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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Amusement Park Fun

Six Flags Over Texas launches new roller coaster with a 285-foot drop

Riders on Tormenta Rampaging Run at Six Flags Over Texas

Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Texas

CultureMap took a ride on Tormenta before it opens to the public.

Six Flags Over Texas will officially open its anticipated new roller coaster, Tormenta Rampaging Run, on Thursday, July 9, and CultureMap and other media and VIPs were given early access to experience the ride's intense thrills before its public debut.

The new coaster boasts several records — as the tallest, fastest, longest, and first-ever giga (300+-foot-tall) dive coaster in the world, topping out at 309 feet just before it sends riders plunging into a beyond-vertical, 95-degree, 285-foot drop. We take you along for the ride in the following video:

Each car of the coaster features three rows of seats with eight seats per row, servicing 24 riders at a time. During the preview event, two cars were sent out in staggered sessions, but a third car sat close by to be used if needed.

The ride's rodeo theme is strong, with multiple posters advertising fictional rodeos and a metallic gate swinging open at the start to let the ~~bull~~ car pass through.

To paraphrase Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, the first part is a doozy, as riders are click-clacked up a steep stretch forcing them to look straight up into the sky.

The ever-so-brief pause at top affords a view of the surrounding city, the rest of Six Flags, and, in the distance, the downtown Dallas skyline. The angle feels like you're above those towering skyscrapers even though logic tells you that you aren't.

The initial plunge tests the mettle of even hardcore roller coaster fans, sending riders through the extreme drop before hurtling them into two large loops and a corkscrew before coming to another brief stop.

The 95-degree, 285-foot drop of Tormenta Rampaging Run. Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Texas

That stop gives riders only a small reprieve before they're shot through two smaller loops and a sharp right curve before — mercifully — coming to a jolting halt as the coaster car is shuttled back into the loading station.

From start to finish, the ride lasts around 2 minutes and 45 seconds, but the first 75 seconds is spent just getting to the start of the main portion of the coaster.

All told, the drops, loops, and other elements lasts exactly one minute, which is not that long, but the time-to-thrill ratio is still high.

Misting fans and pergolas at Tormenta Rampaging Run at Six Flags Over Texas. Misting fans and pergolas will help keep riders cool while waiting in line for Tormenta.Photo by Alex Bentley

Even during the brutal heat of the Texas summer, visitors should expect lines to be long for the hot new ride. The corrals close to the ride have scattered pergolas and umbrellas for shade, as well as oscillating fans with misters. Once you reach the completely covered top platform, there are a number of ceiling fans, although they do little to stave off the high humidity.

Opinions will differ as to whether a long wait time for a short ride is worth it, but for those who get their kicks trying out the latest and greatest roller coasters, Tormenta Rampaging Run is a great new addition to the 65-year-old amusement park.

The grand opening for Tormenta is Thursday, July 9 at Six Flags Over Texas. The park is open daily through August 16.

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