Top Things to Do in Cleburne TX

Take A Step Back in Time

Close to modern day Cleburne was once a city called Wardville, and at the Chisolm Trail Museum, you can “walk around” Wardville like it’s the 1850s. With a stagecoach, saloon, county jail, schoolhouse and more, you can imagine what it was like in the early Texas years.

The Chisholm Trail Museum does such a great job of bringing history to life with preserved buildings and artifacts. On the tours, you can learn the little interesting bits of history that you won’t learn about in school. Or maybe you can learn about in school! In fact, this museum has a schoolhouse where you can bring a group of kids to learn any subject from kindergarten up to some college classes just like the 1800s! The teacher has all the books and curriculum, and most kids are surprised at how difficult the material is!

On top of the school house there is even a working blacksmith shop who demonstrates how certain items are made back in the day. You can purchase hooks and items and even get custom orders!

Walking around the Chisholm Trail Museum you might just forget you’re in the 21st century.

On property is also the Big Bear Native American Museum filled with artifacts that share the history and culture of the Native Americans. People visiting might be surprised to learn that some of the “trendy” natural remedies are steeped in Native American culture as well as the diversity of tribes and traditions.

Eat in the Tiniest Burger Barn

Major props to the three women working behind the tiny counter at this small burger joint. Don’t let size fool you though! Burger Bar is internationally recognized, and people drive from all over to take a bite into these flavor-filled burgers. You can see on the side where they grow their peppers for their food too! So, what makes them so good? The owner says, “The grill is where it’s at.” An 1800’s grill that has been passed down with the building and is part of their pride.

Visit Carnegie Library

Carnegie helped constructed over 3,500 ornate libraries across the world. 32 were built in Texas, and now 9 serve as either a library or a museum. Many have been destroyed or re-purposed for something else. The Cleburne Carnegie Library has since been re-purposed into the Layland Museum where you can learn about Texas history from prehistoric times with real fossils, to Native American treasures, and more.

Catch A Musical on a Rotating Stage

Theatre fans will love the Plaza Theatre. Discard all your ideas of a community theatre and be prepared for an experience that all audiences will love. We got to catch a show of Freaky Friday (a fun take on the movie) and were amazed at the powerful vocals, well-developed characters, and fun dance moves. One of the things that I found truly unique was the rotating stage! The cast danced as the stage moved around for an even more fun experience. Make sure to stay up to date on their calendar so that you can catch a show!

Nosh on Some Delicious Tex-Mex

At La Cima you can enjoy a great array of Tex-Mex fare from their mole that’s made in house to their specialty margaritas including special flavors like blood orange and lime cucumber. Everything here is thoughtfully prepared and packed with flavor.

Become One with Nature

Looking for some time hiking or hanging out at the lake? Cleburne State Park offers a little bit of everything. You can rent a kayak and paddle on the lake or wander through the multiple trees. What I loved about the trails is that even though you didn’t wander far from the main roads, you felt like you were somewhere else with the dense trees. You might even find some deer wandering around!

Eat at the Cutest Bistro

Part bistro, part shop, the Garden of Eating Bistro is filled with color, cute items, and delicious foods!

With all the eating out we do while traveling, I enjoyed a salad bar filled with a large mixture of toppings, and their lasagna soup was incredible. Not to mention their gourmet sandwiches like the fanciful piggy: bacon, veggie cream cheese, blackberry jam, and pickled jalapeno. Yumm! Of course with desserts as decadent as tiramisu cheesecake, I had to indulge in some dessert!

Afterwards you can wander through their shops where I found some of the cutest jewelry, purses, and decor from local vendors. They even have a vintage candy shop with every candy new and old to cure your cravings.

Learn About the Santa Fe Railroad from Someone Who Actually Worked There

If you get the chance, everyone will tell you to visit the Cleburne Railroad Museum on Thursdays when Conductor Bob is there! It turns out the Cleburne Railroad station was critical as part of the Santa Fe Railroad as it was the second base after Galveston which was often closed due to virus outbreaks.

Conductor Bob has seen it all and will take you through his days of being hired on, his high school crush, and the days they closed the station. History lives on in his stories, and he helps people gain an appreciation for the history of the railroad.

Taste Some Bourbon

At Johnson County Distillery you can sup on some Jacob Weldon Blended Bourbon Whiskey. While the Bourbon can be found throughout the country, you can stop here to see where it’s made and learn about their process. You might even catch one of the days they have a concert. We enjoyed the Bourbon so much that we made sure to order some next time we went to the bar.

Wander Through Downtown

The historic Downtown of Cleburne is full of fun shops to walk around! We found several goodies at the Bus Depot, a mixture of antiques and local businesses selling clothing, home goods, crafts, and more.

Discover Vintage Treasures

With 3 stories of antique items, you’re bound to find something unique at the Red Horse Antique Mall! We had so much fun wandering from floor to floor finding fun treasures and furniture! There was so much to look at!

Check out the Historic Murals

Right along the Downtown Square is an alley full of colorful murals that represent Cleburne’s history including the Chisholm trail, rangers, and the railroad.

Stay in a Historic Hotel

The Liberty Hotel was built in 1924 before falling into a state of disrepair, or so they thought! In 2004 the building was restored and now you can stay at this historic hotel with a beautiful open lobby. Ghost hunters might also enjoy this spot as it is reportedly haunted. You can read more about the Liberty Hotel here.

Things to Do in Cleburne TX: Final Thoughts

Cleburne impressed me as a beautiful historic town that did a great job of bringing it to life. When not indulging in history, there was plenty of great foods to eat, and fun things to do! Being so close to Dallas it makes it an easy quick trip, and I’ll definitely be back for one of their events!

For other fun trips in the area make sure to check out

Glen Rose – Check out the Safari right here in Texas
Mansfield – A fun, family friendly trip
Weatherford – Known for their beautiful gardens

Last Updated 3 weeks ago ago by Jessica Serna | Published: October 13, 2019