Things to See & Do  

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center & Botanical Gardens      The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens is located on 507-acres, four miles south of Fort Davis on Highway 118. The Center is in a marvelous setting, with views of Mt. Livermore to the north and Blue Mountain to the southwest. "The mission of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute is to promote public awareness, appreciation, and concern for the natural diversity of the Chihuahuan Desert through research and education programs." Known to locals as CDRI, the Center is home to a Visitor's Center, the Leapin' Lizard Gift Shop, an arboretum, and the cactus and succulent greenhouse with over 200 species of Chihuahuan Desert cacti. For those who enjoy hiking, the CDRI offers two, moderately strenuous hikes: the Modesta Canyon Trail, a one-hour hike down a protected canyon to Modesta Canyon Springs, and the Clayton's Overlook hike with spectacular views of the surrounding territory. (432)364-2499. The CDRI is open Monday though Saturday 9 - 5. e-mail: choyt@cdri.org

Davis Mountain Broom Shop
Handcrafted Brooms and Walking Sticks made as they were in the 1800’s.  Daily live demonstrations and broom history. Tues-Sat 9am until 4pm Located at 401 State Street .
Tel:(432) 426-3297.

Davis Mountains State Park  A focal point for outdoor recreation in the Fort Davis area is 2,700-acre Davis Mountains State Park , four miles north of town on Texas 118. It is certainly among the most scenic parks in Texas , with 1,000 feet of elevation change just within the park boundaries. In addition to well known Indian Lodge Hotel, the park offers a variety of camping, from hookups for recreational vehicles to primitive campsites, several miles of hiking trails, and an interpretive center. Numerous species of birds can be seen from two viewing stations. Bird checklists are available at Park Headquarters.

Not to be missed is Skyline Drive , a paved road that climbs steeply to two overlooks on the eastern side of the park, visible are several mountain ranges including the Chinati Mountain Range, located 75 miles to the southwest. Access to the Skyline Drive after 10:00pm for stargazing is permitted  with registration and payment of fee at the park office

The State Park's centerpiece is the pretty canyon formed by Keesey Creek, which often flows during the summer rainy season. It is wooded with Emory oaks, gray oaks, pinion and juniper. Bird life is especially abundant in the park, and a pack of javelina occasionally forages in the underbrush, apparently oblivious to park visitors.

Camping and entrance fees vary. Call (432)426-3337 for information. Reservations: (512)-389-8900 ( Austin )

Amphitheater Program June-through-August 15 - every Wednesday through Saturday night. Programs based on on the natural and cultural resources of the Park call (432) 426-3337 for program starting times and additional information.

Indian Lodge, the pueblo-style adobe hotel built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, offers pleasant accommodations, a pool, landscaped grounds and patios, and a "The Black Bear" restaurant. Some rooms have handmade furniture. Indian Lodge has 39 rooms, which are often booked months in advance.

Historic Walking/Driving Tour
Venture out among the community and view 23 historic sites. At just 1 ½ miles long this is a journey that starts and ends in the town square. The tour encompasses the longest section of the unpaved Overland-Butterfield mail route.

Fort Davis National Historic Site    Fort Davis National Historic Site, along Texas Highways 17 - 118 at the foot of Sleeping Lion Mountain and Hospital Canyon, is considered perhaps the best preserved of all the 19th Century frontier forts and one of the best preserved "Buffalo Soldier" forts in the west. The site is well maintained and thoughtfully restored with interpretive and historical displays, an excellent book shop and a museum. Partially restored and fully restored buildings are scattered throughout the 474 acre grounds. Some have period furnishings. Military hobbyists and historians from all over the country visit the Davis Mountains specifically to see the Fort. Three hiking trails climb from the Fort, with two links to the hiking trail at Davis Mountains State Park . Small plaques explain natural features and their value to the Fort when it was active. Self guided tours daily. Admission is $3 per person. Hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm . 
Closed: 
            Christmas Day- December 25
            New Years Day  - January 1
            Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observed - Third Monday in January - Jan.16,2006
            Thanksgiving Day - Last Thursday in November - Nov. 30, 2006
For more info: Please call: (432)-426-3224

 McDonald Observatory     When the three large domes of the McDonald Observatory appear on a mountain ridge in the distance, you know Fort Davis can't be far away. The observatory's three largest instruments are the 362" Hobby-Eberly telescope on 6,600-foot Mount Fowlkes , and the 107" Harlan J. Smith and 82" Otto Struve telescopes located on 6,800-foot Mt. Locke . The observatory is located just 17 miles from Fort Davis on Texas Highway 118.

Operated by the University of Texas at Austin , the observatory has several large research telescopes and hosts astronomers from around the world. Self guided tours are possible from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Guided tours of the facility are offered every day at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. Solar viewing sessions are conducted twice daily at 11:00 am and 2:00 p.m. before the guided tours.  A telescope equipped with a safe filter and camera provides dramatic views of our sun and its many features.

The observatory's evening Star Parties held on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays should not be missed.  Beginning after sunset, the star party  showcases interesting stars, planets, and other astronomical objects with live views through telescopes from 8 to 22 inches in size.  A tour of the stars and constellations is presented by knowledgeable staffers, while equally interesting live presentations take place in the new Frank N. Bash Visitor Center 's multimedia theater. The Star Party is a rare opportunity for the entire family to learn about the heavens from experts under one of the darkest skies in North America . Bring a jacket, since the mountain air cools quickly. The Observatory is closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year¹s Day.

A gift shop in the Frank N. Bash Visitor Center offers astronomy related merchandise, and the StarDate Cafe offers delicious snacks or full meals. 

For more information please call (432) 426-3640 or Toll Free 1-877-984-7827
or visit their website at http://McDonaldObservatory.org  

Accurate information for opening hours, tours can be found at http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors/programs/ 
 

Overland Trail Museum     On Fort and 3rd Streets.  The museum is located on the historic San Antonio-El Paso Road /Southern Overland Trail . It contains many unique and varied displays depicting early life in the West including the original Valentine Post Office and telephone switchboard, early medical paraphernalia, a restored pioneer settlers kitchen, an original curling machine, and numerous early photographs of pioneer settlers and buildings Special tours may be arranged by contacting Bob Miles (432) 426-2467 or Daisy McCutcheon at (432) 426-2011, Museum is owned and operated by The Fort  Davis Historical Society.
ADMISSION: 
Adults $2oo, Children $1oo 
HOURS:
Tuesday, Fridays & Saturday 1 pm to 5 pm  
 
The Caboose
A 35,000 pound interactive science display and historical relic!  That only partially describes Fort Davis ’ very own Burlington Northern railroad caboose.  BN 12550 was moved to Fort Davis in 2004 to house the region’s very first Blue Bell Ice Cream shop, but it is much more than that…

The Caboose is a real-life railroad car featuring a “second-story” conductor’s chair mounted in the cupola (providing a unique view of the fort), a scaled-down refrigerator, a phone booth-size bathroom, two sets of office chairs and desks, plus much, much more.  Jodie and Henry Moon, who brought this area’s first railroad car to Fort Davis have maintained and restored as much of the original caboose as possible.  In addition, it is connected to a workroom that they call “the depot” by a dynamic bridge which allows the caboose to move (in the wind) without destroying the building.  The depot was designed after a number of historic Texas depots that once dotted the rural countryside.

Given the fact that cabooses were removed from U.S. railroads in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, The Caboose is an excellent destination for school/church/scout fieldtrips and groups of all sizes.  Surrounded by a patio featuring a hand-drawn map of the Big bend region, a latitude and longitude marker, an elevation benchmark, an old-fashioned hopscotch board, and all of the original railroad equipment taken out of the retired rail car.  The Caboose offers two free programs that can be customized to groups of all sizes and ages.  One program describes the role of the railroad in altering the geography of the Big Bend region while the other program describes BN 12550 and how it was moved to Fort Davis .  The Caboose is open from noon to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week and programs may be scheduled by calling (432) 426-2742 or emailing jodiemoon@sbcglobal.net. Web: www.thecaboose.biz

The Scenic Loop Drive
Fort Davis is the starting point for one of the most scenic and uncrowned drives in Texas and America . Seventy-five miles long, the drive leaves Fort Davis on Texas 118, proceeds up Limpia Canyon past Mts. Locke and Fowlkes and the McDonald Observatory and then into Madera Canyon and a quiet, pine shaded picnic area. After a left turn on Texas 166, the road passes Mt. Livermore and Sawtooth Mountain , then gradually descends past a prominent ridge lined with wind generators toward the southeast side of the mountains, with broad views to the Sierra Viejo Mountains along the Rio Grande to the south. As you approach Fort Davis again on Texas 166, the Puertacita Mountains and Miter Peak are straight ahead.

Highest elevation on the Loop is about 6700 feet, making it the highest public highway in Texas . About 1.5 hours to drive Click here for map.
 

Other Area Attractions:

Balmorhea State Park
38 Miles NE of Fort Davis on TX Hwy. 17 The park's main attraction is a large 
(77,053 sq. ft.) artesian spring pool that is open daily and fed by San Solomon Springs. The springs also fill a 'cienega' (desert wetland) and the canals of a refugium, a home to endangered fish species, assorted invertebrates, and turtles. The pool differs from most public pools in several respects: the 1 3/4-acre size, the 25-foot depth and the 72 to 76 degree constant temperature. It also has a variety of aquatic life in its clear waters. Along with motel-type accommodations, camping facilities include six water-only campsites with tables and grills and 28 sites with tables, grills, water and electricity. A dozen sites have cable television hookups as well. An air-conditioned recreation hall with kitchen facilities is available for day use throughout the year. The park also offers a restroom with hot showers, a trailer dump station, playground, dining hall/meeting room, picnic sites and several native plant gardens. For more information contact them at (432) 375-2370.

The Chinati Foundation
1 Cavalry Row, Marfa , Texas 79843 . A contemporary art museum, founded in the 1980s by the late artist Donald Judd, exhibiting large-scale installations by a limited number of artists. Open to the public Wednesday through Sunday by guided tour only. Reservations are recommended. Admission is $10 per person, $5 for students and seniors and free for Chinati members. For more information call 432-729-4362, visit www.chinati.org or email: information@chinati.org

Marfa Lights
Less than 25 miles from Fort Davis you may view one of the few "Unsolved Mysteries" of our west Texas skies. National Geographic couldn't explain them, The University of Texas can't explain them, The TV series "Unsolved Mysteries" could not explain them, but every year since the 19th century . . . plain ole Texas folks have been explaining them to thousands of onlookers. Are they UFO's? Mirages? Secret military tests? Magnetic energy? Static electricity? Who Knows? Come see 'em and see if you can explain them!

Glider Rides   Take a scenic glider ride or schedule flying lessons with our FAA Flight Instructors. The enclosed glider cockpit has two seats - one for you and one for your pilot.   Soaring is safe and fun for the entire family.  Since 1967 the Big Bend has hosted several US National Soaring contests and the 1970 World Soaring Competition that established  Texas  as a premier area for exceptional flying conditions.   
Marfa Gliders is located on the Marfa Airport on Highway 17, just 18 miles south of Fort Davis , and 3 miles north of Marfa.  We fly year-round by appointment.  Call 800-667-9464,  www.flygliders.com

Luz de Estrella Vineyards and Winery - Full production winery complete with tours and tastings. Available for parties.  25 acre vineyards with Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chenin Blanc.
100 Starlight Way , Marfa , TX Tel: 432 729-3434 Web: www.luzdeestrella.com/

For more information on things to see and do in Fort Davis please check the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce web site: www.fortdavis.com

You may want to check Alpine and Marfa’s also.  

Cousin Joe Duncan and his wife Lanna of Fort Davis have two other GREAT sites to see and also stay if you would like. They have their newest addition of restored hotels in Van Horn now open, Hotel El Capitan. (See info below.)  It is located on Interstate 10 between El Paso and Fort Stockton . I would like to encourage anyone in that area to stop and tour the hotel it is a beautiful site and with great history!

They also have the Hotel Paisano in Marfa. (See info below.)  It was open during the last reunion. It is also a beautiful site and has so much history with it. Marfa has really grown with the sites and such. And it is only 21 miles away from Fort Davis . If you have time while in Fort Davis you may want to add these two places to your “sites to see” list!

 Hotel El Capitan
100 E. Broadway
Van Horn Texas 79855
Phone: 877-283-1220
www.hotelelcapitan.net

The Hotel El Capitan was built by Charles Bassett of El Paso and opened in 1930. It was one of five hotels of the Gateway Hotel chain that he built in west Texas and eastern New Mexico , the notable architect Henry Trost of Trost and Trost in El Paso was commissioned to produce the architectural design. The construction company was McKee Construction of El Paso that had built most of the early Hilton Hotels around Texas in the 1920's and 1930's as well as most of the office buildings of that era in downtown El Paso .

The Hotel El Capitan was for the most part a cattleman's hotel for its first 40 years. Ranchers from all over the area bought and sold cattle in business meetings held in the lobby. The railroad depot was across the street so many rail travelers stopped in for a night in their travels between California and San Antonio . The hotel was also the prime location for social events within a 100 mile radius of Van Horn. Many weddings, parties, receptions, proms and meetings were held at the El Capitan .

The hotel closed in the 1970's as a working hotel and became the Van Horn State Bank. In 2008 the building was purchased from the bank with plans to restore the hotel back into its 1930's splendor. After a full year of restoration, we now have 38 rooms and suites available for the public. Like in the 1930's the Hotel El Capitan will again become a destination in and of itself in far West Texas for guests visiting between the Big Bend and the Guadalupe Mountains National Parks. While in the area be sure to see the Red Rock Ranch, McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis National Historic Site, the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop Highway , the Marfa Lights and Carlsbad Caverns . The hotel offers a dining room with a full service bar (opening soon), continental breakfast, satellite TV, WiFi. Please check with reservations for availability.

 Hotel Paisano
Marfa , Texas
Phone: 866-792-3669
www.hotelpaisano.com

The Hotel Paisano was built by Charles Bassett of El Paso and opened in June 1930. It was one of five hotels that he built in west Texas and eastern New Mexico of the Gateway Hotel chain. He commissioned notable architect Henry Trost of Trost and Trost in El Paso for the architectural design. The construction company was McKee Construction out of El Paso that had built most of the early Hilton Hotels around Texas in the 1920's and 1930's as well as most of the office buildings in downtown El Paso of that era.

The Paisano was for the most part a cattleman's hotel for its first 40 years. Ranchers from all over the area had business meetings here and bought and sold their herds from the lobby of the hotel. The railroad depot was two blocks away so many rail travelers stopped in for a night in their travels between California and San Antonio . The hotel was also the prime location for social events within a 100 mile radius of Marfa. Many weddings, parties, receptions, proms and meetings were held at the Paisano.

 In 1955 Warner Brothers chose Marfa as the location for the filming of the epic movie Giant. In June of that year the cast and crew including James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson made the hotel their headquarters. Today, the hotel still has many visitors that come to see and remember Giant. James Dean's hotel room here is one of the most popular that we have to offer. In July 2005 the Chamber of Commerce is having a 50th anniversary celebration of the movie with hopes to attract some of the stars from the movie.

 The hotel closed in the late 1970's as a working hotel. In 2001 the building was purchased with plans to be restored back into its 1930's splendor. After three years of renovations we now have 33 rooms and suites available for the public. Like in the 1930's the Hotel Paisano is again becoming a destination in and of itself in far west Texas for guests visiting local art foundations, (The Chinati Foundation), the Marfa Mystery Lights , Big Bend National Park, Mexico, and attractions such as McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis National Historic Site, and the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop Highway .

 The hotel offers a banquet room that seats 100, a full service bar, and private meeting and conference area. Also, an indoor swimming pool, shopping and a "Giant" memorabilia room with the movie playing continuously. Please check with reservations for availability.

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