THE ULTIMATE TEXAS DREAM TOWN: WHERE TO GO, STAY, AND PLAY IN GLEN ROSE, TEXAS
THE ULTIMATE TEXAS DREAM TOWN: WHERE TO GO, STAY, AND PLAY IN GLEN ROSE, TEXAS
WHAT TO DO IN GLEN ROSE, TEXAS
Good ole Glen Rose, Texas… just so happens to be my hometown. It was voted America’s dream town in 2004 — so that’s pretty cool! Haha, I joke because I honestly didn’t realize how.. dare I say “cool” it is until I left for college. When I mentioned I was from a small town in Texas (like population of 2400 small) people assumed it was some redneck po-dunk town and Glen Rose is very far from that. When I brought my friends back home with me from college they were in love with its’ personality, shops, nature, and much much more! It’s truly a tourist destination for the entire family. From an 1800 acre outdoor drive through safari to Dinosaur Valley State Park, and everything in between, Glen Rose is definitely a place to escape for the weekend. In this blog post I’ll be covering everything from where to go, where to eat, and where to stay in Glen Rose.
WHERE TO GO IN GLEN ROSE
Located on the Paluxy River, in the middle of town, Big Rocks Park is full of unusually large rocks. I truly didn’t take advantage of Big Rocks enough when I was younger. It’s so cool and actually reminds me of The Baths in the British Virgin Islands. I actually call it the Texas version of The Baths!
There are plenty of shallow areas for kids to climb, explore and play. Families can enjoy swimming and cooling off from the Texas heat or enjoy lunch sitting underneath the trees. There are numerous areas to walk along the Paluxy including the river walk that runs from Heritage Park to Big Rocks. Enjoy taking in the beautiful sights and sounds of one of Glen Rose’s finest. The best part is that the park is completely free! Remember to always pick up after yourself and be respectful to nature! Things to know:
No alcohol is allowed at the park
No BBQ grilling or fires are allowed at the park
Friendly pets on a leash are welcome
Camping is not allowed at the park
DINOSAUR VALLEY STATE PARK
Did you know that Glen Rose is also referred to as the Dinosaur capitol of Texas?! It’s because of the beautiful Dinosaur Valley State Park. It’s one of my all time favorite parks in Texas because of its amazing trails, camping, backpacking areas, and of course the Dinosaur tracks!🦖🦕 I fully believe that Dino Valley sparked my love of nature and parks. As a child, all our field trips were to Dino Valley… I mean like all of them y’all. So clearly after a while, I had to start loving it right? Just kidding! You will fall in love with this beautiful and unique Texas state park when you first visit. I highly recommend going early in the morning to beat the Texas heat and avoid the crowds, especially during the summer. Fees for the park include:
Entrance Fee: $7 per adult 13 years or older & FREE for children 12 and under
Campsites with Electricity: $25 for 8 people at a site
Primitive Campsites (Walk-in): $18 for 8 people at a site
Primitive Campsites (Hike-in): $15 for 8 people at a site
Find additional information here!
FOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE CENTER
Have you ever experienced an African safari in Texas!?🐆🦓🦒🦏 Now you can — Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a 501 non-profit conservation center about 15 minutes from Glen Rose, Texas. They specialize in the breeding of endangered species, public education, scientific research and natural land management. Growing up, I had the wonderful opportunity to experience this in my backyard. We attended the park frequently, experienced special events, and even went to some camps there. I fully believe. Fossil Rim influenced my love of animals!💕
They give visitors an opportunity to learn about numerous species, some of which are endangered & give back to an amazing cause — saving animals. If you go, don’t get out of your car, pet the animals, or feed the animals anything other than what’s provided to you by professionals. Many animals can potentially harm you and you can actually potentially harm them with the natural oils on your hands. However, you do get an opportunity to feed the giraffes so definitely save your food for that! Fossil Rim Wildlife Center truly makes an impact through their conservation & education, which is something I can absolutely get behind and you should 100% experience.
It’s highly recommended to purchase your tickets online and then get there EARLY! Fossil Rim gets extremely crowded and honestly the best time to see the animals is early in the morning — that’s when they’re most active. There are 5 different options to choose from to tour the scenic drive. I recommend the public or private guided tour for your first visit as it’s a great way to learn all about the animals and what Fossil Rim does for them. If it’s your second or third visit, I recommend the self-guided tour where you can drive your own vehicle through the park. Find all the information on ticketing here.
WHEELER BRANCH RESERVOIR
This little hidden gem is the perfect place for a spring or summer dip in Texas! Visitors can swim, kayak, or even fish on Wheeler Branch Reservoir. Somervell County Water District opened Wheeler Branch Park in August of 2010. Park hours are from 7:00 AM until the closing time posted at the gate house (it changes). The park has a boat ramp with floating dock, a beach area that also has its own floating dock island, public restrooms, covered picnic areas, and a large pavilion. We arrived pretty early in the day because Texas summers are HOT and because we wanted to ensure we had a picnic table for lunch — there aren’t a ton of picnic tables.
Price for non-residents is $8 and children under 13 is $4🎟. The park is CASH ONLY and you must bring EXACT admission cost. Honestly, I think this is annoying but it is what it is. In addition, Wheeler Branch is where the firework shows are for the Fourth of July! Check out the schedule here.
EXPLORE THE GLEN ROSE SQUARE
The Glen Rose square is quaint, unique, and historic, and loaded with unique shops, delicious dining, history, fine art, and even lodging. Growing up in this small Texas town, the square was a fun little meeting spot to hang out, enjoy ice cream, or even pie from Pie Peddlers! As an adult, I’ve come to realize just how cute the Glen Rose town square truly is — not a ton of towns even have such lively squares anymore. Especially on a weeknight — the square will be poppin’. Some of my favorites to pop into on the square that I highly recommend for:
Shopping are: Willa at The White Buffalo, Texas Treasures, & Paisley Reese.
Food are: La Vita Italian Restaurant, Shoo-Fly Soda Shop, Crave Bakery, Green Pickle, Riverhouse Grill, Storiebook Cafe, & Pie Peddlers
In addition, the town square is where Glen Rose hosts all their holiday events. From Fourth of July parades to Trick or Treating for Halloween to an awesome Christmas parade!
BARNARD’S MILL & ART MUSEUM
This museum is great for those who love museums and history of the towns they visit. I highly recommended popping into the Mill to see the art work in the gallery and to take a stroll around the grounds. They are only open on the weekends though, so keep that in mind. The mill started as a water-powered gristmill in 1860 then to a steam-powered burr mill. It was sold for $10 and turned into a cotton gin in 1895, a health spa with mineral waters in 1943, a hospital and clinic in 1949, and today a Historical Mill and Art Museum. In addition to the museum and gallery, the museum can be a venue for weddings or other special events. Read more information about this historical mill here.
WHERE TO STAY IN GLEN ROSE
There are a decent amount of places to stay in Glen Rose when it comes to chain hotels but when it comes to the more unique boutique hotels your options are limited. I’ve listed a couple of my favorites below but have a full blog post on 14 places to stay in Glen Rose here.
You’ll absolutely want to stay in one of these epic treehouse in the Texas hill country. I still can’t believe these cabins are in my hometown… When someone mentioned them in my hometown as a potential place to stay after our wedding last October I looked them up and my mouth actually fell open.. These cabins are INCREDIBLE! We had an amazing opportunity to stay in two of the four they offer last summer. In addition to 4 cabins, they also have glamping tents! See them all here. I will say, they are definitely in the country and about 15 minutes out of town but so worth it if you’re looking to disconnect from reality. I will say if you’re looking for a place to work from home, this is probably not the place. We barely had any service and they don’t have wifi. Again, not a huge deal unless you’re wanting to work while in the beautiful Texas hill country.
Rough Creek Lodge is the GEM of Glen Rose. Rough Creek Lodge isn't just a place to stay it’s truly a place to stay a while and experience. Rough Creek Lodge sits on 11,000 acres of Texas-style paradise. It’s filled with adventures for families, friends, lovers, groups, and even great for business retreats. Whether you're renting a room in the lodge, a cabin, or a home, you'll have access to some of the most amazing activities, food, and amenities in the Western Hemisphere.
I grew up going to Rough Creek Lodge for years since I was like 5 years old. Our family would go to Rough Creek for holidays like Easter brunch and easter egg hunting, special occasions like celebrating my high school graduation and then my college graduation, or honestly just for a fun staycation or meal. I feel like I truly have the inside scoop on Rough Creek because not only did I grow up going there with my friends and family, I actually worked there as a babysitter at the Kids Ranch and then also lifeguarded at the family pool which has a full lazy river, waterslide, and hot tub! Y’all, this resort has it all.. from zip-lining, fishing, batting cages, s’mores, fossil hunting, axe throwing, hiking, to archery, and so much more. See all the activities available at Rough Creek Lodge here.
Have you ever wanted to sleep in a tent surrounded by beautiful wildlife? The Foothills Safari Camp includes a ticket to a self guided tour through the Gosdin Scenic Drive at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Why let the fun end at the scenic drive? Spend the night with wild animals in an awesome safari tent and then enjoy a delicious breakfast at the Glass Wall Pavilion (this is only available to guest staying the night). Read more about The Foothills Safari Camp here as well as The Lodge. The Lodge was built in the early 1980s as the home for original Fossil Rim owner Tom Mantzel. Through the years, it has been updated to provide bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations. Several common areas are available for guest use, including the newly renovated Lounge, Great Room, Balcony, and shared Kitchen.
WHERE TO EAT IN GLEN ROSE
There aren’t too many places to eat in a town with a population of 2400 but there are absolutely musts and must nots. Actually now that I think about it… Glen Rose has a lot more restaurants than most small towns. I’m guessing because of Glen Rose being a tourist destination? Anyway, I’m sharing the absolute must visit places to eat in Glen Rose in a full dedicated blog post here you absolutely need to read before planning your trip to GR.
Having grown up in Glen Rose, I would like to think I’m a Glen Rose connoisseur. There are lots of other places in GR, however… be warned. Some may not have been mentioned for a reason because the food, service, or quality of things are meh. Obviously there are new things popping up I’ve yet to try (not many though) but I’ll try and update this post as often as possible.
Excited to plan your trip to America’s dream town? Let me know if you have any further questions on Glen Rose or the surrounding area!
XOXO
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