Founded in 1849, but settled long before by the Hueco Indians, the town of Waco, Texas has become a bit of an enigma. What started out as a center for cotton production has developed in recent years into a destination location for shoppers, paleontologists and college students. Today, Waco, Texas is a must-see stop for tens of thousands of people traveling through Texas.
Fixer Uppers of Waco
For the two or three people who have never seen the television show Fixer Upper, locals Chip and Joanna Gaines run a wonderful family-oriented affair in Waco. They have grown from their “Little Shop on Bosque” to an enormous facility downtown called “The Silos.”
The couple renovated some old grain silos in Waco, turning the property into an interior design store, garden center, bakery, and a huge playground and picnic area—all of which is known as Magnolia Market. Food trucks are invited to stop by on the weekends to offer prospective shoppers lunch items and the outdoor lawn space is filled with bean bag chairs, swings, picnic tables, and plenty of photo opportunities.
The Fixer Upper Crew has almost single-handedly changed the face of downtown Waco. Now that Magnolia Market, The Silos and The Silo Bakery sit on Webster Avenue, many new businesses have cropped up around them. The surrounding stores benefit from shoppers that come to Waco to spend tons of money on shiplap, Demo Day t-shirts, and a huge variety of interior design and garden elements.
Now old warehouses in the neighborhood are being renovated as chic loft apartments, corner coffee shops and eateries. The downtown district has been spruced up and a tour company has even sprouted out of all the madness, capitalizing on the boosted economy.
The Gaines are also responsible for purchasing an old Waco landmark and getting it back up and running again. The Elite Cafe was originally opened on the Waco traffic circle in 1941, long before the Interstate Highway (I-35) existed. All city traffic went past The Elite Cafe and the restaurant thrived, serving most Waco families and Baylor students.
In recent years, however, the cafe has seen signs of struggle—that is until Chip and Joanna, both Baylor grads, decided to purchase the building last year, renovating and reopening it as Magnolia Table this spring. By the looks of the happy, satisfied diners, their investment seems destined for success.
Mammoth Attraction
If you tire of shopping, you can always wander back into the Ice Age and a time when Colombian mammoths grazed along the Bosque River. Recently bumped up to National Monument stature, the Waco Mammoth Site is a must see if you have a budding paleontologist in the family.
The monument sits on the burial site of 24 mammoths, one camel, a giant tortoise and a saber-toothed cat and encompasses more than 100 acres of forestland, with a building that sits over several skeletons still left buried and intact. The mammoth herd’s cause of death is still a mystery, although it appears they all perished in one event, possibly a flood along the Bosque River.
I would strongly suggest visiting this most unusual Central Texas location. I mean, how often do you get to see mammoth skeletons still in the ground where they were originally buried, rather than cleaned up in a museum?
Waco Suspended
One of the nicest city remnants, dating back to 1870, is the Waco Suspension Bridge. Used today as a pedestrian walkway, the bridge was the first built over the Brazos River to assist cattle drivers along the Chisholm Trail. At that time there was no way to safely cross anywhere along the 800 mile stretch of river. An added benefit to the construction of the suspension bridge was the trade that it brought to town, making the crossing a very big part of Waco’s early growth as a cotton and cattle capitol.
Today, the bridge is lit up at night, providing a more genteel entrance to the downtown district. A huge sculpture called “Trail Boss and Longhorns” is installed in front of the west end, and each animal statue has a Waco brand on its hide. College students still continue an odd tradition of throwing tortillas from the bridge to a concrete pedestal in the river—a pretty tame prank by today’s standards.
Be A Pepper, Too
About 15 years after the Waco Suspension Bridge was built, pharmacist Charles Alderton was experimenting with carbonated drinks at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store. He eventually hit upon a flavor that quickly became popular in the area, and the Dr. Pepper drink was born.
The Dr. Pepper Museum stands in the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Plant building, where the beverage was packaged as demand for it grew. Today you can peruse more than 100,000 pieces of Dr Pepper memorabilia, participate in “liquid laboratories,” and stop in at Frosty’s Soda Shop for handmade fountain confections. Before you leave town, be sure not to miss the Dr. Pepper ice cream floats!
Explore Baylor University Campus
Breaking news: the oldest university in Texas is not in Austin. The campus actually resides right here in Waco. Chartered in 1845, Baylor University was originally started in Independence, Texas, becoming one of the first educational institutions west of the Mississippi River. In fact, Sam Houston, a Texas Revolutionary War hero, donated the first $5,000 to start the school.
Today Baylor is renowned for its law, business and medicine school, among other disciplines. The campus occupies more than 1,000 acres along the Brazos River and is reminiscent of Ivy League schools, with historic Victorian era buildings, live oaks and a chiming bell tower. A new football stadium on the river is not only a great showcase for the Baylor Bear football team, but a technological wonder, and Farrell Field House, a gold-domed auditorium, is where the twice-named NCAA championship Lady Bears basketball team perform.
The campus has also added the Mayborn Museum Complex, a natural science and cultural history museum with exploration stations for geology, paleontology, and archaeology. Visitors of all ages will find its dioramas, discovery rooms and outdoor exhibits informative and entertaining.
Add Waco, Texas to Your Bucket List
I first discovered Waco back in 1979. Since then it has gone through a metamorphosis of sorts. For awhile it stagnated, but in recent years it seems to have found its rhythm, adding new businesses, attractions, and most importantly, great people to the mix.
There are several RV campgrounds in the area, and the town itself is easily traversed in any vehicle. Restaurants abound and you won’t find nicer people anywhere. In short, there’s really no excuse to miss this little gem along I-35. Keep stoking your wanderlust and check out more destination guides—from a fun road trip stop in Midland, Texas to one week spent in Big Bend National Park to a curated list of America’s top swimming holes.
Now’s the time to rent an RV from Outdoorsy and put Waco, Texas on your bucket list!
