Fort Worth Facts

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I recently moved about 20 miles away from Fort Worth. I’m excited to discover more about this epic historical town, and will, the minute it’s safe to do so. 

I’m putting together a list of little known places I want to see, and I thought I’d share it with you, in case you ever visit (this may even entice you to!)

  • Jesus BBQ – This quaint shoebox on South Main has been in business since 1969. A sign hangs over the sidewalk – “Jesus BBQ and Mexican Food.” The reviewer loved it.

  • Pick Your Own Strawberries 3010 S. Bowen Road, Arlington Pay $10, get a 1-pound strawberry basket and spend a sunny day picking strawberries. Better get there early as sometimes the berries are picked over before closing.

  • The Blue Hole, Dinosaur Valley State Park 1629 Park Road 59, Glen Rose

  • The swimming hole in Dinosaur Valley State Park offers visitors a chance to cool off in 20-feet-deep clear water surrounded by 100 million-year-old fossilized dinosaur tracks. Before you go, check out the Texas Parks & Wildlife website to learn how to map nearby dinosaur tracks because some may be hard to find.

  • Ayres Cemetery2500 Block of Scott Avenue 

    A tiny, antiquated cemetery hides one block off Interstate-30 in a motel parking lot in East Fort Worth. Crumbling gravestones tell a story of one of Fort Worth’s first families. Nestled next to a few of the gravestones are markers indicating that some were citizens of the Republic of Texas, which ended in 1846. The last time someone was buried in this family lot was in 1955. The Ayres Cemetery remains as a symbol of the area’s early settlers.

  • Bonnie and Clyde Shooting Dove Road, Just East of Hwy. 114

    This power couple frequented North Texas reportedly because relatives lived here. However, their career as robbers and gangsters slowed and halted when they played a part in killing several Texas patrolmen near Grapevine.

  • Northside Street Art Intersection of 21st and Roosevelt streets

    An enraged gorilla sits on the side of a nondescript building in an otherwise colorless part of town at the corner of 21st Street and Roosevelt. The artist is unknown.

  • The Stockyards – Lots to do there:
    • Cowtown Opry
    • Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive
    • Mechanical Bull
    • Cowboy Hall of Fame
    • Cattlemen Maze
    • Filthy McNasty’s Saloon

I don’t know about you, but I love the quirky, the obscure, the unknown. I plan to visit several of these places!

Have you ever been to Fort Worth?  

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Laura Drake is a New York and self-published published author of Women's Fiction and Romance.
Her romance series, Sweet on a Cowboy, is set in the world of professional bull riding. Her debut, The Sweet Spot, was a double-finalist, then won the 2014 Romance Writers of America® RITA® award. She’s since published 12 more books. She is a founding member of Women's Fiction Writers Assn, as well as a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West.
Laura is a city girl who never grew out of her tomboy ways, or a serious cowboy crush. She gave up the corporate CFO gig to write full time. She realized a lifelong dream of becoming a Texan and is currently working on her accent. She's a wife, grandmother, and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.

41 thoughts on “Fort Worth Facts”

  2. Laura you’re making me homesick, LOL. My hometown is only an hour SW of Ft. Worth, Stephenville.
    I love in Kansas, so yep, you made me homesick, but in a great way. I can’t wait to hear what you think of Dinosaur Park in Glen Rose, I grew up going down on the paluxy river and remember my visits to the state park. Some of the other attraction I have seen, Ft. Worth Stockyards, but others you mentioned I haven’t, but I’m excited to hear about them from you. Enjoy all the new found places when it’s safe to venture out.
    Thanks for bringing a little of my childhood back to me this morning.

    • Oh, Stephenville is only about 30 miles from me! I can’t wait to go there and see famous cowboys (mostly bull riders). I got a tip on a bakery where they tend to stop in… (not stalking, just….looking).

  4. I have only seen Fort Worth from a train window. Sounds like lots of great stuff to see and do. Enjoy yourself and let us all know what you enjoyed most.

  5. I have only heard of two of the places on your list. The Stockyards and Dinosaur Valley. By the way, I had a boyfriend who knew people in Glen Rose and they had some of the best dinosaur tracks on their property that was closed to the public. I’m definitely going to have to check out that strawberry farm. I had no idea there was one in our area. I know it will bring back memories of picking strawberries with my grandmother on her farm. I used to like helping her sell them along the road side in front of their house. Of course I would always finish off a box (or more) of strawberries while I helped.

  9. Thanks for sharing today. I love the quirky, the obscure, the unknown also. No I have never been to Fort Worth. Sounds like a place we need to visit.

  11. Fort Worth is on my list of places to visit when I go back to Texas. Everytime i hear the song by George Strait “Fort Worth on my Mind” I want to go there..

  13. Laura, Several years ago, I lived in Carrollton which is East of Ft. Worth. I attended in dog show in Ft. Worth. I connected with a breeder of Golden Retrievers. I had my handsome Happy for 11 years. I’ve not had the opportunity to visit the places you shared today. There are lots of fun places in the DFW Metroplex.

  14. I’ve never been to Fort Worth. My middle son is moving to Dallas after college graduation in May. Perhaps I’ll make it down that way in the not-too-distant future.

    denise

  15. I am cousin to Tonya Lucas. I still live in the area with a Dublin address. There are a lot of pro rodeos and those hunky cowboys that have impressive titles live here in Stephenville. Tarleton State University turns out a fair share, too.
    Come on down when you can.
    Did you move to Granbury, Texas?? It is 30 miles out.

  16. I have only passed by Ft. Worth, but never went into the city. I live in west Texas. Congratulations on your move and your whole new adventures.

  17. You’ve picked some of my very favorite sites! I live on corner of Arlington and Fort Worth and my granddaughters go in the spring to pick strawberries. I think you mean the “Cowgirl Museum,” not the Cowboy one. All I know is I visited the Cowgirl one last year, and I was so in awe, I’m writing a book with a setting I took from there. Oh, and it was cancelled this year, due to Covid, but when we return to “normal,” don’t forget the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in January. It’s a huge tradition and awesome event. Ft Worth gives school children a day off to attend. Don’t miss it, next year!

  18. We went to Fort Worth several years ago for an Air Force unit reunion. There was a small museum started by several past members of the unit. They had some interesting things there, but I can’t remember the name. Haven’t yet been able to find it on the internet. We explored a bit of the town, but will be taking your list to explore a bit more next time we get done that way. I hope you get to explore soon. Stay safe and healthy.

  21. I grew up about 70 miles from Ft. Worth and Ft. Worth was our go to for shopping. I’m from Stephenville and currently live in East Texas but I love Ft. Worth.

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