Set on the shores of a lake and home of one of the most beautiful downtown squares in Texas, exploring the fun things to do in Granbury, TX makes for an excellent day trip or weekend escape.
Here’s what to do in Granbury!
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The Best Things to Do in Granbury
Stroll through historic Granbury Square.
Texas is positively covered in small towns boasting courthouse squares, but Granbury’s is special for a few reasons.
Not only was it the first Texas courthouse square to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but Granbury’s square acts as a thriving center of both its tourism industry and its community, with restaurants, boutiques, wine tasting rooms, bed and breakfasts, the city’s opera house, and more all crowding together around the edges of the square.
This kind of density is rare in Texas, particularly in a small town, and thoroughly exploring the square is definitely one of the best things to do in Granbury!
Tour the Hood County Courthouse.
Built in the late 19th century, the Hood County Courthouse is as interesting as it is beautiful–and there’s no better way to experience it than by getting behind the scenes with a tour.
Put your toes in the sand at City Beach Park.
A sandy beach in North Texas? In Granbury, absolutely!
Located on the shores of Lake Granbury, City Beach Park is exactly what it sounds like: a small stretch of beach perfect for stretching out on.
Discover haunted Granbury on a ghost tour.
A town as historic as Granbury is bound to have a few legends afoot!
The Granbury Ghosts & Legends Tour is celebrated for its storytelling and intrigue, and it’s the perfect way to enjoy Granbury at night.
Check out the Hood County Jail Museum.
Built in 1886 (the same year as the nearby Granbury Opera House), this interesting building operated as a jail until 1978, overseeing nearly a century of law enforcement in Granbury and in Hood County.
A tour of the museum is an interesting way to learn not only local history but also see how customs changed throughout time in Granbury and in Texas overall.
Stop by the Railroad Depot Museum.
Stop by any historic small town in Texas, and odds are good that you’ll find a railroad depot situated along the edges of downtown.
Some are closed to the public, but Granbury’s is open as a museum.
It doesn’t take long to tour the antiques, memorabilia, and interesting stories on display here, but it is a fun place to learn a bit more Texas history!
Hit the water on Lake Granbury.
Rent a boat, go fishing, or just jump in for a swim: Lake Granbury offers plenty of ways to cool off on the water!
Along the edges of the lake, you’ll find several public boat launches, three fishing piers, and even a handful of campgrounds in case you’d like to spend a night under the stars.
Visit the Acton State Historic Site.
Located just 5 miles away from Granbury, the Acton State Historic Site is home to a statue of Elizabeth Crockett, the second wife of Texas hero Davy Crockett.
As the smallest state historic site, the Acton State Historic Site doesn’t take long to see, but is an easy addition to a weekend in Granbury.
Enjoy a wine tasting.
Whether you want to hit up a vineyard outside of town or enjoy a flight at one of the tasting rooms right on the town square, it’s easy to enjoy local Texas wines when visiting Granbury.
Enjoy a movie at the Brazos Drive-In.
Open continuously since 1952, the Brazos Drive-In is one of the coolest places to visit in Granbury!
On Friday and Saturday nights, pull up and tune into the theater’s double features.
The theater is cash only, so come prepared!
… and the Granbury Doll House Museum.
Featuring more than 2500 dolls housed in a charming home, the Doll House Museum is arguably the most unique of the museums in Granbury.
Hours are limited to Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays–check here for details–but if you happen to be in town at the right time, you’ll never forget a visit to the Granbury Doll House Museum!
Go antiquing!
Granbury has charming antique shops, including several gigantic ones located right across from City Beach Park.
If you have a love of antiques and oddities, it’ll be near-impossible to drive by without stopping in.
Learn about Granbury’s history on the Hike & Bike Trail.
This nearly 3-mile hiking trail in Granbury runs between Hewlett Park and the airport.
As you stroll along it, you’ll find plaques commemorating different pieces of local history.
See a show at the Granbury Opera House.
Set right on Granbury’s historic downtown square, the Granbury Opera House dates to 1886 and is a thriving venue to this day!
Not a fan of opera? No worries: the Granbury Theatre Company puts on a wide variety of plays, musicals, and other kinds of performances at the Granbury Opera House.
… and at Granbury Live.
Also located right on the square, it’s impossible to miss Granbury Live’s eye-catching marquee as you stroll through downtown!
This cozy venue offers concerts, comedy shows, and more.
Check out Revolver Brewing.
This microbrewery is run by a local family and is the perfect place to grab a drink after an afternoon of checking out the best Granbury attractions.
Visit the Yeats-Duke 1858 Working Museum.
This small, 19th-century log cabin is one part museum (complete with demonstrations of crafts like spinning), and one part store, where you can shop for unique handicrafts made by local artisans.
Where is Granbury, Texas?
Located in Hood County, Granbury is 1 hour, 20 minutes (70 miles) southwest of Dallas, and 3 hours (175 miles) north of Austin.
If you’d like to combine your time exploring the best things to do in Granbury, with additional stops, consider adding on a visit to Dublin (the Irish Capital of Texas) or Glen Rose (home of Dinosaur Valley State Park).
