%b%crTolar%b%c* and other Granbury, TX Off The Beaten Path Tips

Tolar is a tiny little town just 6 miles southwest of Granbury. It was first established around 1890 when a post office opened. Its early days were as a trade centre for area farmers and ranchers. There was also a gin, a general store and blacksmith shop. By 1914 the number of residents had reach 460 but declined to around 283 during the Great Depression. Today there is probably only around 600 residents.

Tolar is visited more for the Windmill Farm.

Hwy 377.

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Roughly about 8 miles south-west of Granbury in the little town of Tolar is the Windmill Farm. This property has collected and restored windmills which have been found or donated from various areas all around Texas. They have restored the mills to their original condition and each function as designed.

Take Hwy 377 from Granbury to Colony Road, drive for about a couple of miles to No. 6625.. You will see the farm easily. When you come out the other end you will see a sign which way you need to go - either back to Tolar to to Granbury

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A lot of the windmills are operating and in the stillness of the countryside you can here them whirring or in some cases clanking away. You can drive through the 26 acre property or take a stroll in amongst them on your own. Guided tours are also available. As you arrive at the gate, there is a box where you can obtain some literature on the various windmills, their dates, sizes and which areas they have come from along with a little background on their use. More windmills are added as they are restored.

Tolar Windmill Farm.

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The De Cordova Bend Dam sits on Lake Granbury – both were constructed by the Brazos River Authority and created by a 27 mile loop in the Brazos River. Construction began in 1966 and was completed in 1969. The area was named for Jacob de Cordova, an early Texas pioneer who explored these parts back in the 1850’s.

HCR 309 off S. Hwy 167

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The Overlook provides a great view of the De Cordova Bend Dam was named after A.L. Brooks Jr, a member of the Brazos River Authority's Board of Directors. He was a strong proponent and spokesman in the efforts for development and conservation of the water surface resources.

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This historic marker is near the site where about 25 raiding Indians jumped and killed a fox hunter (Rigman Bryant), shot his dog and stole his horse. Later in the day the Indians and stolen horses were seen by a minister (Silas Scarborough) W C Walters and a negro. The negro was urged to join the Indians who then shot him full of arrows when he refused. In a few hours the Cavalry attacked the Indians and recovered the stolen horses. One Indian was killed and the others chased away. One settler was shot and the wounded Negro died a week later. It was claimed as a Civil War Frontier victory.

There were about 5 or 6 bullet holes in the historical marker… I guess someone didn’t know the fighting was over.

The marker sits in a picnice area on FM144 off Hwy 67 just north west of Glen Rose and south of Granbury.

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Along Hwy 377 just north of Granbury in a town of Cresson you will come across The Pate Museum. The museum contains many aircraft, from the early propeller driven to jet fighter planes, are lovingly restored and in good condition.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance is free of charge too

Hwy 377 Cresson.

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Amongst many of the exhibits you will also see a complete space capsule along with a cut-a-way mock-up showing the inside of a capsule. The Museum was founded in 1961 and amongst the collection displayed on the grounds, there are also many antique and classic cars inside the main building. One was the Texas Longhorn Car which was handcrafted in San Antonio and took 12 years to build.

Pate Museum of Transport
Hwy 377, Cresson

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The museum also has an antique private railroad car, a Minesweeper boat, and a 1500 volume transportation library.

Pate Museum of Transport
Hwy 377 Cresson.

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This lovely little church was originally built around 1900 as a country church on the bank soft the Brazos River in Dennis Texas. The church was named after the founding fathers of Texas Refinery corp, A.M. Pate Sr and Carl Wellner.

Its new home is on the grounds of the Pate Museum of Transportation. Hwy 377, Cresson.

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