Prairies and Lakes

FROM FAST-MOVING RIDES TO WALKABLE ART DISTRICTS, THE HEARTLAND OF TEXAS OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

MAGNOLIA MAKEOVER

Waco has become a hot spot for décor and surfing enthusiasts alike

By Erin Quinn-Kong

In the early 1950s, Waco was poised to become a bigger city than Dallas or Austin. But everything changed on the afternoon of May 11, 1953, when the country’s first-ever recorded EF5 tornado ripped through the heart of downtown. The twister destroyed or damaged more than 1,600 homes and businesses, killing 114 people and injuring 597 more. It took decades for the community to recover from the devastation. But another unexpected event—albeit, more uplifting—took the city by storm in 2013: the launch of HGTV’s Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines. In the 12 years since the rise of the Magnolia brand—including the Silos, a bakery, a coffeeshop, a restaurant, and Hotel 1928—Waco has seen its visitor count increase to almost 3 million a year. Travelers can’t get enough of the community’s hospitality, shopping, tourist attractions, and yes, shiplap.

STAY

Hotel Herringbone and Red Herring restaurant
This 21-room boutique hotel ($200/night) made out of old shipping containers anchors a four-story shopping center. The hotel also offers three restaurants, including Red Herring, which serves upscale coastal Mediterranean fare and features live piano lounge performances.

DRINK

Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits
Catch a buzz day or night at this shop known for its classic espresso drinks and craft cocktails. Located in a renovated storefront in historic downtown, the space is covered in colorful murals and is home to the area’s first public rooftop deck.

LEARN

Mammoth National Monument
Travel back in time at this paleontological dig site, which is home to the nation’s first and only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of ice age Columbian mammoths. Discovered in 1978, the fossils are on view still in their original position within the bone bed.

SEE

Waco Surf
Thrill chasers come from all over the country—including Hawaii—to experience this state-of-the-art wakeboard cable and waterpark. Newbies can take surfing lessons in the wave pool while experienced surfers can take a turn with the cable, which goes up to 21 miles per hour.

Dr Pepper Museum
The oldest major soft drink in America was created in 1885 by local pharmacist Charles Alderton. This downtown museum explores the history of the blend of 23 flavors with two buildings of exhibits and experiences about Dr Pepper and the soft drink industry. Be sure to splurge on a Dr Pepper float before you leave.

Cameron Park Zoo
More than 1,700 animals call this 52-acre zoo on the Brazos River home. Last year, the zoo welcomed father and son Sumatran tigers named Gusti and Nakal and six horned pit viper snakes. For an extra special visit, buy tickets for a Zoo Snooze and sleep near the animals. The $55 per person fee includes a pizza dinner, evening program and tour, a snack, and breakfast. 

SHOP

Fabled Bookshop & Cafe
Shop local at this indie bookstore and café known for its Narnia-inspired wardrobe that customers must walk through to enter the magical children’s area.

EVENTS

Silobration
Every October, visitors and locals descend on The Silos for this annual festival to celebrate the Magnolia brand’s birthday. The free event includes vendors, food trucks, and live music. The Silobration features three ticketed events: the Magnolia Story tour, a tour of the Gaines’ castle, and a Silos garden experience. magnolia.com

RV INFO

Camp Fimfo has 200 sites with river access, along with entry to the pool, water playground, swim-up bar, and a mini-golf course. There’s also live music every weekend. RV sites start at $96/night. campfimfo.com/waco

Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway. Photo by Earl Nottingham/Texa Parks & Wildlife Department.

TEXAS STATE PARKS

Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway

Discover wide-open adventure around the 11,000-acre Lake Somerville. Paddle quiet coves by kayak or canoe, reel in bass and catfish, or cruise the open water by boat. Hike, bike, or ride horseback along more than 40 miles of trails, including the 13-mile trailway linking the Birch Creek and Nails Creek units. Swim, camp, birdwatch, or simply unwind beneath the trees. With so many ways to explore, this park is a favorite for lake lovers and trail trekkers alike.

“Tucked away in the heart of Texas, Lake Somerville State Park offers a peaceful escape where wildflowers bloom, trails wind through quiet woods, and the water invites every kind of adventure. It’s a place where sunsets linger, memories are made, and nature welcomes you into its home.” —John Rorie, complex superintendent

MORE PRAIRIES & LAKES STATE PARKS

For more information, directions, and amenities, get your free mobile guide to all 80-plus state parks: texasstateparks.org/app

Bastrop State Park
Bonham State Park
Buescher State Park
Cedar Hill State Park
Cleburne State Park
Cooper State Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Eisenhower State Park
Fort Boggy State Park
Fort Parker State Park
Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway
Lake Tawakoni State Park
Lake Whitney State Park
Lockhart State Park
Meridian State Park
Mother Neff State Park
Palmetto State Park
Purtis Creek State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Stephen F. Austin State Park

Fanthorp Inn in Anderson. Photo by Kristi Harms.

HISTORIC SITES

This area stretching from the Oklahoma border to east of San Antonio contains the state’s richest collection of heritage-based attractions, including many of the Texas Historical Commission’s state historic sites.

The 1868 Sam Bell Maxey House in Paris tells the story of the Maxey family in a changing nation from Reconstruction-era Texas through World War I. The nearby Sam Rayburn House in Bonham commemorates one of the most influential politicians in the 20th century. Just up the road, the Eisenhower Birthplace in Denison is where the 34th U.S. president and World War II commander, Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower, was born in 1890.

Acton features a statue of Davy Crockett’s second wife, Elizabeth, who died in 1860. Confederate Reunion Grounds in Mexia hosted Civil War veterans for reunions from 1889 to 1946. Fanthorp Inn in Anderson features a restored stagecoach stop and inn providing a realistic look into travelers’ experiences in the 1850s.

Nearby, Washington-on-the-Brazos celebrates where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed on March 2, 1836. The site also contains the Star of the Republic Museum and Barrington Living History Farm. San Felipe de Austin in San Felipe preserves the location where Stephen F. Austin established his colony in 1823, the first Anglo-American settlement and provisional capital of Texas.

Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery in La Grange honor the victims of the 1842 Dawson Massacre amid the ruins of German immigrant Heinrich Kreische’s 1860s brewery.

Find other Texas Historical Commission historic sites across the state: texashistoricsites.com.