Peaches, Western history, and delicious eats collide in Weatherford

Whether driving through the historic district and admiring beautiful Victorian and Queen Anne homes, shopping and dining downtown, or scoping out local history, you’re sure to find plenty to keep you busy in Weatherford. Here’s where to eat, what to do, and where to stay in Weatherford.

For breakfast, Hutch’s Pie and Sandwich Shop is a true Weatherford experience. Don’t miss Hutch’s fried breakfast pies, filled with sausage, egg, cheese, bacon, ham, sausage, and gravy. Before you leave, grab a couple of their famed fried fruit pies for a late-afternoon snack. 

Another great breakfast stop is Whistle Hill’s Downtown Café, where mismatched coffee cups and friendly Southern greetings combine with fluffy quiches, massive pancakes, and generous breakfast plates. 

In downtown Weatherford, a stop into Yesterdays Sandwich Shop is a must. White, wheat, and jalapeño sourdough breads are made fresh daily and used for tasty sandwiches such as the turkey, ham, and bacon club and the chicken salad sandwich. Grab a Brown Bag Special (any sandwich with chips, a dessert, and a drink) for the full experience. 

Described as “rustic Texas cuisine,” Fire Oak Grill is one of the best spots in town for a delicious meal and a killer cocktail. Locally sourced ingredients are combined with chef Grant Lambdin’s skills, and dark wood floors, a punched tin ceiling, and low lighting create a romantic and refined ambience.

The chef-selected bruschetta of the day, the beef tenderloin tacos, and the stuffed jalapeños are all excellent starters. For winning entrées, try the Beeman Ranch rib eye with herb compound butter, the featured fish of the day, or the pork medallion with fried brussels sprouts and mushroom-pecorino grits.

For an after-dinner drink, walk over to Edgewise Eight Brewing. The rotating beer menu includes lagers, IPAs, ales, and porters. (Be sure to designate a driver if you plan to drink alcohol.)

Stroll through Chandor Gardens to see almost 4 acres of formal English gardens combined with Chinese architecture sprinkled throughout. Chandor Gardens is listed in the National Register of Historic places. It was the home of artist Douglas Chandor, whose paintings of Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Herbert Hoover hang in the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery.

After Chandor’s death in 1953, his wife, Ina, kept the gardens open until she passed away in 1978. The property fell into disrepair until a local couple bought it in 1994 and began restoring its original grandeur, using old photos found in the attic for guidance. Self-guided and guided tours are available. 

Local theater is alive and well in Weatherford, thanks to Theatre Off the Square. The volunteer-based organization hosts evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays and matinees on Sundays. Productions have included fan favorites such as The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy, plus there’s a yearly children’s production. 

The Heritage Gallery educates on early pioneer and Native American life in Parker County and includes an exhibit on the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail, which has a Weatherford connection thanks to cattleman Oliver Loving.

Loving and his partner, Charles Goodnight, alongside sidekick Bose Ikard, were the inspiration for author Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove characters Gus McCrae, Woodrow F. Call, and Joshua Deets. McMurtry even borrowed Loving’s death for the novel. In real life, Goodnight brought Loving’s body back to Weatherford after his death, and in the novel, Call brings McCrae back to Texas for burial. 

For local shopping, head to the downtown square for antiques, vintage furniture, modern clothing, decor, and more. Most shops are on York Avenue and North Main Street.

The Museum of the Americas is a 5-minute walk from downtown. It holds a large collection of memorabilia from Native peoples collected by owners Harold and Elizabeth Lawrence. The Lawrences have spent more than 50 years searching for treasures throughout North and South America. 

Rest your head at Angel’s Nest Bed & Breakfast, an 1896 Victorian home turned B&B set on 3.5 acres. Rooms have private baths, king-size beds, and a breakfast table. Rates start at $99.

Amanda Ogle is a Texas-based writer who has been published in Travel and Leisure, National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, Texas Highways, Texas Co-op Power, SFGate, and more.