Culture
Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame
Start your visit with a walk along the Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame right next to the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce. The plaques on this city block honor the men and women who have made an impact on the cowboy culture of Stephenville.
Chick Elms Grand Entry
To meet a cowboy first hand, head to Chick Elms Grand Entry, a western store and rodeo shop started in the 1950 by walk-of-famer G.W. Lewallen and now run by rodeo champion Chick Elms. Pick yourself up a shiny pearl snap, and then head to catch the action at the rodeo.
Lone Star Arena
Head Lone Star Arena to catch some of the horse-ropin’ and calf-bustin’ action. This facility is constantly hosting rodeos and riding events, and if youre brave enough, you can even jump on a bull and try it yourself!
Tarleton State University
For a taste of Stephenvilles modern culture, check out the campus of Tarleton State University and pretend you’re a student. You can even cheer on the Tarleton Texans.
Food
Beans & Franks
If youve worked up an appetite or need some caffeine to jump start the day, head to Beans and Franks, a coffee and hot dog bar serving house-roasted coffee and gourmet hot dogs. Warning: please consume these separately, as a coffee-hot dog pairing is not advisable. I recommend diving into the Big Nasty, a jalapeno sausage topped with chili, cheese and cayenne pepper. Woo-Doggy!
Jake and Dorothy's Cafe
For a taste of Stephenvilles history, head to Jake & Dorothys Cafe, a town institution thats been turning out delicious chicken-fried steaks since 1948. Theyre so popular, theyve even made the cover of Texas Monthly and may have invented the waffle fry…either way these fries are hand-cut, homemade and heavenly. Make sure to save room for a slice of pie.
Culture
Dublin Bottling Works
For more fun and a sweet treat, I recommend heading up the road to Dublin, TX. Its a little bit like Ireland . OK, its nothing like Ireland, but you can make a very sweet visit to Dublin Bottling Works, the home of bottled Dr. Pepper. While these guys may no longer be pumping out this Texas original, they do have 7 other flavors and XXX Root Beer. Grab an old-fashioned soda at the soda shop and then wash that down with a root beer float. Mmm!
Ben Hogan Museum
Another place to see in Dublin is the Ben Hogan Museum honoring a hometown golfer turned pro who is regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. While youre here, keep your eye on the sky, as you might just see one of Dulbins other famous visitors .UFOs.
