Old Fort Parker
Old Fort Parker
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
56 reviews
Excellent
27
Very good
18
Average
7
Poor
4
Terrible
0
Carol D
Texas21 contributions
Sep 2021
I had been by here a few years ago but it was closed on that particular day. My trip this time was great. The re-created fort was worth the time I spent there. But even more interesting was the visit I had with the people in the gift shop/museum where you enter. I had a great time talking with Sarah & Ron and would not have left until they kicked me out at closing, except that I had to get back home that evening for a dinner. They are both very knowledgeable about the real history and the fort & location. I knew the fort was a re-creation but had not ever read anywhere how much had been left for the CCC to rebuild it. They knew how it was determined to be at the correct spot, what condition it was in when the rebuilding was undertaken, and so much more. Sarah especially is very versed in the history of the Parkers and Anglins. It was fun comparing information with her. They also told me of other points of interest around the county and I cant wait to take another road trip to Limestone County
Written October 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bemurphy55
Arlington, TX4 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
The story of Parker’s Fort is fascinating. The attack that day set in motion a chain of events of great historical importance. Fascinating place and story. I found the people in the visitor center to be helpful and more than happy to answer all my questions. I was shocked to find out that this historical landmark receives no monetary funds from the state of Texas or other historical organizations. Some of these groups, need to step up to the plate and help those people make some improvements. They are working on a shoestring budget. A fascinating place of historical importance. If you are planning to do a trip, do yourself or your kids a favor and do some research on the events that happened that day in the impact they had on the future.
Written July 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RickDude
Cedar Hill, TX68 contributions
Oct 2020
This is a great place to go back in time and imagine how life was back in the early 19th century in frontier Texas. I knew about it's history but did not realize it is only a short distance from the DFW area. The curator was very nice and has kept the historical site up nicely. Well worth the time and effort to visit if in the area.
Written October 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
crusadercc
Georgetown, TX870 contributions
Jan 2021
A fascinating part of Texas history and an impressive (but aging) reconstruction. We saw only one other family during our Sunday visit. Some of the "homes" include period beds, kitchen, etc and they make it easy to imagine what it would be like to live on the frontier. It would be nice to have docents or something like that to explain further (maybe they do on busier days?). Prices are very cheap ($2/adult, $1/kid over 5).
Written January 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Say Trees
Texas5 contributions
Jul 2022
The fort at Old Fort Parker is a replica of the original built by the Parker first-settlers to ward off unfriendly tribes. It is surrounded by American colonial buildings. There are many learning stations with opportunities to get an actual feel for what life may have been like for the pioneering families. the staff even dress in time-period appropriate clothing.
Written March 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Experience770924
Dallas, TX16 contributions
Jul 2020
The curator was very interesting, and related the history. The gift shop contained artifacts including a Mammoth skull found in the area. The fort doesn't have state funding, but does contain a wealth of history.
Written July 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
texhills
Aubrey, TX12,562 contributions
Dec 2011 • Couples
For anyone interested in Texas frontier history, a visit to Old Fort Parker is rewarding. It was here that Cynthia Ann Parker was kidnapped by Indians after a barbaric attack on the fort on May 19, 1836. The date is less than a month after the Battle of San Jacinto. One foe had been defeated by the Texans, but another remained potent and very dangerous.
The reconstructed fort is substantial. Said to be a recreation of the original built by the Parkers in 1834, the fort is a rectangular space enclosed by 12-foot high split cedars with block houses on two corners and cabins along the walls. Visitors are free to self tour and step into some of the cabins which have period furnishings. Displays in one of the cabins have pictures of Cynthia Ann with her daughter after her recapture (many would say second capture) by the Texas Rangers 24 years later at the Battle of Pease River near present day Crowell. Also shown are pictures of Quanah Parker, her remarkable son who was the last warrior chief of the Comanches. An amateur DVD gives a brief sanitized version of the Cynthia Ann story for those unfamiliar with it.
The entrance fee is $2 per adult at this writing. As it is a county-run facility, state park passes are not accepted. A nice visitor center has water, soft drinks and restrooms. The lady on duty when we were there was very knowledgeable. She explained the reason for the grave of the five men killed in the attack being far from the fort. It seems that the survivors buried the bodies just outside the fort before they left for Fort Houston sixty miles away. When the army later came to investigate, the graves had been disturbed, whether by animals or Indians couldn't be determined. The remains were taken to what is now Fort Parker Memorial Park, which is about a mile and half from Fort Parker, and buried in a mass grave on a hill beside a large live oak tree.
A visit to Fort Parker Memorial Park takes only a little time. Today a large concrete slab covers the mass grave inscribed with the names of the five men buried there--three Parkers and two Frosts. Oddly, the location of the grave does not appear on the register of graves in the small structure at the entrance to the cemetery. To find it, drive straight to the tall monument in the center of the cemetery and turn left. The grave is located at the first right turn. It is enclosed by a low steel pipe fence.
The reconstructed fort is substantial. Said to be a recreation of the original built by the Parkers in 1834, the fort is a rectangular space enclosed by 12-foot high split cedars with block houses on two corners and cabins along the walls. Visitors are free to self tour and step into some of the cabins which have period furnishings. Displays in one of the cabins have pictures of Cynthia Ann with her daughter after her recapture (many would say second capture) by the Texas Rangers 24 years later at the Battle of Pease River near present day Crowell. Also shown are pictures of Quanah Parker, her remarkable son who was the last warrior chief of the Comanches. An amateur DVD gives a brief sanitized version of the Cynthia Ann story for those unfamiliar with it.
The entrance fee is $2 per adult at this writing. As it is a county-run facility, state park passes are not accepted. A nice visitor center has water, soft drinks and restrooms. The lady on duty when we were there was very knowledgeable. She explained the reason for the grave of the five men killed in the attack being far from the fort. It seems that the survivors buried the bodies just outside the fort before they left for Fort Houston sixty miles away. When the army later came to investigate, the graves had been disturbed, whether by animals or Indians couldn't be determined. The remains were taken to what is now Fort Parker Memorial Park, which is about a mile and half from Fort Parker, and buried in a mass grave on a hill beside a large live oak tree.
A visit to Fort Parker Memorial Park takes only a little time. Today a large concrete slab covers the mass grave inscribed with the names of the five men buried there--three Parkers and two Frosts. Oddly, the location of the grave does not appear on the register of graves in the small structure at the entrance to the cemetery. To find it, drive straight to the tall monument in the center of the cemetery and turn left. The grave is located at the first right turn. It is enclosed by a low steel pipe fence.
Written December 6, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
midwayhorn
Hewitt, TX95 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
First time to visit in many years. It still is a great story of early Texas history. Interesting to see how early settlers lived.
Contrary to a rant from a previous reviewer that this couldn't be the original site because it was too far from water, Parker Spring is 130 feet from the back gate...
Contrary to a rant from a previous reviewer that this couldn't be the original site because it was too far from water, Parker Spring is 130 feet from the back gate...
Written April 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
P5_Crazy_Train
Austin, TX1,091 contributions
Every self-respecting Texan knows the story of Cynthia Ann Parker. If you don't, then you should. Old Fort Parker is the site where the trajectory of the Parker family was altered dramatically, and where the lines between historical fact and legend have become so blurred that most people don't even know what the truth is. From John Ford/John Wayne's "The Searchers," to the legend of Quanah Parker and the tragic fate of Cynthia Ann, the restored site of Old Fort Parker is a gem of often overlooked and often misunderstood Texas history.
Frontier Blood: The Saga of the Parker Family is an excellent primer if you really want to know the history before you go. It's a thoroughly researched and well written history of the family. Don't count on much (actually any) info at the actual site. The shop/entry doesn't have anything to offer in the way of books, guides, etc. But, the admission charge is nominal, and the historical relevance is pretty awesome.
Frontier Blood: The Saga of the Parker Family is an excellent primer if you really want to know the history before you go. It's a thoroughly researched and well written history of the family. Don't count on much (actually any) info at the actual site. The shop/entry doesn't have anything to offer in the way of books, guides, etc. But, the admission charge is nominal, and the historical relevance is pretty awesome.
Written May 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bryan h
Galveston, TX299 contributions
Feb 2014
Went here after visiting the state park this fort has the feeling of what it was like back in the day. I usually go during the week to visit places so I had the place to myself which was nice to take pictures. It costs only $2 to get it but bring cash or a check they don't take credit or bank cards. The staff were nice. Be advised they are not open on Monday or Tuesday. They do have events there check for future dates. This would be fun to see the reenactment. the small cabins are furnished in what would be customary for the times they are protected by chicken wire to keep things from walking off. The lookout tower is open and you can go up and get a birds eye view of the fort. You really get a sense of how it was in the 1800's musky woody smells in the cabins. They are surprisingly very cool in the tower not hot like I expected felt like an air conditioned room.
Written February 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sheryl W
Plano, Texas
Is there heat and AC in the rental units? How do you reserve and how many to a room?
Written January 7, 2018
Yes, units are air-conditioned and heated. There are a few different rooms and cabins, each set up a little differently. The RV spots have power, and water, and good shower/bathrooms available. Call or email the fort from the contact information shown here. There are photos on the lodging options on the website.
Written January 9, 2018
We were thinking of planning a visit during the Christmas festival. I was thinking of bringing my 2 nephews ages 8 & 11. It will be a lengthy drive. I want to go for the history but I'm not sure that's enough to entice them. Would it be worth it to bring them?
Written October 19, 2016
I think they would like it. They can play in the fort.
Written October 23, 2016
Francis H
Bristol, United Kingdom
I am an English tourist, and will be visiting the USA this May. My plan is to travel by train from LA to Chicago stopping off in McGregor for 3 nights. Is there any way that I can get to Fort Parker from McGregor? (I do not have a driving licence, so hiring a car is not an option). I can't find any information about local tours or buses, or even taxis. I'm very keen to get to Fort Parker because of the history (I am a big fan of 'The Searchers' - both the book and the film).
Written April 12, 2015
Old Fort Parker is about an hour south of Dallas. I am not aware of any regular public transportation from any locations to the Mexia/Grosbeck area and the fort.
Written April 13, 2015
Can you purchase National park passes at Fort Parker?
Written April 2, 2015
Old Fort Parker is not a part of the federal or state parks system but is administered by the Texas Historical Society. Park passes are not accepted for the facility.
Written April 14, 2015
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