We spent our time in downtown Glen Rose …not at the main attractions, and we loved it!
Glen Rose, Texas, where the dinosaurs once roamed, is a lovely small town situated along the Paluxy River. We all know the top attractions in this small town in North Texas, and we love them. However, I took my 87-year-old mom to explore downtown, and we did everything except that. There are plenty of things to do in a day in downtown Glen Rose, TX, and I think you’ll enjoy seeing all the colorful dinosaur statues throughout town. We did.
Glen Rose is roughly an hour’s drive from Fort Worth, and our beloved town of Granbury is only a 10-minute drive north on Highway 144.
If you want to extend your stay in town, the Country Woods Inn is a lovely place to stay, which hosted us and our two dogs. All opinions are my very own.
A Perfect Day In Glen Rose, TX
Whether you visit Glen Rose with your mom, as I did, your girlfriends, or the whole family, spending a day in downtown Glen Rose is a fun activity to do. As I mentioned earlier, if you wish to extend your trip to include the main attractions (listed below), numerous accommodations are available for the night. Our favorite is Country Woods Inn. Their property is on the Paluxy River, and they have barnyard animals to go gaga over.
Please note: If you’re looking to strictly shop and visit the wine and museums, it appears that spending a day in downtown Glen Rose is best on weekends when most businesses are open. We visited during the week and missed out on a few places, including the town’s only winery.
Shop Glen Rose Historic Downtown Square
Shop the unique boutiques on the town square and admire architectural wonders like the beautiful Somervell County Courthouse. Most shops open at 11 am.
I think we visited all the shops around the courthouse, including the ones on the main street in town. Some of our favorites were The Pink Door and Front Porch Designs. All the shops had something different, and no two boutiques were alike. I saw lots of long dresses with puffy sleeves, though, in most of the shops. I’m guessing that’s the style in the town.
Shoo-Fly Soda Shop
Where a scoop of ice hits the spot after a day of shopping!
Shop adorable t-shirts and kid toys, and stay for ice cream. Dogs are allowed inside, but they must be on a leash. This was a plus for us, as our pets accompanied us, and it was extremely hot outside that day.
Address: 102 Walnut St, Glenrose, TX
Somervell County Historical Society Museum
Address: 101 S.W. Vernon St., Glen Rose
The Somervell County Historical Society Museum is a place where history comes alive, uniting us with the past. See several exhibits that depict the dinosaur era, Native American artifacts, and the tools used by farmers. There are two stories to this museum.
Hours are 11 am to 4 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1:30 to 5 pm on Sundays.
Barnard’s Mill And Art Museum
Where a world-renowned artist houses his art
Enjoy art from world-renowned artist Robert Summers. He also lives in town. The building that the museum is in is one of the only historic buildings in the area to be open (never closed) continuously. It housed several businesses, including a hospital where babies were born.
Robert Summers also built the statue of Charles and Juana Barnard that is located in front of the courthouse.
Big Rocks Park
Swim where the dinosaurs once roamed.
On a perfect summer day in Glen Rose at the Big Rocks Park, you can swim along the riverbank of the Paluxy River, have a picnic, and come back for more in the evening. There are life jackets available for use, but not for take.
Address: 1014 SW Barnard St, Glen Rose
Stroll Along the Riverwalk At The Paluxy Heritage Park
Take a hike on the Paluxy Heritage Park River Walk Trail
The Paluxy Heritage Park is a small, riverfront park located in the heart of the city. There are some historic buildings to explore, covered picnic tables, a nice playground, and restrooms.
Address: 103 Heritage Place, Glen Rose.
It’s a relatively easy 1.3-mile out-and-back trail that the average person can complete in 25 minutes. You can ride your bike on the trail, as well as run or jog. Dogs are welcome on a leash. AllTrails gives it 4.7 stars.
Bull Lion Winery in Downtown Glen Rose
Wine tasting on the weekend
Address: 202 NE Barnard St. on the square. Open Friday, 5-9 pm, Saturday, 12-9 pm, & Sunday, 1-5 pm.
We weren’t there on those days, or we would have stopped in.
Visit The Abandoned Petrified Wood Gas Station
I was told that someone has purchased this abandoned site and plans to develop it into a tourism destination.
On Vanderbilt Road (?)- right off Barnard St in downtown. Ask anyone in town where exactly it is.
Restaurants in Downtown Glen Rose
We had a nice filling lunch at La Vita Italian Restaurant on Walnut St. The bread they serve before the meal is worth another visit for us. It was so soft and perfect. We ordered fried mushrooms and shared a Caesar salad and chicken parmesan.
Other restaurants in downtown include Riverhouse Grill and Storiebook Cafe. There aren’t that many places to eat in downtown, but more are on the main road as you come into town, such as Grounded Coffee Shop (I had coffee here) and Los Primos. Grump’s is on Mesquite St.
Book A Farm Stay At Country Woods Inn
A rustic riverfront experience
What a gem of a spot we stayed at! Country Woods Inn is like no other place my mom and I have visited before. We enjoyed walking around the farm and meeting a family who lives in the area where I grew up.
We stayed in the fully furnished, whimsical boxcar, decorated in black and red checks. It was a delight to see all the antiques and vintage items used for decorations. The steps were challenging for my mom, and for me too, but the surroundings were impeccable. I do suggest staying in one of the cabins near the farm animals if you have older family members with you.
If you’re staying on the weekends, they provide breakfast on Saturday mornings. I’m sorry we missed that.
Prominent Attractions In Glen Rose, TX
These four main attractions in Glen Rose are every bit worth a trip to this small town. Each one makes a great day outing from anywhere in the Metroplex. I’m not sure you’d want to do all three in one day, but a trip to Dinosaur World and Fossil Rim could be a good option. That way, you can walk around to see the dinosaur statues, then stay in your car to see the animals—a win-win if you have young kiddos or are traveling with seniors.
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Address: 1629 Park Rd 59, Glen Rose. $8 Admission Fee. Children 12 and under are free.
My son and I visited here a few years back. He and his friend had the best time looking for dinosaur tracks and geocaching.
A trip to the state park is well worth the visit …actually, it’s a must-see if you’re in the area. Kids love it here, plus swimming is allowed.
Dinosaur World
Address: 1058 Park Rd 59, Glen Rose
Explore life-size dinosaur statues in a natural setting and go on a fossil dig.
We took Brody here when he was around three years old. He had the best time on his daddy’s shoulders, looking around at all the dinosaur statues.
Fossil Rim
Address: 2299 Co Rd 2008, Glen Rose
Fossil Rim is a drive-through safari. Open every day of the week from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. There is also a cafe and a nature store. You also don’t have to drive through with your car, as there are several ways to see the animals. See the website for the ticket price.
The Promise of Passover
Grab your tickets for this popular live show at the Texas Amphitheater in April. There will also be a show in December 2025 about ‘The Promise of Christmas. See The Promise in Glen Rose.
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