This town on the northeastern edge of the Hill Country is filled with just as much adventure as it has history -- and that's a TON, folks! Belton boasts the oldest department store in Texas, a historic university and a museum filled with tons of significant Texan artifacts. Add to that epic mountain biking and plenty of lake time -- and that's a day trip!





Culture

Cochran Blair & Potts

Step back in time at Texas’s oldest department store that’s been opened since 1869, and is still selling all kinds of goods. Upstairs, is a museum about Cochran Blair & Potts history with all kinds of artifacts and pictures from the store’s early days.

 

 

 

Bell County Museum

Learn more about town at the Bell County Museum in the historic 1905 Carnegie Library building. This museum has everything from the necklace found in Santa Anna’s pocket when he was arrested and an epic mustache cup collection numbering over 250! There’s also an exhibit on the nearby Gault Site which holds evidence of the very first people on this continent!

 

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Don’t forget to stop by one of the oldest universities in Texas —  UMHB! It was built in 1845 as the women’s campus for Baylor, and it’s grown into its own university with a campus full of history!

Belton Dam

You can’t miss the towering Belton Dam outside of town. It’s one of the only dams you can still drive across, so hop in your car and cruise it for an incredible view of Lake Belton and the surrounding area!

Food

Miller's Smokehouse

Let the smell of tantalizing smoked meats lead you to Miller’s Smokehouse for some of the best barbecue in the state. While you can’t go wrong with anything here, at Miller’s it’s all about the house-made sausage trifecta — including the original, jalapeno cheese and hotlinks. Add in Mama Miller’s homemade desserts, and you’ve hit the barbecue-jackpot.

 

The Gin at Nolan Creek

Located in a renovated 1930’s cotton gin, this upscale eatery serves all things Texas and delicious — from juicy ribeyes and crispy chicken fried steak to monster burgers! It’s the perfect place to end a day of trippin’ out on the patio with a great view of folks splashing around Nolan Creek.

Outdoors

Miller Springs Park

On the other side of Belton Dam, the water from the Leon River collects into this park, making it a pretty peaceful place to fish, kayak or just take in the Hill Country beauty.

 

BLORA

BLORA is just a really fun name for the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreational Authority, which is inside the Fort Hood Military Base — but don’t worry, civilians are allowed to enjoy too! For a small fee, you get access to some of the best swimming and mountain biking in Texas…as well as to some pretty awesome views of Lake Belton.

 

Keep Exploring

Belton, TX