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What
to See and Do
| Where
to Stay
| Camping
This
was the second Abilene in the United States, named after
the original Abilene in Kansas. Like that older town, the
Texas version was (and still is) a classic "cow town," a
railway shipping point for cattle. Before its founding in
1880, this area of Texas was a roaming range for the
Commanche and other native Americans who followed buffalo
herds across the Great Plains. After the last of the
battles with the Commanche ended in 1876, the area was
settled by Texans and a few year later, in mid-January
1881, the Texas & Pacific Railroad arrived in the
area.
By
January 2, 1883, when the Abilene was incorporated, the
town boasted two newspapers, several churches and a
school. The Taylor County seat was moved to Abilene from
Buffalo Gap in 1883. Today, Abilene is an agricultural
service community, in the center of a 20-county region,
still devoted to cattle ranching and other forms of
farming.
Located
near the geographical center of the state, Abilene sits
about 100 miles north of Texas hill country, with
Interstate 20 running past the northern edge of the city.
U.S. Highway 80 also links Abilene to Dallas and Fort
Worth (to the east), and to Midland and Odessa (to the
west).
What
to See & Do
The
history of the area is experienced in several local
sites, including Buffalo Gap Historic Village, 14
miles south of Abilene. This is a great place to learn
about the tumultuous history of Central Texas. The
village consists of 19 buildings, most of them more than
100 years old. Among the structures is a log cabin, the
original Taylor County courthouse and jail, and several
early pioneer homes. While the village is open
year-round, open hours vary with the seasons. From March
15 to November 15, hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. on
Sundays. From November 16 to March 14, open hours are 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 5
p.m. on Sunday. The village is closed on Christmas and
Thanksgiving days. To get there, take drive south from
Abilene on Buffalo Gap Road (FM 89), turn right on Elm
Street and continue for two blocks.
Another
small piece of Texas history is found north of town -- an
old army post, used as protection for settlers during the
period of conflict with the Commanche and other native
tribes. The construction of Fort Phantom Hill , in
1851, marked the beginning of settlement in the Abilene
area. Five companies of infantry were housed here, but
only for three years when the army abandoned the fort. In
1858, it became a way-station on the Overland Mail Route
using the Butterfield stage trail. By 1880, a little town
had grown around the fort. There's not much remaining
from this period. Only three buildings and a dozen
chimneys are seen in the remains of the fort. To get to
the ruins from Interstate 20, drive north on FM 600 for
eleven miles, or take the Texas Forts Trail route on FM
2833. The site is open daily, and has no entry fee. Lake
Fort Phantom, located near the fort, offers a picnic
area, camping, boating and fishing.
The
best place in town to get a feeling for the history and
culture of the region is the Grace Cultural
Center, a former hotel which is the home of three
separate museums, known as the Museums of Abilene. The
building sits across Cypress Street from the historic
Texas and Pacific Depot. The Art Museum has displays of
contemporary and historical western art, sculpture, and
photography, along with permanent and special exhibits of
folk art. The Historical Museum includes re-creations of
historic rooms, as well as photographs of early times in
the Abilene area, covering the period between 1900 and
1945. One part of the museum focuses on Camp Barkeley,
and World War II army camp.
The
Children's Museum is a combination art and science
center with hands-on displays and other exhibits. The
cultural center also contains a grand old ballroom,
restored to its original state, and a roof-terrace dance
floor. These are sometimes used for public dancing and
big band concerts. The complex of museums is open
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m., and on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Admission costs are minimal, with free access on
Thursdays from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Two
blocks away, at 352 Cypress Street, the Paramount
Theatre is a wonderful example of the grand style of
the great movie palaces of the 1920s and 30s. Built in
1930, the Paramount has been restored, and contains two
fine staircases, a unique Pueblo/Deco ceiling, and ornate
glass chandeliers. The auditorium features a Moorish
theme, with clouds and stars floating on the blue
ceiling. Many special events (including the West Texas
Film Festival, in April) are held here, including
showings of classic and art films, and live performances.
The building is open for tours each weekday from 1 to 5
p.m.
The
Abilene Zoo, located on Highway 36 at Loop 322, is
open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and
from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays. From
Memorial Day to Labor Day, the zoo is open from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. daily. The zoo and Discovery Center cover 13
acres, exhibiting more than 500 species of animals
including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and
invertebrates. You'll also see an excellent collection of
plants of the American Southwest, compared to plants of
similar regions in Africa. The Discovery Center is a
series of indoor habitats including aquariums, a tropical
aviary, and the Terrestrial Trail exhibiting mongooses,
lemurs, and ring tails. Like most other attractions in
Abilene, the zoo features low entrance fees. Nelson Park,
including a playground and picnic area, is located next
to the zoo.
Dyess
Air Force Base is a large military establishment
located to the east of Abilene, accessed from Interstate
20 via Arnold Blvd (Rd. 312), or from the south and U.S.
Highway 277 via Rebecca Lane and Dub Wright Blvd. The
base is the sole training base for crews of the B-1
bomber, and is home to an air combat command wing, with
B-1s and C-130s. Dyess Linear Air Park is located on the
base, with an exhibit of 31 aircraft ranging in vintage
from World War II to Operation Desert Storm. Entrance is
free, with temporary passes available at the base's main
gate.
Abilene
State Park offers camping opportunities, plus a
chance to see part of the official Texas Longhorn herd,
which is divided among a half-dozen parks. The park,
located 16 miles southwest of town, beyond Buffalo Gap,
is set on brushy prairie land, with wooded valleys
containing streams and groves of juniper, mesquite,
cedar, native pecan, live oaks and hackberry. You'll also
see Texas red oak trees, along with red bud, and lots of
wildflowers in spring. To get there, drive south from
Abilene on FM 89, through Buffalo Gap, and then on Park
Road 32 to the park entrance.
The
park is located in a range of low hills called the
Callaghan Divide, and covers 621 acres. Large groves of
native pecan trees used to attract Native Americans,
including Commanches, long before the arrival of
Easterners in the area. The pecan trees now shelter the
park's picnic area. Facilities include camp sites with
water and electrical services, or with just water, a
trailer area, dump station, and restrooms with showers.
Camp sites include picnic tables and grills. They are
found in four separate campgrounds. Cedar Grove has sites
more suitable for tent campers, with water nearby. Brushy
Trail Campground offers accommodation to large trailers
and motorhomes, with water and electricity, and a dump
station nearby. Pecan Grove is a multi-use area with
water and electricity. Wagon Circle is the group trailer
area, with a recreation hall in the center of a circular
campground, and a dump station nearby. Also available are
several screened shelters (rustic cabins) with picnic
tables and grills, plus electrical lighting and
water.
Park
activities include sand volleyball, horseshoes, wading in
a children's pool, and swimming in a larger swimming pool
which is open from the Saturday before Memorial Day
through Labor Day. Anglers will want to try fishing in
Buffalo Wallow Pond. Park roads are available for cycling
and walking, and hiking trails lead beside the creeks.
Wildlife accessible for viewing includes white-tailed
deer, raccoons, armadillos, foxes, squirrels, cottontail
rabbits, and a sizable variety of birds. For park
information, call (915) 572-3204.
The
city has two-dozen motels, including most of the budget
and medium-priced chains, including Hampton Inn, Embassy
Suites, Days Inn, Courtyard by Marriott and Comfort Inn,
and the newer low-cost business motels such as Holiday
Inn Express and Red Carpet Inn. Campgrounds are located
away from the city center. Directions to camping areas
follow, and telephone reservations are
recommended.
Abilene
Camping
Abilene
Campground
Route 8, Box 859, Abilene TX 79601
(915) 672-0657
Located close to Interstate 20, east of town, Abilene
Campground is reached from eastbound traffic by taking
exit 292B, or by westbound traffic by taking exit 294.
All sites have are pull-through sites with full hookups.
The campground features a swimming pool, laundry, grocery
store, and sells propane gas.
Abilene
RV Park
Interstate 20 at Exit 292-B, Abilene TX 79601
(915) 672-0657
Conveniently located close to the freeway, this RV park
features full hookups for trailers and RVs, with several
discount plans available for AARP, AAA and God Sam Club
members.
Johnson
Park and Seabee Park,
at Lake Fort Phantom, Abilene TX 79601
(915) 676-6218
These are civic camping areas, operated by the Abilene
Parks Department. Johnston Park covers 37 acres, while
Seabee Park has 40 acres. Both have flush toilets but no
drinking water. A boat ramp is located at the east end of
the dam, with fishing available. There are only five
prepared camp sites in Johnson Park and four sites at
Seabee Park. To get to these areas, drive north from
Interstate 20 on FM 600, for 3.2 miles (Seabee Park) and
for 6.6 miles to reach Johnson Park. For Seabee, take the
local road east by Elm Creek. Johnson Park is beside the
dam. No fee required, with a three-day limit for both
areas.
KOA
Kampground
Interstate 20 at Shirley Road, Abilene TX 7960
(915) 672-3681
This is a typical KOA operation, including sites for RVs
and trailers, plus some tenting sites. The campground
offers bare-bones camping cabins and other amenities.
Seniors and KOA discounts are available.
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