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Chihuahuan
Desert
Nature Center & Botanical Gardens
 The
Chihuahuan Desert Nature
Center and Botanical Gardens is located on
507-acres, four miles south of Fort Davis on Highway 118. The Center is in a
marvelous setting, with views of Mt. Livermore to the north and Blue Mountain
to the southwest.
"The mission of the Chihuahuan Desert
Research Institute is to promote public awareness, appreciation, and concern
for the natural diversity of the Chihuahuan Desert through research and
education programs."
Known to locals as CDRI, the Center is home to a Visitor's Center, the Leapin' Lizard Gift Shop, an arboretum, and the cactus and succulent
greenhouse with over 200 species of Chihuahuan Desert cacti. For those who
enjoy hiking, the CDRI offers two, moderately strenuous hikes: the Modesta
Canyon Trail, a one-hour hike down a protected canyon to Modesta Canyon
Springs, and the Clayton's Overlook hike with spectacular views of the
surrounding territory. (432)364-2499. The CDRI
is open Monday though Saturday 9 - 5. e-mail:
choyt@cdri.org
Davis Mountain Broom Shop
Handcrafted Brooms and Walking Sticks made as
they were in the 1800’s. Daily live demonstrations and
broom history. Tues-Sat 9am until 4pm Located at 401 State
Street.
Tel:(432) 426-3297.
Davis
Mountains State Park
 A focal point for outdoor recreation in the Fort Davis area is 2,700-acre
Davis Mountains State Park, four miles north of town on Texas 118. It is
certainly among the most scenic parks in Texas, with 1,000 feet of elevation
change just within the park boundaries. In addition to well known
Indian
Lodge Hotel, the park offers a variety of camping, from hookups for
recreational vehicles to primitive campsites, several miles of hiking trails,
and an interpretive center. Numerous species of birds can be seen from two viewing stations. Bird
checklists are available at Park Headquarters.
Not to be missed is Skyline Drive, a paved road that climbs steeply to two
overlooks on the eastern side of the park, visible are several mountain ranges
including the Chinati Mountain Range, located 75 miles to the southwest. Access
to the Skyline Drive after 10:00pm for stargazing is permitted with
registration and payment of fee at the park office
The State Park's centerpiece is the pretty canyon formed by Keesey Creek,
which often flows during the summer rainy season. It is wooded with Emory oaks,
gray oaks, pinion and juniper. Bird life is especially abundant in the park, and
a pack of javelina occasionally forages in the underbrush, apparently oblivious
to park visitors.
Camping and entrance fees vary. Call (432)426-3337 for information.
Reservations: (512)-389-8900 (Austin)
Amphitheater Program June-through-August 15 - every Wednesday through
Saturday night. Programs based on on the natural and cultural resources of the
Park call (432) 426-3337 for program starting times and additional information.
First Saturday Flea Market
-
Old-fashioned, community
based, outdoor flea market held on the first Saturday of
every month, March thru December.
www.oldfortcountry.biz
(432) 426-2742
Fort
Davis National Historic Site
 Fort Davis National Historic
Site, along Texas Highways 17 - 118 at the foot of Sleeping Lion Mountain and
Hospital Canyon, is considered perhaps the best preserved of all the 19th
Century frontier forts and one of the best preserved "Buffalo Soldier"
forts in the west. The site is well maintained and thoughtfully restored with
interpretive and historical displays, an excellent book shop and a museum.
Partially restored and fully restored buildings are scattered throughout the 474
acre grounds. Some have period furnishings. Military hobbyists and historians
from all over the country visit the Davis Mountains specifically to see the
Fort. Three hiking trails climb from the Fort, with two links to the hiking
trail at Davis Mountains State Park. Small plaques explain natural features and
their value to the Fort when it was active. Self guided tours daily. Admission
is $3 per person. Hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Closed:
Christmas Day- December 25
New Years
Day - January 1
Martin Luther
King Jr. Birthday Observed - Third Monday in January - Jan.16,2006
Thanksgiving
Day - Last Thursday in November - Nov. 30, 2006
For more info: Please call: (432)-426-3224
H.E.
Sproul Ranch
 Visit
the oldest family owned and operated ranch in Jeff Davis
County. Located 7 ½ miles from Fort Davis at 1900 Sproul Rd.,
this historic working cattle ranch also offers upscale guest
accommodations, meeting facilities, custom pool, jeep tours,
trap and skeet and hunting, all surrounded by spectacular
scenery. Visit
www.sproulranch.com or call 432-426-2500 for more
information.
Historic Walking/Driving Tour
Venture out
among the community and view 23 historic sites. At just 1 ½
miles long this is a journey that starts and ends in the town
square. The tour encompasses the longest section of the unpaved
Overland-Butterfield mail route.
Click here
for a printable version.
 Indian
Lodge, the pueblo-style adobe hotel built in the 1930s by the Civilian
Conservation Corps, offers pleasant accommodations, a pool, landscaped grounds
and patios, and a "The Black Bear" restaurant. Some rooms have
handmade furniture. Indian Lodge has 39 rooms, which are often booked months in
advance.
Luz de
Estrella Vineyards and Winery - Full production
winery complete with tours and tastings. Available for parties.
25 acre vineyards with
Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chenin Blanc.
100 Starlight Way, Marfa, TX
Tel: 432 729-3434 Web:
www.luzdeestrella.com/
McDonald
Observatory
 When the three
large domes of the McDonald Observatory appear on a mountain ridge in the
distance, you know Fort Davis can't be far away. The observatory's three largest
instruments are the 362" Hobby-Eberly telescope on 6,600-foot Mount Fowlkes,
and the 107" Harlan J. Smith and 82" Otto Struve telescopes located on
6,800-foot Mt. Locke. The observatory is located just 17 miles from Fort Davis
on Texas Highway 118.
Operated by the University of
Texas at Austin, the observatory has several large research telescopes and hosts
astronomers from around the world. Self guided tours are possible from 10:00 am
to 5:30 pm. Guided tours of the facility are offered every day at 11:30 am and
2:30 pm. Solar viewing sessions are conducted twice daily at 11:00 am and 2:00
p.m. before the guided tours. A telescope equipped with a safe filter and
camera provides dramatic views of our sun and its many features.
The observatory's evening Star Parties
held on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
should not be missed. Beginning
after sunset, the star party showcases interesting stars, planets, and
other astronomical objects with live views through telescopes from 8 to 22
inches in size. A tour of the stars and constellations is presented by
knowledgeable staffers, while equally interesting live presentations take place
in the new Frank N. Bash Visitor Center's multimedia theater. The Star Party is a rare
opportunity for the entire family to learn about the heavens from experts under
one of the darkest skies in North America. Bring a jacket, since the mountain
air cools quickly. The Observatory is closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year¹s Day.
A gift shop in the Frank N. Bash Visitor Center offers astronomy related merchandise, and the StarDate Cafe offers delicious snacks or full meals.
For more information please call (432) 426-3640 or
Toll Free 1-877-984-7827
or visit their website at
http://McDonaldObservatory.org
Accurate information for opening hours, tours can be
found at
http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors/programs/
Overland Trail Museum
 On Fort and 3rd Streets.
The museum is located on the historic San Antonio-El Paso Road/Southern Overland
Trail. It contains many unique and varied displays depicting early life in the
West including the original Valentine Post Office and telephone switchboard,
early medical paraphernalia, a restored pioneer settlers kitchen, an original
curling machine, and numerous early photographs of pioneer settlers and
buildings Special tours may be
arranged by contacting Bob Miles (432) 426-2467 or Daisy McCutcheon at (432)
426-2011, Museum is owned and operated by The Fort Davis Historical
Society.
ADMISSION:
Adults $2oo, Children $1oo
HOURS:
Tuesday, Fridays & Saturday 1 pm to 5 pm
The Caboose
A 35,000 pound
interactive science display and historical relic! That only
partially describes Fort Davis’ very own Burlington Northern
railroad caboose. BN 12550 was moved to Fort Davis in 2004 to
house the region’s very first Blue Bell Ice Cream shop, but it
is much more than that…
 The
Caboose is a real-life railroad car featuring a “second-story”
conductor’s chair mounted in the cupola (providing a unique view
of the fort), a scaled-down refrigerator, a phone booth-size
bathroom, two sets of office chairs and desks, plus much, much
more. Jodie and Henry Moon, who brought this area’s first
railroad car to Fort Davis have maintained and restored as much
of the original caboose as possible. In addition, it is
connected to a workroom that they call “the depot” by a dynamic
bridge which allows the caboose to move (in the wind) without
destroying the building. The depot was designed after a number
of historic Texas depots that once dotted the rural countryside.
Given the fact
that cabooses were removed from U.S. railroads in the 1970s,
1980s, and 1990s, The Caboose is an excellent destination for
school/church/scout fieldtrips and groups of all sizes.
Surrounded by a patio featuring a hand-drawn map of the Big bend
region, a latitude and longitude marker, an elevation benchmark,
an old-fashioned hopscotch board, and all of the original
railroad equipment taken out of the retired rail car. The
Caboose offers two free programs that can be customized to
groups of all sizes and ages. One program describes the role of
the railroad in altering the geography of the Big Bend region
while the other program describes BN 12550 and how it was moved
to Fort Davis. The Caboose is open from noon to 9:00 p.m. seven
days a week and programs may be scheduled by calling (432)
426-2742 or emailing
jodiemoon@sbcglobal.net. Web:
www.thecaboose.biz
The Nature Conservancy of Texas
- 123 N. 6th
Street, Alpine, Texas 79830 (office) and 10 miles north of the
McDonald Observatory on Hwy 118 North (Davis Mountains
Preserve). A non-profit wildlife conservation organization,
using science-based research and a non-confrontational approach
to protect the unique diversity of animals and plants native to
our state. (432) 837-5954 Fax: (432) 837-5989 e-mail
cmarginot@tnc.org.
The
Scenic Loop Drive
Fort Davis is the starting point for one of the most scenic and uncrowned
drives in Texas and
America. Seventy-five miles long, the drive leaves Fort Davis on Texas 118,
proceeds up Limpia Canyon past Mts. Locke and Fowlkes and the McDonald
Observatory and then into Madera Canyon and a quiet, pine shaded picnic area.
After a left turn on Texas 166, the road passes Mt. Livermore and Sawtooth
Mountain, then gradually descends past a prominent ridge lined with wind
generators toward the southeast side of the mountains, with broad views to the
Sierra Viejo Mountains along the Rio Grande to the south. As you approach Fort
Davis again on Texas 166, the Puertacita Mountains and Miter Peak are straight
ahead.
Highest elevation on the Loop
is about 6700 feet, making it the highest public highway in Texas. About 1.5
hours to drive Click here
for map.
Other Area Attractions:
Balmorhea
State Park
38 Miles NE of Fort Davis on TX Hwy. 17 The park's main attraction is a large
(77,053 sq. ft.) artesian spring pool
that is open daily and fed by San Solomon Springs. The springs also fill a 'cienega'
(desert wetland) and the canals of a refugium, a home to endangered fish
species, assorted invertebrates, and turtles. The pool differs from most public
pools in several respects: the 1 3/4-acre size, the 25-foot depth and the 72 to
76 degree constant temperature. It also has a variety of aquatic life in its
clear waters. Along with motel-type accommodations, camping facilities include
six water-only campsites with tables and grills and 28 sites with tables,
grills, water and electricity. A dozen sites have cable television hookups as
well. An air-conditioned recreation hall with kitchen facilities is available
for day use throughout the year. The park also offers a restroom with hot
showers, a trailer dump station, playground, dining hall/meeting room, picnic
sites and several native plant gardens. For more information contact them at (432)
375-2370
Marfa
Lights
Less than 25 miles from Fort Davis you may view one of the few "Unsolved
Mysteries" of our west Texas skies. National Geographic couldn't explain
them, The University of Texas can't explain them, The TV series "Unsolved
Mysteries" could not explain them, but every year since the 19th century .
. . plain ole Texas folks have been explaining them to thousands of onlookers.
Are they UFO's? Mirages? Secret military tests? Magnetic energy? Static
electricity? Who Knows? Come see 'em and see if you can explain them!
Glider Rides
Take a scenic glider ride or schedule flying lessons with our FAA Flight Instructors. The enclosed
glider cockpit has two seats - one for you and one for your pilot. Soaring is safe and fun for the entire family. Since 1967 the Big Bend
has hosted several US National Soaring contests and the 1970 World Soaring Competition that established
Texas
as a premier area for exceptional flying conditions.
Marfa Gliders is located on
the Marfa Airport on Highway 17, just 18 miles south of Fort Davis, and 3 miles north of Marfa. We fly year-round by appointment.
Call 800-667-9464,
www.flygliders.com
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