Home | Weatherford Chamber of Commerce

From wherever you are, Weatherford is worth the trip! A historic town that's just 20 minutes west of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, but it's like stepping back years in time. Whether you come for an afternoon, a day or two, it's easy to see why Weatherford has become a draw for history buffs, western lifestyle enthusiasts and those with a pioneer spirit.

Chandor Gardens

Chandor Gardens is Weatherford's pride and joy. Built by famed English portrait artist Douglas Chandor for his Weatherford bride, the Gardens capture both the elegance of a formal English garden and the ornate design of Chinese architecture. From the 30-foot waterfall to soothing fountains, from a bowling green to secret hideaways,

Chandor Gardens will capture your awe and wonder at every turn. Visit Chandor Gardens and discover the love story that still lingers within its walls. Learn more about Chandor Gardens. Visit the Chandor Gardens website: www.chandorgardens.com

Clark Gardens

Clark Gardens Botanical Park awakens your senses to the natural wonders of Texas. Clark Gardens began in 1977 and opened to the public in 2000, as the personal dream of Max and Billie Clark. Open daily, year-round, visitors can wade through a sea of rainbow-hued iris, relax in the perfumed shade of a rose arbor, or stroll along the flower-laden banks of a sun dappled pond. By using Texas adaptive plants and through an extensive system of conserving and collecting water Clark Gardens hopes to inspire and educate those that visit.

For the train enthusiasts, the Clark Gardens G-Scale model gardens trains are a must see. Replicating the historic rail system that ran through this area, garden trains meander on 1200 feet of track through miniature dioramas of historic towns.

The Historic Tree Trail contains over 75 different historical trees each telling a story from a famous place or famous person in American History. The trees are the genuine offspring of the original historical trees the bore witness to the lives and events that shaped our nation. Each tree was grown from the seed or cutting of the actual historical tree and has a certificate of authenticity. The Park purchased the trees from American Forest's Historic Tree Nursery, which has been protecting, preserving and propagating historic trees since 1875.

The wheelchair user accessible facility contains 12 different venues for events, picnics, and meetings including an English style channel garden, a chapel, arbors and pavilions making it an ideal location for group meetings and tours. Visit Clark Gardens website: www.clarkgardens.org

Cutting Horse Capital

Proximity to the National Cutting Horse Association headquarters and major events has made Weatherford the Cutting Horse Capital of the World. Weatherford is home to dozens of Hall of Fame trainers, hundreds of the best horses in the industry and one life-size bronze cutting horse that graces the lawn of the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to the horse industry, there are also plenty of shops for those looking for western wear or tack. If you want to see what cutting is all about, you can catch a show on most weekends at Weatherford's Silverado on the Brazos.

Doss Heritage & Culture Center

The Doss Heritage & Culture Center highlights Parker County's rich tapestry of cattle barons and cowboys, Broadway stars, artist and political leaders will all showcased in the new exhibit spaces.

Museum planners envision a lively community center that can be used for a variety of purposes including small concerts, educational programs, meetings, celebrations and events for all segments of the community. The museum will be dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the area and to educate future generations about the past. Learn more about the Doss Center: www.dosscenter.org

Downtown

Visitors to Weatherford will enjoy many treasures. Our Historic Shopping District is full of antique, boutique and specialty stores. Many specialize in western memorabilia and rustic, ranch-style furniture.

There's also an old-time Farmer's Market downtown, where you can buy fresh Parker County produce, including watermelon, pecans and of course our famous peaches. The crown jewel of the downtown is the Parker County Courthouse, recently restored to its original splendor.

First Monday Trade Days

If it's wheelin' and dealin' you desire, then be sure and plan your trip during Weatherford's First Monday Trade Days, always held the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the first Monday in each month.

There is a farm and ranch lot with critters, food, items for in the home as well as lots of items for use and decoration outside. Visit the First Monday Trade Days page for more visitor and vendor information.

Historic Driving Tour

Take a driving tour to see Weatherford's bounty of Historic Homes. A variety of architectural styles are represented including Victorian, Queen Anne, and Greek Revival. See the home where Broadway star Mary Martin was born, where her son Larry Hagman, who played J.R. Ewing on the TV show "Dallas," grew up, and where former U.S. Speaker of the House Jim Wright spent his boyhood days.

Be sure and visit Greenwood Cemetery, where famed cattle drover Oliver Loving is buried. After being attacked by Indians in New Mexico in 1867, Loving's dying wish to his friend, Charles Goodnight, was to be buried in his home, Parker County. Goodnight brought the body back 600 miles by wagon for burial. If this story sounds familiar, it should. It is the inspiration behind Texas author Larry McMurtry's novel, Lonesome Dove.

Boze Ikard, who served with Goodnight and for whom the character "Deets" was modeled, was also laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery. His headstone reads similarly to the one carved for "Deets" by "Captain Call." Served with me four years on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, never shirked a duty or disobeyed an order, rode with me in many stampedes, participated in three engagements with the Comanches, splendid behavior. C. Goodnight

You'll also see the Pythian Home, Weatherford's own "Castle on the Hill" that was built in 1909 by the Knights of Pythias as a home for widows and orphans. Today it serves as a foster home for children of families in need.

Museum Of The Americas

Located in historic downtown Weatherford, the Museum features the rich heritage and living traditions of indigenous peoples from Native America, Mexico, and Latin America.

Discover how the Eskimos of Alaska and Canada developed crafts and a way of life very different from the tribes of the Amazon; or how the Plains Indians followed the buffalo while the Aztecs built great civilizations. The Museum offers hundreds of artifacts, masks, ceramics, costumes, toys and more, of interest to people of all ages. Learn more about the Museum of the Americas.

Nature Lovers

Rails-to-Trails is a 26-mile trail-way that can be explored by foot, bicycle or horseback. You can enjoy the wildlife along the trail as it winds through the countryside all the way from Weatherford to Mineral Wells.

Town Creek Hike and Bike Trail is a favorite for residents and visitors. The 3.2 miles of trail way begins at the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, runs along Santa Fe Drive and the First Monday Grounds, connecting with a second trailhead at the Weatherford Police Department. From there, the trail leads in two additional trails. One leg heads east, crosses Town Creek, and ends at Boise Ikard Elementary School. The other leg makes its way along the east side of Eureka Street and connects with Holland Lake Park.

Golf enthusiasts will love Weatherford's scenic and challenging public courses. Finally, for water lovers, there's Lake Weatherford, perfect for boating or fishing.

Weatherford Farmer's Market

Open year round
Hours: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Winter Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Phone: 817-599-4080
Learn more at www.WeatherfordFarmersMarket.com

Beginnings

In 1855, Parker County was created by the Texas State Legislature and named for pioneer and State Representative Isaac Parker. Parker was the uncle of legendary Cynthia Ann Parker, a little girl who was stolen from her home by Indians during the Texas Revolution. Cynthia Ann grew up among the Comanche and become the mother of the great Chief, Quanah Parker. Years later, when she was overtaken in flight with an Indian raiding party, it was Isaac Parker who recognized her as his long lost niece.

The Town of Weatherford was named for the State Senator of this district, Jefferson Weatherford of Dallas. According to his cousin, Senator Weatherford never set foot in the town that bears his name.

The first settlers had arrived less than ten years earlier, but soon came by the hundreds. Many other pioneers stopped here on their way across the wilderness traveling the only major road leading west. They had to brave many Indian attacks between the years of 1846 and 1874. You can find several headstones in Parker County that read, "Killed by Indians."

The railroad arrived in June of 1880 with great fanfare. The Santa Fe Depot (that today houses the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce) was built in 1908 under the Jim Crow laws. The waiting rooms were segregated and separated by the ticket office. The brick loading platform remains intact and the building is well preserved.

In 1895, the town's newspaper, the Weatherford Democrat, began and today continues to inform the residents of the town's goings-on.

Parker County Courthouse

Parker County's first courthouse was built of rough pine lumber in 1856. It was replaced with a brick one in 1858. It was destroyed by fire in 1874, and the loss of county records caused great inconveniences for years to come. In 1878, the cornerstone was laid for a stone structure that too was burned down in a suspected arson.

The fourth and present courthouse (pictured) was completed in 1886 at a cost of $55,555.55! The Seth Thomas Clock was installed in 1897 for $957. The Courthouse has recently been restored on the inside to bring back its classic beauty and original splendor from the turn of the century.

Western Heritage

Weatherford has a rich western heritage filled with colorful characters.

Legendary cattle drover Oliver Loving is buried here in Weatherford's Greenwood Cemetery. After being attacked by Indians in New Mexico in 1867, Loving's dying wish to his friend, Charles Goodnight, was to be buried in his home, Parker County. Goodnight brought the body back 600 miles by wagon for burial. If this story sounds familiar, it should. It is the inspiration behind Texas author Larry McMurtry's novel, Lonesome Dove.

A year earlier, Charles Goodnight had invented the first "chuck wagon" which catered "fixings" for the cowboys on a cattle drive that would later become known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail.

Boze Ikard, who served with Goodnight and for whom the character "Deets" was modeled, was also laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Now known as the Cutting Horse Capital of the World, Weatherford, Texas is home to hundreds of professional trainers, Hall-of-Fame horses and a breathtaking, life-size bronze cutting horse. "Cutters" from all over the country, send their horses here for training or breeding to the best studs in the industry. Several National Cutting Horse Association affiliates hold local competitions on a regular basis. One of Weatherford's greatest attractions for the cutters in the native "sandy loam" soil that is cushioning for a horse's feet.

Peach Capital of Texas

Named by the State Legislature as the Peach Capital of Texas, Weatherford and Parker County growers produce the biggest, sweetest, juiciest peaches around. The Peach is celebrated each year at the Parker County Peach Festival, Weatherford's largest event and one of the best-attended festivals in Texas.

More than 35,000 visitors come to Weatherford to enjoy homemade peach ice cream, peach cobbler, peach pie, peach juleps, peach smoothies, and just plain juicy peaches! Be sure and visit the Farmers Market for peaches and other delicious Parker County produce, including watermelons and pecans. Click here for information on the next Parker County Peach Festival.

Unexpected Elegance

Perhaps Weatherford's greatest treasure is the abundance of historic homes and buildings. More than 60 Queen Anne, Victorian and other architecturally significant homes built at the turn of the century sit along the tree-lined avenues where horse-drawn carriages once carried the pillars of the community.

The crown jewel is the breathtaking Parker County Courthouse. Located in the geographical center of the County, this Second Empire style courthouse is the heart of downtown and the entire community. Visit the historic shops around the downtown area and you will find that they served other purposes at the turn of the century – some of them were saloons and "cat-houses!"

Each year at Christmas-time, the Parker County Heritage Society arranges a Candlelight Tour of Homes that give attendees a rare opportunity to see the inside of many restored homes.

Famous Natives

Weatherford is also the birthplace and was the home of Mary Martin, internationally known Broadway star, renowned for her portrayal of the beloved Peter Pan. Her son, Larry Hagman, became a famous TV star, forever immortalized as the villainous J.R. Ewing of the television melodrama, Dallas.Larry Hagman was just as fond of Weatherford as his mother was, and he made appearances for special occasions and to help many Weatherford charities until his passing in Novemeber of 2012.

Former U.S. Speaker of the House Jim Wright grew up in Weatherford and even wrote a book about his youth, "Weatherford Days... a Time of Learning."

Famed portrait artist Douglas Chandor moved to Weatherford to be with the love of his life, Weatherford native, Ina Kuteman. Known internationally for his portraits of the rich and famous including Queen Elizabeth, Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chandor created another masterpiece in Weatherford, his magnificent Chandor Gardens that are now open to the public.