here under the alias of John St. Helen. In fact, the entire town has many exciting mysteries and tales. You can explore the graves of Jesse James, General Hiram Granbury and Ashley Crockett, grandson of Davy Crockett; the hanging tower at the Old Jailhouse; or just imagine what life must have been like in the old western frontier.
The square festively comes alive many times every year. The community takes pride in its history and beauty, especially on July 4th and Christmas. Parades, food stands, decorations, fireworks and spirit fill the town and offer both residents and visitors a great American time. While enjoying the festivities, you can wonder around the square and stop in shops like Rinky Tinks for ice cream, The Nut Shell for lunch, or the bookstore for the latest best seller.
Just outside of the square and continuing south on US Route 377 is the Brazos Drive-in. It is one of the few remaining drive-in theaters in America where you can sit in your car or on the back of your truck on a warm summer night and watch a first run movie. Continue fifteen more minutes outside of town and you can visit, or stay at, the Windmill Farm.
Cindy's longtime friends, Chuck and Ruby Rickgauer, have preserved dozens of windmills from many parts of the state and country. Chuck is a retired engineer from the nearby Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant (impressive! but he is also a former Navy "bubblehead") who has spent countless hours moving and rebuilding these links to the past. Ruby is a warm and personable lady who manages a number of small cabins on their farm. These cabins are great places to stay and experience the magnificent Texas sunsets. Chuck and Ruby are true and long time friends with hearts of gold. They have always warmly made me and others welcome. Do not pass up the opportunity to drive through their farm or spend a night in their cabins.
On this visit, Sam's time was filled with bass fishing, cattle feeding, car driving, and river swimming. All of that activity makes him hungry and there are plenty of restaurants to satisfy him. We always get our fill of authentic Mexican food while here. He especially loves Grump's for hamburgers and this time the Line Camp Steakhouse in Tolar.
The restaurant is constructed from an old barn and house torn down by the owners. It is large and roomy and has a wonderful relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy your favorite beverage and the best steaks I have ever eaten. Before dinner, try the Jalapeño poppers -- this is a great way to get a taste of Texas.
I could go on and on about this town because I have visited it so many times and have such good memories. But I will leave it to you to visit this wonderful little Texas city. You will be impressed with its history, lake, people and country side. It truly is a place "Where Texas History Lives".
A few weeks ago, my son and I flew from Atlanta for another visit. Sam and I always look forward to his time with his aunt. He enjoys the fun times with Cindy and I like showing him some of the family values Cindy and I share. As always, Cindy continues to instill in him a large part of herself and the things she loves.
The drive from Fort Worth to Granbury is a drive into the past. Exiting the heavy traffic on US-20 at Benbrook and entering the rolling plains on which US Route 377 is placed takes you to another era. Although communities are springing up along this route, the enormity of the Texas country side engulfs them. Driving over the rolling hills allows you to see for miles and appreciate what was once the dreams of many men--land and lots of it.
Now, beginning ten miles north of Granbury and thirty minutes drive south of Benbrook, cookie cutter American is starting to intrude. Car dealerships, fast food restaurants, and drugstores expand into giant superstores and more fast food restaurants. But the center of Granbury has somehow held its own; the heart of the town is much like it was in the late 1800s.
Most of the buildings on the town square are registered historic landmarks. The most notable is the Victorian styled Courthouse. It is the first building you see as you enter town--it towers above every other building. Surrounding it is a ring of old building which house independently owned businesses, banks and restaurants. Recently, the readers of Texas Highways magazine voted Granbury as "The best Town Square in Texas".
Among the square's buildings is the Granbury Opera House. Meticulously preserved, the Opera still offers live theatre much as it did over one hundred years ago. Legend has it that John Wilkes Booth, the alleged assassin of Abraham Lincoln, escaped and performed here under the alias of John St. Helen. In fact, the entire town has many exciting mysteries and tales. You can explore the graves of Jesse James, General Hiram Granbury and Ashley Crockett, grandson of Davy Crockett; the hanging tower at the Old Jailhouse; or just imagine what life must have been like in the old western frontier.
The square festively comes alive many times every year. The community takes pride in its history and beauty, especially on July 4th and Christmas. Parades, food stands, decorations, fireworks and spirit fill the town and offer both residents and visitors a great American time. While enjoying the festivities, you can wonder around the square and stop in shops like Rinky Tinks for ice cream, The Nut Shell for lunch, or the bookstore for the latest best seller.
Just outside of the square and continuing south on US Route 377 is the Brazos Drive-in. It is one of the few remaining drive-in theaters in America where you can sit in your car or on the back of your truck on a warm summer night and watch a first run movie. Continue fifteen more minutes outside of town and you can visit, or stay at, the Windmill Farm.
Cindy's longtime friends, Chuck and Ruby Rickgauer, have preserved dozens of windmills from many parts of the state and country. Chuck is a retired engineer from the nearby Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant (impressive! but he is also a former Navy "bubblehead") who has spent countless hours moving and rebuilding these links to the past. Ruby is a warm and personable lady who manages a number of small cabins on their farm. These cabins are great places to stay and experience the magnificent Texas sunsets. Chuck and Ruby are true and long time friends with hearts of gold. They have always warmly made me and others welcome. Do not pass up the opportunity to drive through their farm or spend a night in their cabins.
On this visit, Sam's time was filled with bass fishing, cattle feeding, car driving, and river swimming. All of that activity makes him hungry and there are plenty of restaurants to satisfy him. We always get our fill of authentic Mexican food while here. He especially loves Grump's for hamburgers and this time the Line Camp Steakhouse in Tolar.
The restaurant is constructed from an old barn and house torn down by the owners. It is large and roomy and has a wonderful relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy your favorite beverage and the best steaks I have ever eaten. Before dinner, try the Jalapeño poppers -- this is a great way to get a taste of Texas.
I could go on and on about this town because I have visited it so many times and have such good memories. But I will leave it to you to visit this wonderful little Texas city. You will be impressed with its history, lake, people and country side. It truly is a place "Where Texas History Lives".
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