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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Have Fun for Less

New discounts mean State Fair of Texas will cost less in 2026

Photo by Kevin Brown

The State Fair of Texas runs September 25-October 18, 2026.

It will be cheaper to get into the State Fair of Texas this year. Admission and parking prices are being lowered for 2026, and kids will be able to get in for $10 every day, organizers have announced.

The 2026 fair runs September 25 through October 18 at Fair Park in Dallas.

Adult admission is dropping by $4, from $19 to $15 on weekdays and from $29 to $25 on weekends. Kids ages 3-12 will pay $10 every day, down from $14 on weekdays and $24 on weekends.

Additionally, entry after 5 pm on weekdays will be $10 for all visitors. On weekends, adults will see their ticket price drop from $25 to $20 after 5 pm. Seniors 60 and over will now pay $13 on weekdays, a $1 drop from the previous year.

According to a release, the decision to lower ticket prices came after feedback from fairgoers during the 2025 season and an evaluation of how to balance affordability with the quality of the fair.

Parking in official State Fair parking lots is also dropping by $5, to $25 every day.

“Families have always been at the heart of the State Fair of Texas, and every year we listen closely to what our fairgoers tell us about their experience,” said Karissa Condoianis, State Fair of Texas senior vice president of public relations, in a statement.

"This year, we are making meaningful changes to admission and parking while continuing to offer the experiences, traditions, and attractions our guests look forward to every fall. Our goal is to make it easier for families to plan a State Fair day that works for them and get the most from their time at the State Fair.”

More ways to save
There are a lot more ways to save during the 2026 State Fair of Texas. Here is a complete list of discounts:

Opening Day Peanut Butter Drive: On Opening day, Friday, September 25, visitors can enjoy the Fair while also helping the North Texas Food Bank by bringing two jars of peanut butter to donate to receive $10 admission at the gate.
Feed the Need Wednesdays: Every Wednesday, fairgoers can receive $7 admission by bringing five canned food items to benefit the North Texas Food Bank.
Dr Pepper Value Days: Every Tuesday and Thursday of the State Fair, Big Tex Insiders can purchase online admission for $12 with a promotional code. Guests can sign up for the Big Tex Insider program at BigTex.com/Insider.
Senior Day: Every Thursday, guests ages 60 and older can receive admission for $7 at the gate.
Military Appreciation Day Presented by Chevrolet: Active-duty military, retired military, and veterans can save $5 off admission any day with valid military identification.
First Responder Discounts: The State Fair honors active and retired law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency services personnel with $5 off admission any day with valid department or organization identification.

Military and first responder guests purchasing discounted admission online will be prompted to verify eligibility through ID.me. Guests purchasing at the gate should bring valid documentation.

McDonald's Discounts: Participating McDonald's locations throughout North Texas will offer State Fair admission discounts through coupons available on tray liners and inside select meal bags. Adults can save $5 on admission any day with a valid coupon. Only one discount may be applied per guest, and discounts cannot be combined, stacked, or used in conjunction with any other offer.
Free Admission for Select Texas Students and Teachers: Students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade at participating school districts receive free admission tickets, and teachers and school faculty for grades 9-12 receive free admission through our voucher program. Teachers must visit the admission ticket sales window, provide a teacher voucher, and show their valid school-issued photo ID to receive an admission ticket to the Fair.

In addition, the State Fair of Texas has partnered with Dallas Park and Recreation on their Teen All Access Pass Program, which provides free admission to the city's most popular museums, libraries, entertainment venues, and leisure facilities to registered Dallas teens ages 13 to 17. More information can be found on DallasParks.org.

If you're a State Fair fanatic, then a Season Pass is your best bet to save money. Both the Digital Season Pass, available for $52, or the Commemorative Hard Card Season Pass, available for $62, pay off in as little as three visits.

Both passes include admission every day of the State Fair, but the Digital Season Pass includes admission only.

The Commemorative Hard Card Season Pass offers extra perks like:

A commemorative card featuring annual State Fair artwork
One free single-day Bring-a-Friend admission ticket, valid one time Monday through Friday
Complimentary admission to the Texas Discovery Gardens during the 2026 State Fair
Parking pre-purchase discount

Both types of passes are available now at BigTex.com/Tickets. For those who want to save a couple bucks, the Commemorative Hard Card Season Pass is also available at the gate for $60.

The Fair also offers a variety of Flex options for anyone who want the flexibility to choose their State Fair visit date

Guests can purchase a one-day Flex admission ticket online for $27. Two- and four-pack FLEX ticket combinations that come with food and midway coupons and one free parking space are available for a limited time, ranging from $104-$129.

Offers are available through August 31 or while supplies last.

Savvy visitors know that savings are available in areas besides tickets. Options include:

Thrilling Tuesdays: Guests can enjoy savings on Midway rides every Tuesday, with most rides available for four coupons and select kiddie rides available for three coupons. The Thrillway and Texas Star Ferris Wheel are excluded.
Thrifty Thursday Discount Fair Food Presented by T-Mobile: Every Thursday, participating food vendors offer select signature menu items at reduced prices, giving guests another opportunity to enjoy some of the State Fair's most popular food offerings.
Kids Win Every Time Midway Games: No more spending a lot in the hopes that your kid will win a prize. At select Midway games marked by the “Kids Win Every Time” sign, kids will, well, win a prize every time they play.

Daily tickets can be purchased online in advance starting September 1. Online admission prices at BigTex.com are inclusive of online processing fees and therefore higher than gate prices.

Admission tickets may be purchased at any State Fair Admission Gate starting on Opening Day, Friday, September 25.

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