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Fort Stockton, Texas

The town of Fort Stockton developed with the establishment of the military post in 1859, an outpost on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route at the crossing of Old San Antonio Road and the ancient Comanche War Trail. Popular with Native Americans long before white men arrived because of the large springs nearby, the area was one of earliest irrigated farming efforts in Texas; some 8,000 acres were irrigated as early as 1877.

As the seat of Pecos County, Fort Stockton is the retail and shipping headquarters for vast ranching, natural gas and oil activities, and major a West Texas crossroads. Hunting is excellent for mule deer and pronghorn antelope.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Visitor Information Center

For information on dining, accommodations, events, and other area information, stop by the center at I-10 and U.S. 285. The center also offers Roadrunner Bus Tours Mon. - Fri. at 1 and 4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. at 2 p.m. The tour covers 16

Fort Stockton, TX Visitors Centers

Historic Fort Stockton

Typical frontier military post established 1858 as Camp Stockton; abandoned in 1886. Fort consisted of 35 buildings made of adobe and hand-hewn limestone. Four original buildings remain: Three of the eight officers' quarters, and guardhouse with jailer'

Fort Stockton, TX Historic Forts

Courthouse Square

Historic features include courthouse (1883), first Catholic Church (1875), first schoolhouse (1883), and Zero Stone placed by survey party in 1859, used as origin point for all land surveys in this part of West Texas. Nearby St. Stephens Episcopal Church (1872)

Fort Stockton, TX Historic Courthouses

Historical Sites Tour

A series of special signs on city streets provide guidance for do-it-yourself tour of historic sites. Historical notations date from days of Cabeza de Vaca's explorations, 1534, and other explorers such as Espejo in 1583, Mendosa in 1684

Fort Stockton, TX Tours

Old Fort Cemetery

Records on existing tombstones indicate few people lived beyond age 40;

Fort Stockton, TX Cemeteries

Things to do near Fort Stockton, TX

Balmorhea State Park San Solomon Courts

Rankin Museum

Housed in the historic Yates Hotel (c. 1927) built by oil tycoon Ira Yates, the Rankin Museum features the restored lobby, or...

Scenic Overlook

U.S. 90 spans arid, primitive land little changed since pioneers first made their way across it in creaking wagons. One of th...

Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

Walk under an ancient sea, parade through downtown Boomtown, then literally feel the ground shake beneath you with the force ...

Neill Museum

Antique toys made in Texas, 300 antique dolls, bottles, and furniture. In historic 1898 Truehart House seven blocks west of c...