Wise County Courthouse | Wise County Heritage Museum | El Castile Texas Tourist Camp

Designed by architect James Riley Gordon of San Antonio, this is the 4th courthouse for Wise County. The Romanesque Revival style building is similar in design to the Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie, also by Gordon. County Commissioners awarded a $100,000 contract in 1895 for the construction of the building. Ironically, all members of the Commissioners Court were quickly defeated in their bids for reelection. It is constructed primarily of pink granite from the Llano quarries in Burnet Texas, boasting Vermont marble floors, original woodwork and beautiful iron staircases on the interior. Listed in the National Register of Historic places, the building  is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Open weekdays, Monday through Friday, tours may be arranged through the County Judge's office on the first floor.  [More Info]   Formerly the Administration Building for the Decatur Baptist College, the building now houses the Wise County Heritage Museum, Little Theatre, Lost Battalion Room and Wise County Archives. The building was erected in 1892 of native limestone to house a four year college. Encountering financial difficulties, 20 citizens of Wise County pledged $1000 each in 1897 and then established Decatur Baptist College as a junior college. In the fall of 1965, Decatur Baptist College moved to Dallas becoming a four year college- Dallas Baptist University. In December of 1967 the building and one acre were deeded to the Wise County Historical Society by Coke L. Gage. The facility is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1:30-5:00 on Sunday. Admission is $1.00 for adults .50 cents for children under 12.        [More Info]   "The Castle"  was built in 1883 by cattle baron  Dan Waggoner  and was once headquarters to the vast Waggoner ranching empire in North Texas. The house boasts 16 rooms and a full basement with 8 wood-burning  fireplaces. It is constructed of fossibiferous limestone decorated with hand hewn wrought iron on the roof and balconies. The entrance hall has a grand staircase winding to the second floor with Texas star motifs decorating the walnut & oak stairway and other woodwork throughout the house. Massive interior doors stand 16 feet tall, 3 have stained glass. The Victorian  library displays wrought iron isinglass fixtures from Denver. The house has a large dining room, 8 bedrooms, 5 marble bath and a huge kitchen with a copper sink and fixtures. The house was the model for the home in the movie "Giant". The home Thistle Hill in Fort Worth was a wedding present to Dan's Daughter Electra in 1902. El Castile was purchased by Phil Luker Sr. in 1944 and remains in the Luker family to this day. It is privately owned and not available for public viewing.                            [More Info]   Petrified Wood Gas Station   Local Businessman C.F. Boydston purchased this site, a former feed lot in 1927. Recognizing a potential business opportunity offering services to the traveling public, he built a wooden shed and gas station in 1927. Travelers were allowed to build campfires during overnight stays and by 1931 Boydston added three wooden cabins with garages to the camp complex. The building were later faced with rock and more cabins were added in 1935. The original wooden gas station was covered with petrified wood in 1935 when the highway was widened and remained in operation by the Boydston family until 1988. The Texas lunchroom was built in 1929 and renamed the Texas Cafe' in 1935. It was a popular hangout with high school and college students of the time as well as  a destination for the traveling public. Trains often stopped for engineers and passenger to get a bit to eat. Part of the Complex is now occupied by private offices. The now Whistle Stop Cafe' has once again become a hangout for locals. The Texas Tourist Camp is one of the few intact example of tourist camps built throughout Texas in the mid 20th century. The Complex is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  [More Info]   Wise County Courthouse | Wise County Heritage Museum | El Castile Texas Tourist Camp