"Gainesville--A Touch Of The Victorian in Texas" Gainesville by VeronicaG

Gainesville Travel Guide: 21 reviews and 41 photos

A Surprising Discovery

Our first peek at the town of Gainesville was in the Fall and it appealed to us so much that we made a return visit that December. Since moving to Texas, my husband and I have made a concerted effort to really get to know our new state. In Gainesville, we think it was the friendliness of the town that caused us to return.

We motored along 114 W. then I-35W to I-35N and eventually to the 496B exit. Along the way we passed the monolithic Texas Motor Speedway via Dale Earnhardt Way. It was a brisk, sunny day as we traveled through Texas, passing grazing horses, countless cow pastures, expanses of scrubby fields, slight rises in topography and rolled bales of hay looking desolate in empty fields.

A short stretch of road work appeared and then signs reading "PONDER 1 mile", McKinney, Denton and Krum. We skirted Sanger and Valleyview, then signs for the Gainesville Factory shops and Frank Buck Zoo sprung up on the side of the highway. Finally the town itself announced "Gainesville-established in 1850."

The first time we visited was on a Sunday and nearly everything was closed up tight. This recent trip was on a Saturday, so this allowed us to catch a glimpse of small town life on the weekends.

Gainesville has a typical town square, which surrounds a stalwart looking courthouse crowned by a clock tower. Antique, home decor, gift shops and other businesses made up the square. Somewhat beyond this town center lies a small collection of lovely Victorian homes, which are the treasures of Gainesville!

If you stop by early in the day, don't forget to sample a fried pie at the Fried Pie Cafe! Any later, will be too late to try this tasty tidbit.

Last visit to Gainesville: May 2010
Intro Updated Jun 12, 2010
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Reviews (13)

The Sam Rayburn House Museum - Gainesville

The Sam Rayburn Home Things to Do (5)

The Sam Rayburn Home museum is actually about 35 miles from Gainesville. However, since I don't have a page on this... more travel advice

The Lavender Festival at Lavender Ridge... Things to Do (5)

I can't resist the sweet scent of lavender and there was plenty of it at The Lavender Festival* held over Memorial Day... more travel advice

The Fried Pie Co. Restaurant - Gainesville

For Fried Pie! Restaurants (2)

UPDATE: Memorial Day weekend gave us the opportunity to drive through Gainesville and we did not miss the opportunity to... more travel advice

Simple, but Delicious Fare - Gainesville

Simple, but Delicious Fare Restaurants (2)

As we progressed from house to house on the Christmas Home Tour, we found ourselves getting hungry, so asked for a... more travel advice

Shopping (2)
See All Home Accents, Gifts, Bath & Body
Favorites (3)
See All The Butterfield Stagecoach Service

Local Customs (1)
The Annual Christmas Tour
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Travelogues (2)

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Comments (6)

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scottishvisitor Jan 31, 2008 at 9:20 AM

The houses look lovely decked out with the red ribbons! Interesting museums you show here too
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Movita Sep 27, 2007 at 5:38 PM

"The Fried Pie". When I was a little girl in Gainesville in the late 40s and early 50s, this building housed the Cadillac dealership and always had beautiful shiny new Cadillacs that you could see through the wrap-around windows.
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kenHuocj Dec 29, 2006 at 8:25 AM

another that is noted for whenever ! neat tips ;-)))
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deecat Dec 26, 2006 at 5:27 PM

What a delight! Beautiful Victorians in your travelogues. Great information about this special town. Loved the facts about the circus. Thanks for a wonderful tour of Gainesville.
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Kuznetsov_Sergey Dec 20, 2006 at 8:50 AM

Lovely little town and interesting page. Thanks Veronica for sharing. Especially I liked Victorian houses on your travelogues. If we could see such houses around Moscow we should say "oh, those new Russians"-that means people who recently have grown rich!
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kyoub Dec 18, 2006 at 7:28 AM

The Candlelight Christmas Tour, expecially the live nativity scene, sounds like it belongs on the not to be missed list. Interesting page, Veronica