Itinerary - Texas Fort Trail
Discover the history of the Texas Fort Trail.
Day 1 Tour Historic Downtown and More!
- Arrive at the Visitor Information Center, located inside Frontier Texas!, to pick-up your downtown guide. (Free)
- Frontier Texas! Experience the big picture of the Texas frontier between 1780-1880.
- National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature: one-of-a-kind museum offers the best works of today’s premier children’s book illustrators.
- The Grace Museum: three museums (historic, fine arts and children’s).
- The Center for Contemporary Arts: four galleries featuring contemporary art, photography and sculpture.
- Paramount Theatre: self-guided tours of this grand theatre, restored to its 1930’s elegance.
- Candies by Vletas: tempting treats include chocolate covered strawberries, handmade chocolates and brittles.
- 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum: houses the Division’s Historical Collection and serves as a teaching museum for the study of World War II and its impact on the American people.
- Shop, Shop, Shop till you drop. Downtown offers unique specialty and antique stores.
- Dine at Cypress Street Station, located inside one of the many restored historic buildings in downtown, or at the Beehive Restaurant and Saloon, another fine dining establishment in historic downtown.
- After lunch, head to Fort Chadbourne, 40 miles
- Load the motorcoach for a tour of Buffalo Gap and dinner at a unique restaurant.
- The Taylor County History Center takes you back in time to the founding of the area. Special features are 21-artifact filled buildings from the founding of the area and gift shop.
- After your tour it's off to the Perini Ranch Steakhouse. Enjoy mesquite smoked steaks and chicken or fried catfish served with home cooked vegetables. Perini’s famous whiskey bread pudding rounds out your meal. Choose between dining in the rustic restaurant or outside under-the-stars. When you are ready, head back to the hotel!
Day 2 North of Abilene
- Load the motorcoach for Fort Phantom. With advance notice a guided tour of the ruins of Fort Phantom, built in 1851, can be arranged.
- Load the motorcoach for Fort Griffin State Historic Site, 50 miles. Tour the Fort Griffin State Historical Park, established in 1867. This guided tour includes one of Texas' living legends, the longhorn.
- Head to Fort Belknap, 35 miles, where you will enjoy a catered lunch on the grounds followed by a guided tour of this 1851 fort. Buildings include barracks for five companies of infantry, officer’s quarters, a guardhouse, library, hospital and forage house. (Closed Wed. and Sun. mornings.)
- All aboard! Fort Richardson, 30 miles.
- Enjoy a leisurely walk with your guide through Fort Richardson State Historical Park.
- Load coach and return to Abilene.
- Freshen up for dinner. Dine at one of the local favorites . . . barbecue, Mexican, seafood or family dining. Ask the Convention & Visitors Bureau for dining options.
Day 3 South of Abilene
- Climb on board for Paint Rock, 75 miles
- View Indian pictographs in Paint Rock overlooking the Concho River.
- Load for lunch!
- Dine at the Lowake Steakhouse. Load coach for Fort McKavett State Historic Site, 75 miles.
- The extensive ruins of Fort McKavett, established in 1852, are being preserved and restored. On display at the park headquarters are exhibits and a model of the fort as it was in 1876. Everyone will enjoy this guided tour.
- Climb aboard for San Angelo, 85 miles.
- Stop in at Miss Hattie’s, a restored bordello that is a memorial to the ‘working gals’ on Concho Street. Then browse the shops along Concho Avenue.
- Load up for the short trip to Fort Concho. Enjoy an evening at Fort Concho, one of the most preserved West Texas forts. Life in the late 1800’s is depicted among its 32 buildings. (Closed Sunday morning and all day Monday. Minimum of 25 people for tour, dinner, and entertainment.)
- Board motorcoach to return to your Abilene accommodations, 90 miles.
Have breakfast the next morning and head out for your next adventure!