West Texas is hot, reeks of oil, and you can see your dog run away for 3 days because it is so flat. These are the thoughts of pretty much anyone who drives through this desert half of the state. Heck, this is what I think of most of west Texas, but west Texas randomly has gems that will blow your mind. Fort Davis is one of them!
What makes Fort Davis so special you ask? Well let me tell you in one word…..mountains! Texas is not a place you think of when mountains are mentioned, but Fort Davis has got em! Now I am not saying these are the gigantic majestic mountains like Colorado, but for a state that is basically flat, these mountains are beautiful.
If you are looking for a place with plenty of indoor activities, this is not the place to be. Fort Davis is a town surrounded by mountains and who wants to be inside when you are in the mountains. This is a town of ice cream, national history, hiking, and rattlesnakes.
Fort Davis is located just below Pecos and north of Marfa, so basically it is smack dab in the middle of nowhere west Texas. Just like everywhere else in west Texas it is hot, dry, and covered in cactus/mesquite, but its this desert look that makes this mountains so unique and beautiful. Fort Davis proves that even the desert in west Texas can be beautiful!
What You Need For A Day In Fort Davis, Texas
West Texas in general is not the most exciting place to travel, especially with kids. I have 4 little ones all 4 years and younger and we are on a mission to find toddler friendly things to do in West Texas. So everything that we did in Fort Davis, Texas has my toddler’s stamp of approval on it.
There are some important things that you should know about a day in Fort Davis with kids. Fort Davis is hot! I mean it is west Texas for goodness sakes so prepare for 100 degree weather in the summertime. So if you visit you will definitely want to make sure you have a couple things with you on this trip.
- Sunscreen
- Hats or Sunglasses
- WATER!!
- Hiking Shoes
- Rattlesnake First Aid Kit
- Hiking Carrier/Baby Carrier
Most of these items are needed to help protect you and your little ones from the heat and intense sun of the Fort Davis mountains. I cannot stress enough the need enough to bring water!! Fort Davis is a small town with little to no options for fast food or grocery shopping. There are very limited places to buy water around Fort Davis and they are not cheap places that do offer water. SO BRING WATER!
Another thing to remember is that this is West Texas, a land filled with cactus and rattlesnakes. Hiking shoes are a big help when hiking through the rocky and cactus covered paths of Fort Davis. They will protect you feet and help with hiking. With the heavy amounts of cactus hiking carriers will help keep your toddlers safe along the paths. I normally let my toddlers hike, but for these hikes I put at least the youngest in a carrier to keep them safe from the elements on the ground.
Rattlesnakes are also a common sight in the Fort Davis mountains. Luckily my kids and I have never been bit, but having a rattlesnake first aid kit nearby will give you a peace of mind.
Things To Do In Fort Davis, Texas
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Surprise! Fort Davis got its name based on the fort that was built here during the Indian Wars. You can not visit Fort Davis without stopping by to take in a little history! This well preserved fort is huge! It has a small museum in the visitor center to explain the history and significance of the fort. It is mostly just artifacts and pictures, but there are a couple small interactive exhibits for the kids. My kids enjoyed hiding in the tents and trying on the old clothes of the time period.
There are several old buildings to walk through each filled with artifacts and set up as it would have been back in the time the fort was active. There are bunker houses, homes, stores, supply rooms, and more. My kids favorite was to see the horses! You aren’t allowed to pet the horses, but they were excited to get near the paddock and watch them.
This wasn’t the most thrilling place for my young toddlers, due to the fact they were too young to understand the significance of the history. They did enjoy going into each of the buildings though! Also they loved the horses, the huts made out of trees, and the photo ops.
Location: 1504 State St, Fort Davis, TX 79734
Hours: daily 8am-5pm
Admission: $10.00 per person – 7 Days, or $20.00 per vehicle – 7 Days, $15.00 per motorcycle – 7 Days
Photographers Trail
Fort Davis Historic Site is surrounded by mountains, so of course that means it is surrounded by hiking trails. You can hike mountains on all sides of the fort to get a great view of the fort and the town. Our personal favorite was the Photographers Trail.
This tiny trail is located by the parking lot on the Fort Davis Historic Site property. It is maybe a .25 mile hike up and back. It was super easy to do with small kids. However it is either up or down; there is no flat hiking on the this trail. It is very rocky and you are surrounded by cactus. This is where those hiking shoes will come in handy!
Once you get to the top though it is a beautiful view of the fort from the left side of the property. It overlooks the grounds and the mountains surrounding it.
Location: 1504 State St, Fort Davis, TX 79734
Hours: daily 8am-5pm
Admission: FREE
Herberts Caboose Ice Cream Shop
One of my favorite things to do after a hike is to get a delicious, cold ice cream cone. Luckily right across the street from the Fort Davis Historic Site is Herberts Caboose Ice Cream Shop. And by caboose I literally mean a caboose! This in no ordinary ice cream shop, this is a train car converted into an ice cream shop! So fun!
The train car is filled with buckets of the best that Texas has to offer….Bluebell ice cream. A delicious and refreshing treat to cool you down when hiking through the heat of west Texas.
Location: 1250 State St, Fort Davis, TX 79734
Hours: Fri-Sun 12pm-6pm
Rattlers and Reptiles Museum
Welcome to the world’s largest live rattlesnake exhibit! So when I read that this was the largest live rattlesnake exhibit in the world, in my mind I pictured this gigantic rattlesnake farm; almost like a zoo! Haha! It was not like anything I expected!
This tiny building is one giant room filled with rattlesnakes of all kinds. I mean I have never seen such a variety of rattlesnakes in my life. But I did mention small right! So if you are thinking this is a giant exhibit, then you are in for a shock, but not disappointment.
This small museum of snakes may be small, but I have never seen such active snakes before. I mean you were up close to these terrifying snakes watching them slither all around, listening to their rattles…well….rattling. We even had a rattlesnake strike at the glass whenever we got near. It was such a crazy experience to be so close to such active snakes.
For more about why my kids and I loved this tiny museum check out my article about the Rattlers and Reptiles museum, by clicking here.
Location: 1400 State St, Fort Davis, TX 79734
Hours: Sun-Mon, Wed-Thurs 10am-5:30pm, Tues, Fri-Sat 10am-6:30pm
Admission: $7 per person
Other Things To Do In Fort Davis, Texas:
- University Of Texas McDonald Observatory– Don’t just learn about the stars, look at them through a telescope and experience the beauty of space.
- Fort Davis Drug Store– I have been dying to try one of the milkshakes at this adorable old fashioned drug store. If you are looking for a great place to eat in Fort Davis than you have to stop here!
- Davis Mountains Nut Co– There are a bunch of nuts is Fort Davis, which delicious ones are you going to stop by and buy!
- Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Garden– West Texas isn’t known of its beauty, but walking through this garden will certainly open your eyes to the most beautiful plants/cactus in West Texas.
- Davis Mountains State Park– There are hikes all over the Fort Davis Mountains, but if you are looking to for the best than this is the place to be. There are long hikes and short hikes, hikes to rock formations, and hikes to view points; pick what is best for you and enjoy the desert beauty.
Other Fun Things Nearby To Do With Kids:
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