Planning a trip to Mineral Wells and want to make sure you hit all the best stops? Here are our Top 10 Things To Do in Mineral Wells.
For a true Mineral Wells experience, enjoy a soak in our mineral waters at the Crazy Bath House, quench your thirst with a Crazy Soda made with Crazy Water, and wander down the sidewalks of downtown to admire more than 100 historic buildings. Among them are the Crazy Water Hotel and the famous Baker Hotel.
Experience cuisine you simply can’t get anywhere else. Dishes like a Twisted Biscuit for breakfast or Avocado Quail Burgers for lunch. Many of our restaurants have outdoor patios with seasonal live music. So, kick back and enjoy some tunes under the stars.
If your ideal weekend includes pushing yourself to the limits in the great outdoors, this is the place to go. From hiking, biking and camping to rock-climbing, cliff-diving, kayaking and hydraflying, It’s a thrill-seeker’s paradise.
Only in for the day? Here are the Top 10 Things to Do in Mineral Wells.
Try Crazy Water #1-4
Our mineral water is where we got our name and our fame, and it’s been making folks feel good since 1881.
Make sure to stop at the Famous Water Pavilion to see what all the fuss is about. Crazy Water comes in levels 1-4 based on their mineral content. You’ll also find lots of other fun stuff while you’re there making this a must-stop for a true Mineral Wells experience. Find out more about the Famous Water Pavilion here.
Go Rock-climbing
Lake Mineral Wells State Park offers one of the only natural rock-climbing areas in North Texas and there are some pretty great views on your way down into Penitentiary Hollow.
Never been climbing before? Schedule a lesson with their only authorized teacher, Rock-About-Climbing.
Want to look like you know a thing or two before you go? Check out this quick Rock-Climbing 101 video.
Check Out the Murals
Who doesn’t love murals?
Let your imagination run wild as you join the Goodnight-Loving trail or stand and salute while imagining the soldiers deboarding the train. Or maybe you’re feeling more whimsical and need to spread your butterfly wings.
The options are endless with more than 20 murals in the downtown area. CLICK HERE for more info and to grab a printable map of the murals.
Watch the Model Trains
Overhead and on the ground.
Inside and outside.
This way and that way. The model train stating at Clark Gardens is rumbling with G-scale model trains chugging down 1,200 feet of tracks. The trains will capture your imagination as they take you through a miniature replica of historic Mineral Wells and Weatherford.
So grab your conductor hat and head on over to Clark Gardens Botanical Park.
Dig for fossils
It’s finders-keepers at this free fossil park teeming with fossils from 300 million years ago.
Though you won’t find any dinosaur bones, you just might be one of the lucky few to discover a shark’s tooth. (link to David’s press release). With an abundance of sea life fossils waiting to be found, you’re sure to go home with quite a collection. Check out the Mineral Wells Fossil Park here.
See a Real Vietnam-era Huey
A common sight during the Vietnam War was the Huey helicopter flying overhead. It’s also the first thing you’ll see as you get close to the National Vietnam War Museum east of town – a Vietnam-era Huey mounted almost 20 feet in the air.
With both indoor and outdoor exhibits, the museum gives you a glimpse into the life of the our military who served during the Vietnam War.
Mineral Wells is steeped in military history. In fact, we’ve created a whole self-guided tour dedicated to it. You can check that out HERE.
Float the Brazos River
…or paddle, if you prefer.
The Brazos River is the state’s longest and most storied river and the section in Palo Pinto County is possibly the most scenic as it winds through sandstone bluffs, rolling hills, lush ranchland, and sandbanks. Boasting 36 bends, old timers once joked the river is so crooked in these parts that it crosses itself twice.
Spend a day or a week floating the river and camping along the way.
For put-ins, check HERE. (link to BRA site)
For shuttle service or kayak and canoe rentals, check out Rochelle’s.
Hit the Mountain Bike Trails
With more than 40 miles of mountain bike trails, Mineral Wells has become a popular spot for cyclists. Take your pick or spend the weekend and try them all.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park Trailway: This former railway turned trailway takes you off the beaten path through both Palo Pinto County and Parker County. The 20-mile crushed limestone trail carries you over 16 bridges as you wind through gently rolling hills, small creeks miles of farm and ranch land.
Texas Frontier Trails: Heritage Park – With such great terrain, it’s the perfect place for some amazing cycling. The Weatherford Mountain Bike Club cut in some great trails featuring technical rock gardens, some challenging short climbs as wells as some sandy areas perfect for warm-ups and beginner cyclists. Get more info about the trails HERE.
Possum Kingdom Hike & Bike Trails: Want more? Possum Kingdom lake has another 16 miles of trails with rolling hills, large boulders, limestone canyons, and views of the lake that will take you 350 feet above the water.
Hit the Bullseye
Experience the thrill of throwing an axe (or knife) and hitting the bullseye. Never thrown before? No worries. The gang at Hatchet House loves teaching you everything you need to know to throw like a pro. Check out this YouTube video to see for yourself.
With a stage for live music and a fridge full of your favorite beer, it’s the perfect place for a bachelor party or couple’s night out.
Release Your Creative Side
All the fun of crafting and painting without all the cleanup afterward! From a glow-in-the-dark splash room to party rooms and more, this is THE place for a little creative fun.
Bryton + Co. DIY Studio offers canvas painting, ceramics, pre-cut signs, acrylic pours and so much more. In fact, they even have art classes, special events, and a line of art supplies so you can take the fun home with you.
Have an artist’s date by yourself, bring the girls and a bottle of wine, or plan your next party at Mineral Wells’ favorite crafty spot.
