Travel Texas 15 Best Things To Do In Granbury, Texas Explore over 40 historic landmarks and a scenic lake all within walking distance of this small town. By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough Sadik is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 1, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article What To Do Where To Stay Where To Eat Close Photo: Courtesy Visit Granbury It’s not hard to find a charming small town in Texas, but you won’t likely find many as historic as Granbury. Its Wild West past, western charm, and fun for the whole family make Granbury worth visiting. Located less than two hours from Dallas, Fort Worth, and Waco, it’s not as off-the-beaten-path as one would assume while walking around the refreshingly stuck-in-time town that sticks close to its roots. Founded in 1886, Granbury is a tightly-knit community that totals just over 10,000 residents. It’s cozied around a historic courthouse square that dates back to the 1890s, and you can discover over 40 historic Texas landmarks while moseying around town. The town is known as the final resting place of outlaw Jesse James and where John Wilkes Booth lived after President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Additionally, the historic Granbury Square was the first courthouse square in Texas to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Plan a visit in spring or fall when the weather will be perfect for the outdoors. We suggest starting in the time-honored district where there is much to see and do, including shops, restaurants, and tours. Locals and visitors also take advantage of nearby Lake Granbury (which is walkable from the historic district!) and its many outdoor activities. There’s something for everyone to do in Granbury, so plan your next Lone Star getaway with our advice on the best activities, restaurants, and more. Courtesy Visit Granbury What To Do In Granbury Visit Historic Sites Explore some of the town’s most history-filled locations, starting by taking a step inside the three-story limestone Hood County Courthouse, which was originally constructed in 1890. The newly restored 1886 Historic Granbury Opera House still puts on year-round performances, and the circa-1914 Historic Granbury Railroad Depot offers a glimpse into frontier days when railroads remained the most vital transportation between Texas towns. granburytheatrecompany.org, 133 East Pearl Street, Granbury, TX 76048 granburydepot.org/home/HCGShomePage.htm, 109 Ewell Street, Granbury, TX 76048 Stroll Museums Or Take A Tour A few other must-stops include the Hood County Old Jail Museum, Bridge Street History Center, and Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour. Nearby, you can visit the gravesite of Elizabeth Crockett, the second wife of Alamo hero Davy Crockett, at the Acton State Historic Site, which also happens to be the smallest state park in Texas. hctxhs.org/Museums/jail.htm, 208 North Crockett Street, Granbury, TX 76048 bshc-granbury.org, 319 East Bridge Street, Granbury, TX 76048 granburytours.com, Granbury historic town square thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/acton, 167 Granbury Court, Granbury, TX 76049 Cool Off At The Lake Enjoy the fresh air at Lake Granbury, which conveniently has its own sandy beach at the City Beach Park that is perfect for swimming and picnicking. There, you can also rent kayaks and paddle boards for heading out on the water. There’s even a tiki concession stand. granbury.org/744/City-Beach-Park, 505 East Pearl Street, Granbury, TX 76048 Get In Touch With Nature For other nature pursuits, we recommend heading to Acton Nature Center, where visitors can hike or bike the trails, and see the butterfly and hummingbird garden and beautiful wildflowers. actonnaturecenter.org, 6900 Smoky Hill Court, Granbury, TX 76049 Learn About Conservation Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a conservation center that specializes in captive breeding programs for exotic endangered and threatened species. Look for cheetahs, common wildebeest, addax, which is a type of antelope, and a Southern white rhino calf named Rocket. fossilrim.org, 2299 County Road 2008, Glen Rose, TX 76043 See Where Dinosaurs Roamed Walk where the dinosaurs roamed at Dinosaur Valley State Park, and see their footprints in the bed of the Paluxy River. Paddle the river, hike the trails, or find a geocache. Visitors can also take a horse-drawn wagon ride or guided horseback tour. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/dinosaur-valley, 1629 Park Road 59, Glen Rose, TX 76043 Courtesy Barking Rocks Winery Tour Local Vineyards Get a taste of Texas wine at Granbury’s nearby vineyards. Barking Rocks Winery is open on Saturdays for tastings and tours. Make sure to say hello to the winery mascot, Ripple the dog. Bluff Dale Vineyards offers picnic-perfect outdoor seating, tastings, and live music sporadically, so check the events calendar to line up your visit. For those who prefer a brew to a vino, stop by family-owned Revolver Brewing on Saturdays for food and music and to sample what's on tap. barkingrockswine.com, 1919 Allen Court, Granbury, TX 76048 bluffdalevineyards.com, 5222 County Road 148, Bluff Dale, TX 76433 revolverbrewing.com, 5650 Matlock Road, Granbury, TX 76049 Courtesy The Inn at Lake Granbury Where To Stay In Granbury Stay At The Inn On Lake Granbury As expected in any quaint Southern town, bed-and-breakfasts and charming hotels abound in Granbury, offering plenty of close-to-everything options as well as scenic getaways. The Inn on Lake Granbury is one such peaceful escape. The lakefront inn is still within walking distance of the historic downtown Granbury Square, despite feeling like a retreat. innonlakegranbury.com, 205 West Doyle Street, Granbury, TX 76048 Relax In Luxury At Hotel Lucy Hotel Lucy is both historic-feeling and luxury-minded. The boutique hotel is owned by local Vicki Nivens, who also runs Hard Eight BBQ and a gift and clothing boutique. Lavish-themed rooms feature amenities like a waterfall tub, premium bedding, private patio, or an in-room fireplace. The property offers a chef's kitchen for guests, yard games, a fire pit, coffee bar, and resort-style pool. hotel-lucy.com, 530 East Pearl Street, Granbury, TX 76048 Enjoy A Cozy Escape At Iron Horse Inn For an even cozier stay, choose Iron Horse Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that only has 7 rooms and suites. The restored Craftsman-style home is two blocks from Granbury Square. Guests stay in the main house or the more private garden cottage, which has a stone fireplace and private patio. Get up in time for breakfast. The owner’s cinnamon rolls are not to be missed. ironhorsebb.com, 616 Thorpe Springs Road, Granbury, TX 76048 Courtesy Visit Granbury Where To Eat In Granbury Start The Day At BAKED! You won’t have to wander far to find a bite to eat. Start the day at BAKED! Bread & Pastry Co., which has homemade European-style breads, bagels, and pastries. There’s also an impressive lunch menu of salads and sandwiches on just-baked bread. bakedgranbury.com, 401 Cleveland Road, Granbury, TX 76049 Fill Up At Pearl Street Station In Granbury Square, there's no shortage of places to eat. Pearl Street Station features a uniquely Texas combination of barbecue and Cajun food and is located inside a 1933 gas station. Sandwiches are served on a cheddar-jalapeno sourdough bun with a side of beans. Barbecue plates come with a choice of smoked meats like brisket, sausage, pulled pork, and bologna, two sides, and jalapeno toast. Cajun entrees include crawfish etouffee, cajun catfish, and gumbo. pearlststationgranburytx.com, 120 West Pearl Street, Granbury, TX 76048 Eat Seasonally At Restaurant Anise For dinner, we recommend Restaurant Anise for seasonal dishes from global cuisines that are anything but boring. The Parisienne Gnocchi has lobster and bay scallops in a creamy dill sauce. Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday with menu items like Pork Belly Banh Mi, Lobster Roll, and Fried Bologna Sandwich. restaurantanise.com, 605 Calinco Drive, Granbury, TX 76048 Relax At 1890 Grille And Lounge Make every outing a special occasion at 1890 Grille and Lounge, which serves up fancier fare like steaks and seafood. Sip on a specialty cocktail or order a bottle of wine to complement the meal. After dinner, shop the on-site marketplace for gourmet foods to take home. eighteenninety.com, 115 East Pearl Street, Granbury, TX 76048 Unwind At Silver Saddle Saloon End the night at Silver Saddle Saloon for a scoop or two. The Wild West-themed parlor brings together ice cream and alcohol—for the adults, of course! Adults can also order boozy ice cream treats. Listen to live music, play table games like checkers, or read a book from the exchange library. silversaddlesaloongranbury.com, 124 North Houston Street, Granbury, TX 76048 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit