The moment you catch sight of historic downtown Grapevine, TX you get caught up in the old-timey flavor and charm. It’s a one-of-a-kind, friendly and walkable little town, and the heart of it all lies on Main Street.
Although I only had about a half day to spend there, I managed to see quite a bit, so here are some fun ideas on what to see, do and eat there if you only have a few hours like I did.
How to Spend a Half Day in Historic Downtown Grapevine TX
Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau
Start your visit here. Not only is it an absolutely beautiful building with indoor galleries, but it’s a great place to pick up the historic downtown walking tour booklet and begin your explorations.
Glockenspiel Clock Tower
At the top of the visitors center, there’s a 127-foot-high clock tower featuring would-be train robbers, Nat Barrett and Willy Majors. Just after the clock strikes noon, 3pm, 6pm and 9pm, you’ll see the cowboys appear as they attempt the perfect heist in this entertaining bit of Western lore.
Grapevine Calaboose
This well preserved relic of frontier justice once served as the town’s first jail, and the name “calaboose” comes from the Spanish word for dungeon. Originally built in 1909, this one room concrete block house held outlaws overnight until 1957, including members of the nefarious Barrow Gang.
Public Art (Sunday Skaters)
“Sunday Skaters” is just one of the many examples of unique public art you’ll find while strolling. This particular installation is on College Street which was the only street with sidewalks in Grapevine’s early days. Once home to a boarding school called Grapevine College, its sidewalks were full of kids learning how to roller skate.
Settlement to City Museums
Wander through the four historical museums located at Ted R. Ware Plaza. The city’s timeline from prairie settlement to city is depicted through artifacts, photos and stories in the Keeling House Museum, Donald Schoolhouse, Cotton Ginners Museum and Grapevine Historical Museum.
You can also get a good look at the “Prairie Water” public art feature which pays homage to water, a life sustaining resource for early settlers.
Try a “Bowl of Red” at Tolbert’s
You can’t visit Texas without having true Texas Red chili (chili con carne). It’s made with just meat and sauce, no beans, and I admit I was skeptical. But then I tried it and loved it, especially since it’s spicy. I love me some spicy!
Willhoites Restaurant
Willhoites started as a general store, but when cars were invented it became an automotive service center. When it turned into a restaurant in the 80’s, they preserved the automotive theme. The original night watchman’s office (who checked all the doors on Main Street every evening) was in Willhoite’s garage. You can view the commemorative statue on top of city hall, and you’ll notice that his lantern is lit up at night.
Grapevine Vintage Railroad
I enjoyed an evening ride with a wine and jazz theme, but check the train schedule for specific prices and excursions. I’ve heard the North Pole Express trip is absolutely incredible!
Along with the above mentioned attractions in historic downtown Grapevine, Texas, there are lots of unique shops, tasting rooms, art galleries and restaurants. Contact the Grapevine, TX visitor’s bureau for more info!
Comments & Reviews
Our family MUST go here! I love westerns, and I love the vibe of the old west. The buildings and the real feel of history here seem like the best thing ever for a family trip. I’d never even head of Grapevine until I read this. Yay!
Grapevine, TX looks like such a great place to visit. My grandkids would have a blast watching for the train robbers in the clock tower. The town’s first jail would be fun to explore also. I would love to take an evening ride on that train.
Grapevine looks like a great place to spend some time. The chili looks amazing, and I like it with no beans.
I would love to go for a ride on the vintage train!
My grandfather worked on the railroads back in the early 1920′ so this would be so neat to experiences almost 100 years later.
Looks like you had a wonderful trip 🙂
Looks like a fab place to go and explore that chilli looks so good.
I am blown away by the calaboose! I can’t believe they were still using it in until 1957! That vintage train ride is right up my alley. I bet it will be decked out at Christmas. Grapevine sounds like a fun place to visit, especially at Christmas.
I love me some spicy too! Bet I’d devour that chili! Downtown Grapevine, TX looks like an amazing place full of Texas culture and history. I know I could spend some quality time doing and learning there!
It looks like a beautiful small town with lots of history. I hope to be able to visit someday! And I would love to see the holiday lights at holiday time as well!
I love this vibe of this. I can barely manage spicy but will try that chilli, it looks goood
Well, if it’s the Christmas capital of Texas, my oldest daughter will surely want to visit! lol I am really digging that old holding cell for bad guys. Love how it’s in such great condition still! Looks like an amazing place to visit.
Wow, I never heard of this town, and I am surprised by how much there is to do there! This would be a great family trip for us, thanks for the info!
There certainly seems to be a lot to do there. My husband loves visiting smaller towns like this one.
Oh wow what an amazing sounding place, it is definitely somewhere I would love to be able to spend some time and explore. x
Looks like so many fun things to do. The train would be our first choice of things to do. We may be driving through Texas next year. Pinning this post.
This is fabulous! Grapevine looks like such a fun place to visit.
Always wanted to visit Texas one day. Gravevine town looks like a nice place to visit. The Texas red chili looks good. Great post!
This looks like such an amazing place. I’m not really into Westerns etc, but I know my husband would love this.
I love exploring downtown areas in different towns. This looks like such a beautiful, quaint area. If I’m in this area, I’ll be sure to check out Grapevine. The vintage railroad looks like a fun place to visit.
I love getting to visit a downtown area like grapevine and really getting a sense of the history the culture and the architecture! Definitely putting it on my must visit list!
I’m so bummed I didn’t get to Grapevine this year. I would have loved to see you first of all but it looks like a great city. That public art is awesome!
I love any old town area. It really brings back to life what it was like Wayback win. Back when life was slower and people really loved everybody in the town. I would love to explore this area it looks like it would be a lot of fun for me.
Wow, how amazing, the clock – I like that. chili con carne, I’m with you love anything spicy.
Texas is definitely on my travel bucket list. Grapevine seems like such a fun place to visit. I love visiting historic places that like and learning new things.
This isn’t somewhere I’ve previously considered visiting. Thanks for opening my eyes!
It’s the first time I’ve heard of Grapevine TX! I love their clock tower though. And that train ride looks like lots of fun!
This town has some great charm. The chili looks delicious
This place seems really cool! I am pretty impressed by the buildings and that food looks YUM!!!
I love visit historical places like this and especially when they dress the part.
Historical places like this are always so fun to visit. I love being able to imagine and visualize how things were before my time. Definitely interesting and a place I’d love to visit!
Grapevine looks like a fun place to visit! I love the public art and that chili con carne sounds good.
I love the not-so-pretty history of towns sometimes. That jail is the COOLEST. And the fact that it was operational until 1950s? AWESOME.
This looks like a fun town to visit. I love that they still have the old calaboose. I love seeing historical buildings. I also love the public art, in Downtown Knoxville they have art sculptures and rotate the exhibits a few times a year.
I love visiting historical places. This looks right up my alley!
My parents have travelled around texas a lot and said how much they loved it. I’d love to go x
Grapevine is so much fun! WE havent been in a long time but this reminds me to plan a date for us there. Always such a fun time!
Looks like a wonderful downtown. I will add this to my list of “places to go”
This town has such a cool look to it. I love old buildings, so I would have a blast taking a ton of photos!
I’ve always wanted to visit Texas – I’ll have to bookmark this post for when I eventually make it over there!
I love love love the skaters! Things like that make towns so much more interesting. It looks like there is more than enough to keep you busy in town. I just made chili tonight and that chili looks so good!
What a beautiful place to visit! Your photos make me want to visit this charming Texas town. So much history all in one place! Good food, too! 🙂
I love spice in everything even if my stomach does not! Grapevine sounds and looks like a great place to visit xxx
This sounds amazing, I love the old west and I love it when people dress up for tourists.
I want to go. It looks like so much fun. I need to try that chili too
How fun! That image of the clock tower with the sunset is absolutely stunning!
This looks like so much fun! I would love to bring my family here sometime.
This looks like a lot of fun. The cowboy looks hilarious. Haha! I can’t believe people used to dress like this!
I love how Grapevine seems to have that classic, old time feel to it. That is definitely a vibe I crave and am not used to since I live in Las Vegas!
I have always wanted to visit Texas. This looks like it was so much fun!
Wow, that evening sky!
And the train! It looks like the one we took in New England for the Polar Express. I’d love to go on that train! And eat all that great food in Grapevine!
Born and raised in Texas, I drove to Dallas for a basketball tournament for my son and we stopped into Grapevine and had a blast!!!
I love a trip that’s historical and educational. This place looks like loads of fun and definitely somewhere I would take my family.
What an interesting place to spend the day! I love the variety of things to see and do. Particularly rollerskating. I didn’t even know you could still buy rollerskates!
Looks like a great town to visit! I haven’t had the pleasure of going to Texas yet but it’s definitely on my bucket list! Especially for the food 🙂
I’ve never heard of this place before. Looks like a great trip filled with lots of things to see!
Naw naw naw lol I live in Texas and I think it’s all about the trail of lights in Austin at Christmas time lol but that being said I haven’t seen Grapevine at Christmas time.
How fun. Looks and sounds like a great place to visit someday. I have family in Texas, but have never been. As of yet anyway.
I would love to go explore Grapevine TX. There are so many fun things to check out.
I love to go explore historic places. I have always wanted to go to Texas. Grapevine looks like a great place to go with the family.
I would love to go to Grapevine TX during the holidays. I love to learn about the history of places.
I haven’t heard of Grapevine, Texas before but it looks like a great place to visit. I’d love to see the Public Art (Sunday Skaters) in person, I really like those. It’s the Christmas capitol of Texas? oh wow now I wish I could visit there because I’m all about that.
wow what a wonderful place to visit. It’s so full of charm and interesting things to see. I love the architecture.
Awe! My husband served his mission in texas, he wants to go back and visit so bad. Looks fun!
Grapevine is gorgeous.I am loving these buildings. i have a friend who tells me all about TX, and Grapevine is actually one of her favorite places. She visits when she is down in TX visiting her daughter! Wish I could tag along with her!
I would love to visit Texas sometime! I love visiting historic places like this!
Historical places and good food, nothing beats that combination for me since I love to travel as well. This is definitely a place that’s worth going to. I would love to try that bowl of chili only if I ate meat. I guess my kids will have to enjoy it for me.
Looks like a great place to visit! Tons of fun photo opps too!
I love historical places like this! We’ve been through Grapevine, but not long enough to visit
This looks like you had a lot of fun! Willhoites seems like such a cool place, being that they preserved the automotive look. If I am ever in town I would love to stop by those place. Thanks for sharing!
Those photos are wonderful! I really liked the looks of that place
I love going to historic sites like these! It’s a great way to get to know a city. I love that it’s also very relaxing here, you can just take your time touring the different buildings. That bowl of chili is my kind of chili!
Oh my goodness. I’ve never heard of Grapevine, Texas. It looks like such a charming old retro Western Town.
Exploring historical places sounds so much fun! The public arts and clock towers looks amazing!
Oven been to grapevine many times! My parents have a house in Trophy Club which is pretty much right next to grapevine. Neat little town Graoevine is!
I’ve been***
Very informative and detailed. I love the brown pants (if that’s what they are)
Wow! Looks like a great place to visit! There looks like there is a ton of stuff to do! I love exploring historic downtowns! They are so much fun!
I’ve done quite a few places in the Deep South but still not Texas – it’s definitely on my list!
I love visiting historic districts like this. The buildings are always so pretty!
Liz, the railroad looks like the most fun. That guy in the pic has really long legs, but that’s a small jail!
This looks like a great place to visit! Have always wanted to do the American road trip and would include this on my journey 🙂
Texas is one place in the US that I would absolutely love to visit x
I’ve never been to Texas, just passing by! You’ve made me want to include it in my travels!
This is nice love to visit here
I love Grapevine Tx!!! Everything there is amazing, my husband loves the chili in Texas!
I’ve only been to TX on a layover. I’d love to stop and visit for a spell. The clock looks fun, and those kids playiing are a great permanent fixture to have in any city. Totally made me smile. 🙂
I would love to visit Grapevine Texas. I love Texas, there is always so much to see and do there.
For some reason, Grapevine reminds me of the series Once Upon a Time. I think it’s because of that clock tower. 🙂
Grapevine sounds like a wonderful place to visit. That clock on the building is beautiful!
You got a lot done in just a half day. It looks like an interesting place to visit. If I ever make it to Texas I will be sure to add this to my list of things to do.
I would love to try the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. I would love to travel back to the old west. Sounds like a lot of fun.
I want to try that bowl of red, so intriguing! That place looks so awesome to me!
Looks like a great place to go – I need to visit!
This looks so cool – I love the clock tower x
Looks like a lovely town. I like historic places, and this one has a rich culture and history.
Such a wonderful place! I like to have an adventure there and explore that side of the world.
omggg i love this. i love all of the photos also especially the sunday skaters pic. wow.
Aaaaand now I want to go visit my family that’s in DFW! We lived there for a while but I never made it to downtown Grapevine…just Grapevine Mills Mall. haha I’ll have to check it out next time we go for a visit!
What a place! Definitely would love to visit there. I’ve never been to Texas, hopefully one day. Bowl of reds sounds like my type of hot food 😀
What a wonderful place I wish I could go to all these places I read about.
such brilliant photos! It looks like such a nice place to visit 🙂
Such a cool place to visit, I love all the hidden places to visit!
This really looks like a step back in time. It had to be an incredible visit!
I love old timey towns, especially those in America!
Grapevine Texas sounds like a great historical place to visit. I would love to go see all the street art and the historical sights there some day. Thanks for sharing the information and your experiences.
I love to travel and the place is really stunning to me. I will add this to my bucket list.
This would be such a fun trip. I love the old time feel of it all.
I’ve never heard of Grapevine but it looks a fascinating place.
I love Grapevine. We’ve done the mall but need to go check out downtown. Thanks for giving us the lowdown.
I just had some relatives get back from a vacation in Texas! This looks fun!
It looks like a neat place to visit. I like the kids roller skating. Also, the background in your visitor’s center picture is beautiful.
I’ve never been to Texas before but hope to some day. This looks like a lot of fun and something my husband would love to see.
Grapevine Texas gives the perfect vibes of an old downtown historic city! It reminds me of Ybor City in Tampa which is also an old historic district, famous for Cuban Cigars!
that feeling you get when a place looks so amazing and inviting to you but you know you cant be there… well am glad i have got the chance to be there through this post now. thanks for the share…
What a great looking place to visit. That bowl of chilli looks yummy! I’ve not been there before so a new addition to my must visit list.
This looks like such a fun place to visit! My dad would love something like this.
Oh my gosh what a cook place. My sister lives in Texas and we go see her once or twice yearly. I’ll ask her if we can visit historice downtown Grapevine, TX on our next trip.
*cool*
Grapevine sounds like a really cool place! We like that it’s a bit quirky too 🙂 putting it on our bucket list!
These are lovely tips on what to do when visiting Grapevine Texas. Of course , trying some dish will really complete a good travel 🙂
I really like the frontier jail. Never been to Texas, maybe one day I’ll get there.
What a fun and great adventure you share. The chili con carne is literally making me crave for something! ? Grapevine looks like a hidden gem of Texas with many interesting attractions and places to visit.
Grapevine definitely looks like an amazing travel destination. The Glockenspiel Clock Tower is gorgeous would love to watch the cowboy show. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
I have yet to explore Texas. Love that hues in the sky
I haven’t been to Texas (I haven’t visited the US at all yet as it happens) but it looks like there is so much great stuff to do there is Grapevine, and I know I wouldn’t be able to resist the ‘bowl of red’!! x
Looks like you had a really great time at Grapevine! Love the town’s name by the way. The “Sunday Skaters” statues are really cute!
Loving those sculptures, and that gorgeous sky. My camera would love everywhere in your post I think.
I fell so much in love with Grapevine after my first visit that I knew I had to move here. I am a KC girl in a lovely Texas town. C’mon down, y’all!
I really hope to visit this place in the future! It looks like a very nice travel destination!
I never go to Grapevine, TX before. I would love to ride on the Grapevine Vintage while drinking a wine and eating cheese + crackers. My husband is kind of country and western boy; as opposed to that, I am a simple city girl. 🙂 I bet that my husband will love this.
Ooh that ‘Bowl of Red’ looks powerful. I’d love to a trip to the Glockenspiel Clocktower – Loving the statues on the street too!
It looks amazing – especially all the public art – but the capital of Christmas? That sounds too good not to visit!
i love how different this is! ive only been to savannah and this has a different feel!
I’ve always loved the atmosphere and sights at Grapevine. There’s just something different from this place compared to the entirety of Texas and a good sample is quite evident in this post.
Beautiful, looks like a lovely place to visit. I have never been to Texas, but will add this to my list for when I plan a visit.
How fun! I love that purple cloud picture that you captured. Such great photographs!