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WEATHERFORD,
TEXAS
Parker
County,
Central Texas North
32° 45' 33" N, 97° 47' 6" W (32.759167, -97.785)
At the intersection of US Hwy 180 & 80.
Interstate 20
FM 920, 2421, 51, 1884, and State Hwy 171
30 miles W of Fort
Worth
57 miles W of Dallas
ZIP codes 76085-76088
Area code 817
Population: 30,854 (2020)
25,250 (2010) 19,000 (2000) 14,804 (1990)
Book Hotel Here › Weatherford
Hotels |
Back in the
19th Century, the Texas legislature passed a law stating
that an effort should be made to place the county seat of each county
to within five miles of the geographic center of the county. Well,
evidently the people of Weatherford took this as a challenge. Not
only is their town in the center of their county but their courthouse
is built over the exact center.
I find this very impressive, but during our visit not one person called
this to our attention. But just because they don't brag about it doesn't
mean they aren't proud. They know! Like a lot of other things in Weatherford,
it's understated. Like when they mention "elegance unexpected
on the edge of the Texas frontier". An understatement. |
Weatherford’s
Restored Santa Fe Depot
Photo Courtesy Lou Ann Herda, 2002 |
The Weatherford
Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Center is located in the restored
Santa Fe Depot two blocks east of the courthouse
at: 401 Fort Worth Street, 817-596-3801
Contact them for an impressive collection of brochures, both informative
and entertaining. There's one for the historic driving tour
featuring 59 historic buildings, another for the cemetery tour,
one for events and attractions, one each for lodging and dining and
even one provided by the Antique Dealers Association directing you
to their members.
Weatherford
Hotels › |
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Parker
County Courthouse in Weatherford ›
Built in 1885 and designed by Dodson and Dudley, the courthouse has
recently been beautifully restored. And did I mention it's exactly
in the center of the county? You may see a few of the bumper stickers
from last year which say, "Welcome to Weatherford, please don't
drive into our beautifully restored Courthouse".
Unique also is its absence of a lawn. Old timers will tell you it
was removed so they could expand the cemetery and others swear it
is a clever way to reduce the population of lawyers. Whatever the
reason, one can drive close enough to eavesdrop on the more interesting
trials. |
Weatherford,
Texas Attractions
Chandor
Gardens
There is more understated elegance in the recently reopened Chandor
Gardens. Four acres inside the city at 710 West Simmons. Open Mid-March
through Mid-November, they wisely close during August. Group tours
are by reservation only. Call 817-613-1700. Tickets are also available
at the Chamber of Commerce.
Stagecoach
Factory
Since Weatherford was near the Butterfield Stage Line and had its
own line to Fort Griffin,
it's appropriate that the only existing stagecoach factory (they
will make an occasional chariot) should be here. Mr. Brown the owner
and craftsman recently filled an order of five for a movie studio
and one of his models is featured in the movie Maverick.
Charles
Goodnight is credited with inventing the chuckwagon for his
trail drives and Mr. Brown has built these too, one of which appears
in the annual Parker County Frontier Days Celebration Livestock
Show and Rodeo.
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Weatherford
Events
For shopping
enthusiasts, Weatherford features First Monday Trade Days
taking place Friday, Saturday, preceding the first Monday of each
month.
Parker County
Peach Festival
Named by the Texas Legislature as "Peach Capital of Texas",
the festival attracts over 25,000 people annually. It takes place
the second Saturday in July on the square around the courthouse.
Definitely a family affair.
Parker County
Frontier Days Celebration Livestock Show and Rodeo draws crowds
Wednesday through Saturday first full week in June.
Weatherford
Hotels › Book Here
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Weatherford
History
History - It's
hard to get away from it in Weatherford. After putting five cents
in the meter for one hour of parking, we walked into the Downtown
Café and there it was on the walls – history! Sepia photographs
of Weatherford's past. Peaches as big as grapefruit! Watermelons as
big as Yugos!
Courthouses in the geographic center of the county! Even some of the customers
looked historic. The food was a little slow in coming, so we went
next door where I had seen a rack of old postcards through the window.
Well, it wasn't an antique store but a Butane company, and proceeds
from the postcard sales go to the Abandoned Cemetery Association.
There are over forty abandoned cemeteries in Parker
County.
On the west wall are about twenty framed photographs of the Courthouse.
Big ones, little ones, courthouse with snow, courthouse without snow,
courthouse with circled wagons, courthouse circled by Model T's. An
aerial view too. I think the only missing view was a subterranean
one of the foundation.
On the east wall more history. The only photograph extant of Boze
Ikard, the character portrayed by Danny Glover in the movie Lonesome
Dove. This photo was only recently discovered (after the book
was written and the movie made). Both
Ikard and Oliver Loving are buried in Weatherford's
Greenwood Cemetery.
By the way, if you have a beef with Larry McMurtry about the
story you might want to drive up to Archer
City about 97 miles northwest and discuss it with him. Archer
City has a nice 1892
Sandstone Courthouse, but it's a few miles off-center. Since Mr.
McMurtry seems intent on filling every building in Archer
City with books, it might be a good idea to visit soon, before
he gets to the courthouse. |
Weatherford
Mineral Wells and Northwest Railway
You may want to
take advantage of Weatherford's bargain parking meters and walk to
Mineral Wells.
Well, it's possible. For those of you not familiar with Rails to
Trails, it's a program to convert abandoned or unused rail lines
to bike, equestrian and/or hiking trails. An excellent way to travel
leisurely cross-country without encroaching on private property. Weatherford
and Mineral Wells
are connected by the roadbed of the old Weatherford Mineral Wells
and Northwest Railway, once known as the Water, More Water and
No Whiskey Railroad. It's 22 miles to downtown Mineral
Wells, with Comfort Stations conveniently spaced along the way.
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