On the Road

Dinos and giraffes both roam in Somervell County's Glen Rose

It's a prehistoric playground at Dinosaur World Texas with hundreds of life-sized dinos.

Photo courtesy of Glen Rose Convention & Visitors Bureau

Known as the Dinosaur Capital of Texas, Somervell County’s Glen Rose is a charming small town with a larger-than-life spirit.

Prehistoric wonders and wildlife safaris are par for the course at this destination, which can be found 60 miles southwest of Fort Worth. But its rolling hills are also perfect for hiking, biking, and spending time by the river.

Check out these seven things that make Glen Rose a big deal.

Search for dinosaur tracks
Hike the trails at Dinosaur Valley State Park and head to the Paluxy River to find where dinosaurs once roamed.

You’ll see tracks left by an acrocanthosaurus — a smaller relative of the tyrannosaurus rex — as well as a kind of sauropod that was commonly 70 feet tall. Summer is the best time to see the footprints in the riverbed, as the water is at its lowest.

While in the park, you can also go on a guided horseback ride with Eagle Eye Ranch Carriage Company.

Wander among hundreds of life-sized dinosaurs
With hundreds of towering animatronic dinos, Dinosaur World Texas is nothing short of a prehistoric playground where the whole family can roam among the natural setting and interactive exhibits.

Explore local history while you shop
The quaint Downtown Square and Historic District is packed with unique mom-and-pop shops, antique stores, coffee shops and restaurants, plus an interesting gazebo constructed with rocks that have dinosaur footprints in them.

For an intermission from shopping, you can take a self-guided historic walking tour where you’ll see more than 30 significant places like the courthouse, originally built in 1893.

History also lives on at the Somervell County Museum, which houses an eclectic group of items donated by locals throughout the years. These curiosities include barbed wire and arrowhead collections, a weaving loom, printing press, dolls, tools, Civil War uniforms and weaponry, a wall mural featuring the 1954 National Geographic article of the excavation of the dinosaur tracks, and more.

Go on an African-inspired safari
One of the world’s foremost wildlife conservation destinations is right in Glen Rose.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center encompasses 1,800 acres where about 1,100 animals roam, including endangered species like the addax antelope, American red wolf, dama gazelle, Grevy’s zebra, Japanese red-crowned crane, Mexican gray wolf, Southern black rhino, and more.

Try to spot them all on the 7.2-mile drive while you feed the giraffes and zebras. You can also keep the safari going and stay overnight at The Lodge onsite.

Order MexiQue on the river
Sexton Mill sits on the Paluxy River and serves up the bold flavors of MexiQue — a fusion of Mexican and barbecue favorites — along with cold beer on tap, live music, axe throwing, games, and more.

See a replica of Noah’s Ark
Detailing the history of the planet from a biblical perspective, the Creation Evidence Museum of Texas features a vast collection of artifacts and fossils.

You can view a replica of the famous ark and a replica of a stegosaurus carving found at a temple in Cambodia, plus other fossils excavated from the banks of the Paluxy.

Tee off on two courses
Consistently rated as one of the top golf destinations in the state, Squaw Valley Golf Course features two 18-hole courses surrounded by century-old oak trees and the scenic Squaw Creek.

Discover more ways that Glen Rose delivers small-town charm while making a big statement here.

Find the footprints at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Photo courtesy of Glen Rose Convention & Visitors Bureau

Find the footprints at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

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Where the Bison Roam

Popular Texas Panhandle park expands with 2,200 more acres to explore

Popular Texas state park expands with massive 2,200-acre acquisition

Caprock Canyons has 2,200 more acres to explore.

A popular state park in the Texas Panhandle that's known for its roaming bison population is getting a major expansion after recent land acquisitions by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, located at 850 State Park Rd. in Quitaque, approximately an hour-and-a-half north of Lubbock, has added approximately 2,200 acres. It will now encompass 17,500 total acres of the Caprock Escarpment in Briscoe County, according to a press release.

TPWD first expanded the park with the purchase of the 1,066-acre Rocking W Ranch in 2024, and then the department acquired the 1,120-acre Hawkins Ranch in January 2026.

"The Hawkins Ranch is the last piece of property to the west [of the park] that protects our viewshed of the canyon and affects our watershed," said Superintendent Donald Beard in the release. "The Rocking W Ranch was also important because it expands the park to the northwest, allowing the Texas State Bison Herd potential access to the high plains."

The release said a 5,000-square-foot, fully furnished "barndominium" was included in the purchase of the Rocking W Ranch property, and it will be used for "future family-style retreats for activities like hiking and horseback riding."

Park visitors have access to more than 90 miles of trails at Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and bison-watching. Lake Theo, a 120-acre lake on the south side of the park, is open for swimming, fishing, and no-wake boating.

Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway TPWD encourages visitors to take caution when observing bison.Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Wildlife enthusiasts can search for bats roosting in the Clarity Tunnel, an abandoned railroad tunnel that 500,000 Mexican free-tailed bats call home from late April through mid-October. TPWD said even more local wildlife can be found by visitors with the acquisition of the Hawkins Ranch, such as quail, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, and more.

The park is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, meaning overnight campers have unobstructed views of the stars in the sky thanks to light pollution reduction and prevention efforts.

"At night, Caprock Canyons transforms into one of the darkest and most awe-inspiring skies in Texas," the International Dark Sky Association said. "Far from urban light pollution, the park’s remote location allows visitors to experience an exceptional view of the Milky Way, countless constellations, and celestial events in their purest form."

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