Palo Pinto County: Lakes, Trails and History

Palo Pinto County brings together travel interests centered on water, landscapes and history. The county is home to numerous attractions, including Possum Kingdom State Park. You can plan your stay around the purpose of your trip.

Lakes and Water Activities

Possum Kingdom State Park offers swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling. Possum Kingdom Lake has more than 300 miles of shoreline and scenic coves. This puts both a variety of activities and the extensive shoreline landscape in focus. At Tucker Lake in Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, you can fish, boat, swim and watch birds—a different range of options if you want to combine nature observation with a stay by the water.

Lake Mineral Wells also offers its own boating option: the lake covers 640 acres, and boats can be brought along or rented at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. A public, two-lane boat ramp is located at Palo Pinto Reservoir near FM 3137. If you are planning to bring your own boat, this gives you specific information about this location; it should be considered separately from the facilities at the other lakes.

Trails, Landscapes and Climbing

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park covers 4,871 acres of former ranchland. Steep hills, deep canyons and open savanna areas shape the landscape at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. The park is located on U.S. Highway 180, four miles east of Mineral Wells in Palo Pinto County. Climbers and rappellers at the natural climbing area of Penitentiary Hollow must register at the headquarters.

The Lake Mineral Wells Trailway offers another way to enjoy the outdoors. It runs 20 miles west to downtown Mineral Wells in eastern Palo Pinto County. Hikers, cyclists and riders of all ages and abilities can use it. For trip planning, the combination of length, direction and permitted uses is helpful: the Trailway is a route with several possible modes of travel, while Penitentiary Hollow is a named climbing area with a specific registration requirement.

Industrial History and Museums

The W.K. Gordon Museum and Research Center in Thurber uses interactive exhibits to tell the story of the rise and fall of a company town. A coal mine diorama shows the cramped working conditions of miners. The museum grounds have parking as well as spaces for buses and RVs. Since facilities can change, check visitor information again before you go.

The Old Jail Museum Complex features historic buildings and artifacts and shares their history. The Crazy Water Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Texas and Pacific Train Depot in Strawn contains pictures, newspaper articles, furnishings, tools and equipment, as well as artifacts related to Strawn's railroad history. The topics thus range from the history of a company town and mining to railroads and historic buildings.

Tours, Festivals and Other Experiences

Palo Pinto County on Tour is a self-guided historical and botanical driving tour. It takes place every two years in odd-numbered years. The county also hosts the Crazy Water Festival every May. The Palo Pinto Art, Music, & Flute Festival features music performed on Native American-style flutes and artwork by regional artists; the event schedule may change.

Greystone Castle in Mingus offers safari-style tours. Since the activities on offer may change, check the current tours before planning a visit. Customers have been served at the Famous Mineral Water Company drinking pavilion for more than 100 years. These experiences each offer a different focus: a self-guided driving tour, a recurring festival, art and music, or an available tour.

First, choose your hotel based on the main focus of your trip. Water activities, a route such as the Trailway, a museum visit and a festival appeal to different interests. If a particular event or tour is a deciding factor for your travel dates, check the specific date or current offering while planning.

Discover more destinations: Mineral Wells, Travis, Eastland County, Colorado County, Bandera, Harris, Haskell County, Howard.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.