15 Fun Things To Do in Glen Rose TX

Located about 1.5 hours (85 miles) southwest of Dallas, the small town of Glen Rose is the perfect weekend getaway. This small Texas town will surprise you. There are so many things to do in Glen Rose, TX, that you might find yourself returning repeatedly.

Glen Rose is best known for its dinosaur history (which you can see firsthand at Dinosaur Valley State Park) and the wildlife safaris you can take at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Big Rocks Park, and the Paluxy River.

I would dare say that the downtown area around the courthouse, lined with shops and restaurants, is also one of the popular attractions in Glen Rose, TX.

*This post contains affiliate links.  By purchasing through these links, we get a small commission at no additional cost to you. We also participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We were guests of Country Woods Inn, Blackie’s On the Square, Loco Coyote, Pie Peddlers, and Sexton Mill during our time in Glen Rose. Don’t worry though, you can always count on us to give you our true and honest review of places.

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Where to Stay in Glen Rose: Glen Rose Cabins

Country Woods Inn

First, let’s talk about where to stay in Glen Rose, Texas. If you are like us, staying in one of the cabins in Glen Rose is optimal as cabins feel cozier than a hotel room.

When we were choosing our Glen Rose accommodations, we chose to stay at the Country Woods Inn.

Country Woods Inn is located near the historic downtown Glen Rose courthouse square and sits right on the Paluxy River across from Big Rocks Park. It offers cabins in Glen Rose, TX that are great for families or couples.

The Country Woods Inn has several accommodations, including cabin options, a railroad car, and vintage RVs that you can stay in—making this a fun place to try some Texas glamping.

The kids will love all of the animals on the property that they can interact with. There are also wildlife trails, camping circles to build a fire in, several yard games, a fishing hole, and, in the summer, swimming in the Paluxy River. All of these amenities make the Inn very family-friendly.

The property also offers breakfast in the barn on the weekends, March-November.

Big Rocks Park

Big Rocks Park is one of the top attractions in Glen Rose, Texas. Located on the Paluxy River, Big Rocks Park is full of unusually large rocks, hence its name.

Visitors love to come and take photos on the rocks and swim during the summer heat. Bring a picnic and enjoy a day on the river with your family at this free park!

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Another huge attraction in Glen Rose, TX, is the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Located in Somervell County, near Glen Rose, It is one of the unique adventures in Texas and one of the best day trips from Dallas.

A trip to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center allows visitors to see many species of animals that are in jeopardy of being endangered.

They offer a guided tour that allows visitors to explore areas of the park not open on the general tour. You also have the option of a self-guided tour, in which you drive your own vehicle through the park.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center also offers on-site accommodations, a scenic overlook area, a restaurant, and a gift shop.

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Did you know Glen Rose is dubbed the ‘Dinosaur Capital of Texas?’ It’s true!

That’s because there is physical evidence that dinosaurs roamed this area millions of years ago. This evidence is cemented in time (literally) in the dinosaur tracks that you can see while visiting Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas.

I admit I was a little skeptical about these dinosaur footprints. I know dinosaurs existed, but I questioned whether or not you could still see dinosaur tracks after all of these years.

I was convinced once we visited Dinosaur Valley State Park, and I stepped into one of the dinosaur tracks! The footprints are permanently cemented into the mud of the Paluxy River bed, forever frozen in time.

Standing in these footprints, I couldn’t help but imagine the wild dinosaurs walking along the river. The sheer size of the dinosaur track alone was incredible. I bet this dinosaur track was easily over 100 feet long.

You talk about fossils; these are real-life dinosaur footprint fossils! I just stepped into history!

Thanks to GPS locators, the tracks are easy to find. Visit the park’s website and use your smartphone to search for them.

Dinosaur Valley State Park also offers camping, swimming in the river, geocaching, horseback riding trails, hiking trails, and more. It is a fun place to spend a weekend in Glen Rose, TX, as you are nearby all of the local conveniences.

Dinosaur World

You can’t be called The Dinosaur Capital of Texas and only have one dinosaur attraction. Lucky for you, Glen Rose has more than one!

Located near the state park, Dinosaur World is a fun, family-friendly experience that your kids will love!

A visit to Dinosaur World allows you to explore a variety of fun dinosaur-related activities, all of which allow kids to get hands-on while learning the history of dinosaurs!

A prehistoric museum on site houses an assortment of fossils and an animatronic dinosaur display.

After your museum tour, visit the on-site gift shop to find the perfect dinosaur souvenir.

Squaw Creek Golf Course

If you love to golf, then don’t miss the local golf course in Glen Rose, Texas, Squaw Creek.

You will find Squaw Creek on the edge of town. This 36-hole course is consistently rated as one of the top courses in the state, according to the Squaw Creek website.

A trip here offers a scenic view of the Texas hillside while you enjoy a round of golf or two. Just be sure to make reservations in advance (especially on the weekend), as this course is popular with visitors and the residents of Glen Rose.

Explore the Shops Around The Courthouse Square

Like most Texas small towns, Glen Rose has a historic courthouse square surrounded by shops, restaurants, and even a county museum.

One of our favorite things to do when visiting a small town is to support the local businesses. Lucky for us, the Glen Rose Square made that easy.

Somervell County Museum

During your trip to Glen Rose, TX, be sure to visit the Somervell County Museum, located near the historic 1893 county courthouse.

The Somervell County Museum has several exhibits highlighting the county’s history from prehistoric times to the present day.

Outside, near the museum, sits a 1901 log cabin US Post Office that is said to be the oldest and smallest US Post Office.

The Somervell County Museum is small, but it is certainly worth a visit, especially since it is free.

River Walk

The River Walk runs alongside the Paluxy River, connecting Big Rocks Park to Heritage. It is a great place to take a stroll and work off some of the food you eat while in Glen Rose.

Barnard’s Mill and Art Museum

The Barnard Mill and Art Museum is located near the Paluxy River.

In 1860, it was a water-powered gristmill, a cotton gin, a health spa, and a hospital, and today, it is the historic Barnard mill and art gallery.

According to historical records, the mill was the first permanent structure in the Glen Rose area, making this historic building art gallery a must-see on your trip to Glen Rose, Texas. Not only that, but Charles Barnard is said to be the pioneer who not only put Somervell County and Glen Rose on the map.

Visitors can enjoy touring Barnard’s and viewing the works of art houses in the art gallery. The art gallery contains Oriental and American Indian works of art and artifacts.

Heritage Park

Heritage Park has a few historic homes, a playground, a pavilion area, and is the start of the River Walk. Bring a picnic and enjoy the park facilities before exploring some of Glen Rose’s history at the homes on site.

Wheeler Branch Reservoir Park

Wheeler Branch Reservoir Park is a great place to relax. It features a beach area, floating dock island, boat ramp, covered picnic and pavilion areas, and a nice fishing pier.

Enjoy the Brazos River

Glen Rose is the perfect home base for those of you who want to enjoy the Brazos River. Year-round recreation includes kayaking and canoeing; in the summer, you can grab a tube and float the river.

Glen Rose Restaurants

Another of our favorite things to do while traveling is to enjoy an area’s food, and Glen Rose, Texas, is no exception.

We loved all the great restaurants there during our weekend in Glen Rose.

Here are some of our favorites:

The Loco Coyote Grill

The Loco Coyote Grill is a fun hangout on the outskirts of Glen Rose, Texas.

This laid-back venue has been in business since 1965. The Loco Coyote Grill for a cool environment, serving up great food, live music, and cold drinks for all who venture through its doors.

The rustic buildings used to be the old chicken coop of the farm. Now, they house family-style seating at their large picnic tables.

The place was crowded since it was the weekend, but we didn’t mind. We enjoyed the live music and had a cocktail while we waited for our food.

We started with an appetizer of their coyote balls. Marty went for the chicken fried steak for dinner, while I opted for the single BBQ platter of beef ribs. As you can see, the portions here are huge. His steak was bigger than his hand, and my plate came with five larger-than-life ribs.

We left with to-go containers!

Sexton Mill

Another cool restaurant in Glen Rose, Texas, is Sexton Mill.

Sexton Mill is an open-air venue on the banks of the Paluxy River. Here, you can dine on unique Texas cuisine, a mixture of Tex-Mex and barbecue.

Marty enjoyed an utterly delicious beef brisket sandwich. The meat had a great smokey flavor and was so tender! I chose the Cochinita Pibil (Pulled Pork) and made little tacos. My tacos paired perfectly with the yummy margarita I chose.

Don’t leave Sexton Mill without enjoying all of its fun activities. There are video games, pool tables, and axe throwing for guests to enjoy!

Marty and I participated in ax throwing for the first time at Sexton Mill and loved it. Our teacher was fabulous, and although it took me several tries to get the hang of it, I was a semi-pro by the end of our 1-hour session. Of course, Marty picked up on it immediately. LOL!

Blackie’s On The Square

Another fun venue in Glen Rose is Blackie’s On The Square. I would describe Blackies as a cool bar that serves food.

Blackie’s serves up delicious craft cocktails and unique food offerings to their clients.

I went for the BBQ beef mac and cheese. A large serving of pasta is served with a homemade four-cheese sauce and topped with BBQ brisket. This dish was delicious but rich, so keep that in mind if ordering it.

Marty went for the Chicken Parm Pesto Flatbread. This flatbread is served up with marinated chicken, pesto sauce, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and a balsamic drizzle. It was heavenly!

Pie Peddlers

A trip to Glen Rose is not complete without a stop at the Pie Peddlers.

The Pie Peddlers are known around Texas for being the best pies in the Lone Star State. Their selections include traditional pies like apple, cherry, coconut, and chocolate and some unique creations like strawberry rhubarb and coconut caramel.

Be sure to try them on your visit so you can pick your favorite!

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