Hill County: Hotels, Museums, and Nature
Accommodation in Hill County
Hill County brings together the landscape around Lake Whitney with Hillsboro’s history and museums. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can plan your stay around the focus of your trip: nature and trails, local history, or railroad culture. The places and activities below offer specific ideas to help you plan.
Lake Whitney and Outdoor Trails
Lake Whitney State Park lies on the eastern shore of Lake Whitney, west of Hillsboro in Hill County. The lake covers 237 square miles and has more than 225 miles of shoreline. Birdwatchers have recorded nearly 200 species in the park, including wild turkeys and bald eagles.
The Two Bridges Trail is an easy, 0.9-mile loop through post oak woodland. Two wooden bridges cross small streams. The easy Towash Forest Trail is also suitable for hiking and biking; it is 1.2 miles long. Visitors can watch ospreys and other birds there and see remnants of open prairie as well as the lakeshore. The two trails differ in both length and the landscapes they offer.
Fishing is also one of the activities described at Aquilla Lake. TPWD has established fish habitats at strategic locations, which anglers can find using GPS and a fish finder. Two boat ramps have restrooms and parking. There is also a free public fishing pier at the underwater channel below the dam.
Museums and History in Hill County
The Hill County Jail operated from 1893 to 1983. The building was then preserved and used as the Hill County Cell Block Museum. In 1981, while it was still being used as a jail, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Museum exhibits cover topics including the County Courthouse, historic downtown Hillsboro, cotton, agriculture and railroads, as well as Native American history and artifacts.
The museum offers public tours on Saturdays from April through October, either self-guided or accompanied by a museum staff member. Operating details may change, so check the schedule before your visit. The Hill County Courthouse has been listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark since 1964. Its interior can be visited during regular business hours, Monday through Friday; check current access information in advance. The site of Old Lexington Village was the first settlement in Hill County and the location of the county’s first temporary courthouse.
The Texas Heritage Museum is a state museum with Galleries and Collection, the Historical Research Center, and Hill College Press. Interactive Tiki-Toki timelines are available throughout the museum. During the fall and spring semesters, the museum is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Hours may change; check before your visit.
Hillsboro’s Railroad and Town Culture
Downtown Hillsboro was named one of the five original Texas Main Street cities in 1981. The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad reached Hillsboro in 1881 as part of its route toward Taylor and the Gulf Coast. The MKT Railroad Depot was completed in 1902 and features elements of the Eastlake, Victorian, and Prairie styles.
From May through October, Downtown Hillsboro hosts festivals and concerts, as well as a farmers market on Saturdays. For a specific visit, it’s a good idea to check the latest dates. Texas Through Time is located downtown in the historic Grimes Garage. Exhibits there include animatronic dinosaurs and fossil replicas.
Discover More Destinations
Discover More Destinations: Jasper County, Donley County, Dickens County, Shelby County, Atascosa County, Jack County, Frio County
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