On The Road

Wellness flows and history runs deep in heath-focused Mineral Wells

You might be surprised to find a historic Texas city that's just as passionate about wellness as it is about heritage, but Mineral Wells' ambitious nature often defies the impossible.

The natural mineral waters, revered for their healing powers, made the city famous in the early 1900s with its bathhouses, drinking pavilions, and spas. Today you can still experience the water through tastings, mineral baths, and more as the historic mineral baths and spas are being restored and modernized.

Mineral Wells even became the official Wellness Capital of Texas in June 2023. The city is also a member of and working with the Wellness Tourism Association to ensure it meets the needs of today's wellness traveler.

There's plenty more to discover in Mineral Wells:

Step outside
The city is an outdoor lover's dream, with three state parks located within 30 minutes, four lakes, the Brazos River, and 30-plus miles of hiking/biking trails.

Camping, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, fossil-finding, and even simple forest-bathing are just a few of the activities you can experience.

Mineral Wells Fossil Park is free and open year-round, and yes, it does contain real fossils! You get to keep what you find as long as you promise not to sell it.

Step back in history
The most famous of the city's mineral wells is the Crazy Well, given its name for healing a "crazy" woman who drank there daily — most likely due to trace amounts of lithium in the water.

Today, the Crazy Water Hotel further connects visitors to Mineral Wells' 1920s glory days and pays homage to the original Crazy Hotel, built in 1912. The Crazy Water Hotel includes 67 beautiful suites in addition to apartments and event spaces, a coffee and water bar, and several upscale shopping and lifestyle amenities.

The Baker Hotel, adoringly known as the Grand Lady of Mineral Wells, opened in 1929 and reigned as one of the country's most glamorous resorts for more than 25 years. Today, the Grand Lady serves as an educational monument for the town's history and is undergoing restoration. It is scheduled to reopen in 2026.

Old Camp Wolters is prominent piece of the town's military history, having served multiple military functions from WWII to the Vietnam War (when it was renamed Fort Wolters). Today Fort Wolters is privately held, but a portion is still used for National Guard training purposes. The Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial is also found at Fort Wolters.

The National Vietnam War Museum catches your eye as you approach town, offering beautifully landscaped grounds for quiet reflection. One of the most well-known features is a real-life Vietnam-Era Huey mounted high above the Memorial Garden.

Pull up a seat
Stop into Crazy Coffee & Water Bar for Crazy Water and coffee, tea, soda, and syrups all made from the city's "crazy good Crazy Water."

Second Bar & Kitchen by renowned chef David Bull offers healthy cuisine from locally sourced produce, meats, and bakeries.

Two historic eateries are praised for their burgers: Dairy Mart and Woody's Bar. If you're still in a meat mood, Natty Flats and Mesquite Pit are the place.

Put it on your calendar

87th annual PPLCA-PRCA Rodeo, May 2-4: One of the longest-running outdoor rodeos in Texas, and longest running event in Palo Pinto County.
Crazy Wellness Day, June 8: Held in conjunction with Global Wellness Day.
Flying Pig Festival, June 15-16
World Wellness Weekend, September 20-21
44th annual Crazy Water Festival, October 10-12
Crazy Fossil Dig, October 19
Merry Wells Christmas Festival and Lighted Parade, November 30-December 24

Stay a while
Magpie Inn is a chef-owned, historic bed-and-breakfast just three blocks from downtown.

The Crazy Water Hotel has been impeccably restored, with spacious rooms that include a full kitchen and all the modern amenities.

Rest Yourself River Ranch is a unique stay on a historic ranch that overlooks the Brazos River. Also restored with great care, this unique accommodation can be rented as individual rooms, or rent the whole property for family reunions and gatherings.

With a newly renovated downtown area that's bustling with boutique hotels, spas, artisan shopping, and eateries, a new Mineral Wells is emerging that marries the nostalgia of the town's glory days with a fresh, modern vision. Head here to learn more and plan your visit now.

Photo courtesy of Visit Mineral Wells

The city is an outdoor lover's dream.

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Now hear this

New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

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