Mineral Wells, TX population: 17,000
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Overview
It’s a town built on a special Texas kind of “CRAZY” and makes for one CRAZY-fun Texas day trip.
While you wouldn’t know it today, in the early 1900′s, Mineral Wells was an international tourist destination. Millions came from all over the United States to sip on the city’s famous mineral water that pumped up from the ground. In the days before modern medicine, folks believed this funny-tasting mineral water could cure anything. And so they came to Mineral Wells in droves to be cured of whatever ailed them. Nowadays, all the wells are closed except for ONE – the Famous Mineral Water Co. Stop by to sit in an old pavilion and get a taste of Mineral Wells culture back in its heyday.
Other artifacts of Mineral Wells’ boom era are all around town. Don’t miss seeing the Baker Hotel, the Crazy Water Hotel, or the many other sites around town. Word of warning, many of these are closed so don’t expect to go inside.
Other points of interest in Mineral Wells include the National Vietnam War Museum and the Laumdronat – a working laundromat and washing machine museum.
Outdoor enthusiasts should head to Mineral Wells State Park, to fish, hike, bike the Mineral Wells Trailway, or rock climb in Penitentiary Hollow. Kids will love diggin’ up bones at the Mineral Wells Fossil Park.
As far as food goes, my favorite options lie all around Mineral Wells. Eat country cookin’ with a side of Lebanese food at Dee’s Hometown Diner in Cool, TX. Or head to Strawn, TX for a Chicken Fried Steak as big as the STATE at Mary’s Cafe. BB-Q trippers might want to check out Hashknife on the Chisholm which is north in Peadenville.
