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.

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.
 

McDonald Observatory

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 Pat Draheim (432) 426-3404. The Museum is owned and operated by The Fort Davis Historical Society. HOURS: 1 pm to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday. Closed on Mondays, closed December, January and February. Educational programs and guided tours available. Donations Accepted 

The Nature Conservancy of Texas - About 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.  The Madera Canyon Trail adjacent to the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area is open from dawn to dusk year-round
(432) 426-2390, Email:cpipes@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.

The Chinati Foundation
1 Cavalry Row, Marfa, Texas 79843. A contemporary art museum, founded in the 1980s by the late artist Donald Judd, exhibiting large-scale installations by a limited number of artists. Open to the public Wednesday through Sunday by guided tour only. Reservations are recommended. Admission is $10 per person, $5 for students and seniors and free for Chinati members. For more information call 432-729-4362, visit www.chinati.org or email: information@chinati.org

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!

Museum of the Big Bend - For more than 70 years the Museum of the Big Bend has been collecting and exhibiting artifacts of the vast Big Bend region. Encompassing the Davis Mountains and the borderlands of Mexico, the Big Bend has been inhabited for over 11,000 years. The Museum of the Big Bend's goal is to showcase this human history and culture reflected through the contributions of the Native Americans, the Spanish, the Mexicans and the Americans. The Museum is located at the northeast corner of the Sul Ross State University campus and can be reached from Entrance Two on U.S. Highway 90 or Entrance Four from Harrison Street. Once on campus, follow the small, brown signs. Admission is free. Donations are always welcomed. Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.  Closed on Monday’s.  The museum is handicap accessible. Guided Tours are available by appointment.  For more information, call: 432.837.8143 or 432.837.8730.

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