7 Cool Things To Do In Strawn, Texas.

Strawn, Texas, is the gateway to the upcoming Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. My husband and I visited Strawn last September, thinking we could see the entrance to the park. We didn’t, but I got to gather some things to do in Strawn, Texas, to share with you. So you know what to expect in town when you visit Palo Pinto Mountains State Park once it’s open.

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Strawn is a small community of approximately 700 residents in Palo Pinto County. Train tracks are running across the town of this brick street town.

I don’t recall seeing people walking in town during our visit. We saw less than five cars on the road. Maybe because it was the Sunday before Labor Day?

Now, let us check out things to do in Strawn, TX, in no particular order.

7 Cool Things to Do in Strawn, Texas.

1. Eating Chicken Fried Steak at Mary’s Cafe

Mary’s Cafe is the only restaurant in town. From the outside, it looks like a typical small-town restaurant where your chance to get delicious food is fifty-fifty.

Surprise, surprise! The Texas Monthly put Eating Chicken Fried Steak at Mary’s Cafe at #47 on their Texan Bucket List!

Unfortunately, we left with a full belly from Mineral Wells, so we didn’t stop at Mary’s Cafe. Next time we go to Strawn, we will eat at Mary’s Cafe and order their famous Chicken Fried Steak.

Address: 119 Grant Ave.

2. Visiting the Lawmen: Bass Reeves Filmed Location

If you know Sheridan’s TV series, you will see the film’s location in town. I hope they are taking good care of them.

It is on the north side of the train tracks, right by the main road on Central Ave. You will not miss them.

3. Learning a Piece of History at Strawn Historical Museum

Strawn history is dating back to the 1850s. You can learn the town’s rich history through a varied collection of photos, newspapers, furnishings, artifacts from homes and businesses, and memorabilia in the museum.

The museum is housed in the former Boy Scout Hut, built in 1953.

Hours of Operation: Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Free admission.

4. Chugging Along to Strawn Train Depot

The Strawn Train Depot was built before the Texas and Pacific Railway arrived in Strawn on July 4, 1880, with the efforts of J.N. Stuart and S.B. Strawn. In May 1976, the T&P Railroad closed the depot and moved it to Thurber.

Then, a private entity bought and moved the depot to Oakdale. The owner used the warehouse part of the depot for the Oakdale Steakhouse. In 2012, the owner decided to return the depot to Strawn. 

The historic train depot arrived home and relocated to Memorial Park on May 17, 2014.

The train depot can be found next door to the Museum. For touring the depot, ask the Museum Host.

It houses various items related to Strawn’s history with the railroad.

Address: 119 E. North Front St.  

5. Staying at the Historical Watson House

The Watson House is a beautiful B&B/Wedding Venue in town. We didn’t get to walk inside, but a glimpse of the building from Highway 6 made us turn around when we got closer to town. 

George J. and Lelah Watson built the house in 1919. George was one of the first entrepreneurs in Strawn with his endeavors in coal mining and mercantile in the middle of town.

It won’t take a lot of your time to see the house from outside. 

Address: 115 Watson Pl.

6. Stop at Zim’s Cafe

Zim’s Cafe was a farmer’s market and served homegrown brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. It was a favorite destination for people driving around I-20 between Weatherford and Abilene.

Unfortunately, Zim’s was closed four years ago. We saw some stuff scattered outside during our visit. Many people hope the owner will reopen the Cafe. Maybe it’s already open, or a new owner will open the Cafe once the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park opens.

Zim’s Cafe was a gas station when it first opened in the early 1920s. Then the original owner added a restaurant, an ice house, Dr Pepper and Coca Cola Bottling Plant, and motor/travel courts before it turned into a farmer’s market and brunch place in 2017 by the latest owner.

Address: 10990 TX-16.

7. Roadside Stop for Robinson School

Robinson School was a one-room country rural school built in 1937 to protest high school taxes in Strawn. It was in use until 1943 when the number of pupils declined to two.

Bill Roberson and W. Proctor of Strawn built this red brick schoolhouse. It is a simple vernacular structure. The darker brick at the corners and around the windows and the doors added beautiful accents to this schoolhouse.

You can find the school on the historic Bankhead Highway on TX-16 in Gordon, about six miles north of Strawn.

Address: 5893 TX-16, Gordon.

The locations of number 2 to number 7 of these things to do in Strawn, Texas, are on the north side of the tracks. Palo Pinto Mountains State Park will be on the south side of the train tracks. 

Where is Strawn Texas?

When you look at Google Maps, there are several directions to Strawn, Texas. Midway between Fort Worth and Abilene, the town is approximately 4 miles from Highway I-20 W.

Strawn, TX, is about 80 miles east or 1 hour and 15 minutes from Fort Worth. One of the best day trip destinations from Fort Worth under a 2-hour drive. It is about 110 miles from Dallas or 1 hour and 45 minutes.

When we visited Strawn, we came from Lake Mineral Wells State Park. We drove through Palo Pinto on US-180 W and turned south at Metcalf Gap to TX-16 S until we arrived in Strawn. It was around 45 minutes or 37 miles.

Before you leave for Strawn, check out these small-town Texas to put in your Texas Road Trip bucket list:

– Top 2 Reasons Why You Must Stop at Acton, Texas.

– 11 Cool Things to Do in Muenster, Texas.

– 21 Awesome Things to Do in Glen Rose, Texas.

– 17 Best Things to Do in Hillsboro Texas.