Weatherford, Texas – Everything You Need To Know

First enjoy a little History of the historic town of Weatherford, the county seat for Parker County, then move on to all the cool things to see and do here!

In 1854, Methodist Reverend Pleasant Tackett guided 15 pioneer families into the north Texas area known as “Goshen,” which was subsequently incorporated into Parker County in 1855 by State Representatives Isaac Parker and Thomas Jefferson Weatherford of the Texas State Legislature. The abandoned cabin from 1852-53, located 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) south of Weatherford on the J.H. Voorhies farm, may be evidence of a previous failed attempt to colonize the area.

In June 1880, the railway came to town. The Santa Fe Depot (now home to the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce) was constructed under Jim Crow regulations in 1908, with waiting rooms divided and kept separate by the ticket office.

The Weatherford Democrat was founded in 1895, and it is still publishing today. The weekly Weatherford Telegram began appearing in 2006.

Peach Capital of Texas

The city was designated the Peach Capital of Texas by the state legislature owing to the peaches cultivated in the region. The Parker County Peach Festival is held each year to commemorate the peach, which is Weatherford’s main event and one of Texas’ finest-attended festivals.

Cutting Horse Capital of the World

The city of Weatherford is internationally recognized as the “Cutting Horse Capital of the World.”

Pioneer heritage

Oliver Loving, a cattle drover, is buried in Weatherford’s Greenwood Cemetery. After being attacked by Indians in New Mexico in 1867, Loving’s dying wish to his friend, Charles Goodnight, was to be buried at home in Parker County. The corpse was brought back six hundred miles by wagon for burial by Goodnight. The tale is the source of Larry McMurtry’s novel Lonesome Dove, which is based on it.

The chuckwagon, the first of its kind, was developed by Goodnight one year earlier on behalf of cowboys on a cattle drive that would become known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail.

Bose Ikard, who served with Goodnight and was the inspiration for the McMurtry persona “Deets,” has also been buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

You can clearly see how there is so much western heritage in this area!

Historic buildings in Weatherford

Historic houses and structures abound in Weatherford. Early settlers built more than 60 premier places, including Queen Anne, Victorian era homes, and other architecturally significant homes during the turn of the 20th century along tree-lined streets. Several of these homes are open to visitors during the Christmas season as part of organized tours by the Parker County Heritage Society.

The Second Empire-style Parker County Courthouse, located in Weatherford’s geographical center, is another notable feature. The structure is encircled by neighboring structures, including bars and cat houses, and more at the turn of the century. The inside and the outside of the structure have been restored to its original appearance and attractiveness in recent years. In fact, my grandparent’s love story began at this particular courthouse in the early 1900s!

Weatherford is located west of Fort Worth on Interstate 20, 25 miles (40 km) away. It is the seat of Parker County, Texas.

The city is approximately 22.7 square miles (59 kilometers 2) in area, of which 20.9 square miles (54 kilometers 2) are land, and 1.8 square miles (4.7 kilometers 2) are water, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Things to do in Weatherford

Historic Shopping District:
Downtown Weatherford

Downtown Weatherford has a historic shopping district with several boutiques and restaurants that offer an atmosphere of tradition and old-time charm. In addition, it’s home to unique shops, coffeehouses, and eateries that visitors come back to again and again.

Many antique shops and boutiques offer an eclectic mix of items, such as unique handmade jewelry and clothing, Texas décor, and gifts. In addition, visitors can enjoy the outdoor seating at one of the many restaurants while enjoying people-watching or browsing through racks of vintage clothing.

The downtown district also offers a variety of shops providing collectibles to antiques, to specialty items. The historic downtown area also is home to several Texas-sized specialty stores.

Walking is an option for visitors who want to enjoy the scenery, window shop, and people-watch. Parking areas are available on the square.

Weatherford is fast growing, with plenty of new businesses coming in with tremendous growth. With our personal history in Weatherford, and being Weatherford SEO Experts, this is why we decided to focus our Weatherford Marketing company for our favorite town!

Weatherford’s First Monday Trade Days

The First Monday Trades Days is a monthly event going on for more than 150 years, and it’s known as one of the state’s oldest open-air markets. During the legal trials that happened monthly at the courthouse in the mid-1800s, local farmers, ranchers, and merchants would buy, sell, or trade their livestock, handcrafted items, crops, old time farmers market, and more to the massive turnouts. This event was formerly known as a monthly “Stray Day” sale. However, it has evolved into a market event with standard selling possibilities for vendors to display their goods alongside unique activities to attract visitors.

You’ll find virtually anything at First Monday Trade Days, with a track record of buying, selling, and trading for more than 150 years. At this family oriented outdoor event, look around the many vendor locations to discover one-of-a-kind presents, plants, farm and ranch items, antiques, pet goods, jewelry, second-hand bargains, and more!

First Monday Trade Days, a popular tourist attraction in the City of Weatherford, is located in the historic district and near the local farmer’s market with ample parking on Santa Fe Drive. The event is still gaining popularity and has been recognized as one of Weatherford’s most popular tourist attractions.

At the Weatherford First Monday Trade Days, new things are afoot. The market is adding larger stalls and bringing back livestock sales, as well as updating facilities and grounds. Old customs live on, but we now have a different aesthetic with attractions and activities while looking for that unique something!

Don’t hesitate to contact the reservation office at 817.598.4359 if you have any questions or would like to receive more information as a visitor or vendor. During the year, the First Monday grounds are open to the public from 9 am to 4 pm each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the First Monday of each month. So come by and join in the fun; you never know what you might find or learn!

Chandor Gardens

The ancient Chinese and English elements of Chandor Gardens are combined to create a unified aesthetic. The 3.5-acre estate begins with a meandering walk of beauty and astonishment that leads visitors through the grounds. The gardens have new and fascinating things to show at every turn, from the 30-foot manmade waterfall to numerous soothing fountains.

The Ideal Place to Enjoy a Special Occasion 

Chandor Gardens is about 25 miles west of Fort Worth and conveniently located in Weatherford’s Historic District. The gardens’ beautiful setting makes it ideal for weddings, retreats, and private parties. The mansion’s interior meeting space capacity of 5600 square feet is perfect. The home’s design will be suitable for groups of 10 to 125 people. The gardens, which may accommodate up to 200 people outside gatherings, will complement the event’s beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

Self-Guided Open Hours (public access) Monday through Friday: 9 am to 5 pm Saturdays: 9 am to 3 pm Sundays: 12 pm to 4 pm

Admission cost for Adults is only $5.00 per person (13+). Ages 12 and under are free, although an adult must accompany all children. School group rates are $2 CHILD, $3 ADULT.

Guided Tours

Guided excursions are available all year for groups of 10 or more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with them at 817-598-4334 to reserve your group tour.

Please be aware that only service animals are allowed.

Vintage Car Museum and Event Center

Classic cars and trucks are carefully displayed at the Vintage Car Museum & Event Center, located just outside the Parker County Courthouse Square in Weatherford.

Since he was a young boy, Tom Moncrief, the museum’s creator and his wife Therese have been captivated by automobiles and classic automobiles. The museum houses Moncrief’s vehicles as well as a changing selection of one-of-a-kind classic automobiles.

Tom and his wife Therese have always been community-minded and charity-oriented, continuing to put others first in their enterprises and personal lives.

With such fantastic and one-of-a-kind vehicles that include several of Tom’s automobiles, as well as Guest cars on loan for the exhibit, Weatherford is fortunate to have them here.

There is a monthly event on the third Saturday of every month, from 8 am to 10 am.

There is no charge for you to visit the museum!

The museum is open on Tuesday – Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sundays.

The museum is closed on Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve & Day, and New Year’s Day.

Check the calendar for schedule changes and booking availability. Vintage Car Museum & Event Center may be closed for private events, so keep an eye on the event schedule.

The location and mailing address is 100 Fort Worth Highway, Weatherford, TX 76086 Museum: (817) 550-6550

Lake Weatherford Boardwalk

The boardwalk is the country’s longest floating boardwalk. The entire boardwalk and trail are 4,313 feet long, or about one mile. This park is ideal for absorbing nature while relaxing to the sound of water. You may bird-watch, read a book, fish, or enjoy the peaceful atmosphere on one of the numerous benches positioned throughout the trail during the day.

You can enter the trailheads of the boardwalk at 2864 East Lake Drive, Weatherford, TX 76087, or 1198 West Lake Drive, Weatherford, TX 76087

The Weatherford boardwalk hours are Hours: 6 am – 10 pm

For $20 an hour, you may reserve the Boardwalk Pavilion. For more information, call 817-598-4124 or visit Old City Hall in Weatherford, TX (76086) to make a reservation.

Grand Adventure

The ultimate family fun center is now open in Parker County! Go-Karts, huge mini-golf, arcades, big virtual reality games, and very cutting-edge and unique attractions await you!

Grand Adventure is a partnership that the Pennington family owns. The company has been around for a long time and has built lakes and graded construction sites. They noticed that Parker County lacked entertainment since many people had to travel 30 miles to Fort Worth. One of their friends, Paul, suggested Mini golf, and the idea has grown and evolved since then.

Education in Weatherford

Weatherford ISD Students typically perform close to the local region and statewide averages on standardized tests.

In the school year 2015-2016, there were 7,840 students. This includes early childhood education and pre-kindergarten through grade 12. In that class of 2015, there were 520 graduates, and the annual drop-out rate across grades 9-12 was 0%.

In the 2015-2016 school year, 69.1% of the district was white, 24.5% Hispanic, 2.4% African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% American Indian and 2.9% were from two or more races/ethnicities. Additionally, 41.7% of students are economically disadvantaged in this district.

Weatherford College

Weatherford College has programs for people to study Agriculture, Behavioral Science, Education, Health, and Public Safety. In addition, in 2020, the college added a bachelor’s degree program in Nursing after being accredited by the Commission on Colleges, SACS, to award bachelor’s degrees.

WC is just beginning to offer a BAAS in Leadership with the first round of classes in Fall 2021.

A degree from Weatherford College is a way to transfer to a four-year university. It includes the THECB’s transfer core for your major, and then you can choose electives that are specific to your major. The college offers three types of degrees. These are Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate of Applied Science. It also offers certificate programs.