Fun Facts about Grapevine, Texas
There is so much to see and do in Grapevine but here are a few fun facts about this amazing North Texas city that you might not know!
- Grapevine dates back to 1843 when General Sam Houston and representatives of the Republic of Texas met with members of 10 American Indian nations. They joined to negotiate a treaty of peace and friendship at Grape Vine Springs, also known as Tah-Wah-Karro Creek. Within a year, the first settlers started arriving, rolling in on covered wagons, on the Grape Vine Prairie. The wild mustang grapes that grew there gave the city its name.
- Grapevine’s Nash Farm, circa 1859, is the oldest operating farmstead in Tarrant County.
- With more than 1,400 events slated for the holidays, Grapevine is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas®.
- Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Steam Engine 2248, nicknamed “Puffy,” is the oldest continuously operated steam engine in the South.
- Notorious criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde, who were both from Dallas, left their mark all over Texas, including in Grapevine. They especially spent time at Denton Creek, the area now known as Lake Grapevine.
- With 6,022 hotel rooms, Grapevine features eight full service hotels, including Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Hyatt Regency DFW, Great Wolf Lodge, Hilton DFW Lakes, Embassy Suites by Hilton DFW Airport North, Courtyard/TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Grand Hyatt DFW and Hotel Vin Marriott Autograph Collection
- Grapevine special event venues offer over 92 900 sq. meters of meeting space.
- Grapevine Mills mall encompasses more than 167 500 sq. meters of shopping, entertainment and restaurant space.
- Grapevine is home to seven winery tasting rooms.
- Built in 1940, the Historic Palace Theatre is home to the Grapevine Opry. Stars who have performed there include LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert and Keith Anderson.
- Lake Grapevine is an 8,000-acre recreational lake with more than 30kms of wilderness trails. Lake Grapevine offers 2 marinas, Scott’s Landing Marina and Silver Lake Marina and family friendly campgrounds.
- There are 81 holes of golf within 10 to 15 minutes of every hotel in the city. Grapevine’s three golf courses, Bear Creek Golf Course, Cowboys Golf Club and Grapevine Golf Course, are ranked among the top 50 public courses in the U.S., including one designed by Byron Nelson (Grapevine Golf Course) and the only NFL-themed golf course (Cowboys Golf Club).
- There are more than 107kms of paved and natural trails for hikers and bikers.
- In 2012, Grapevine was named a World Festival and Event City by the International Festival and Events Association.
- The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, held annually during GrapeFest® is the world’s largest consumer-judged wine competition
In addition to the big events such as Grapefest and Christmas Capital of Texas, Grapevine hosts The New Vintage Wine and Gallery Trail & Blessing of the Vines, from April 10 – 29. Blessing of the Vines, a centuries-old European tradition performed by a priest to ensure a bountiful harvest, is a time honoured Grapevine favourite.
This year the Grapevine 37th Annual Main Street Fest – A Craft Brew Experience, is being reinvented. Instead of the 3-day festival that brings in concessions, arts and crafts vendors and a carnival, they plan to highlight the merchants they already have on Main Street. Main Street will be closed during the day and allow restaurants and shops to extend out onto the street. Public area will be utilised, such as Liberty Park Plaza, Gazebo Park and Grapevine Plaza to have live entertainment and different activities, such as the craft brew experience. Instead of using coupons or paper money, guests will be using Magic Money, which allows them to purchase virtual money on their phone and then scan their phone with different vendors.
