Entertainment History

Arlington has long been known as an entertainment center between "Cowtown" and "Big D." In 1933, people traveled from throughout the

United States to place bets on the horses at W. T. Waggoner’s Arlington Downs Racetrack located on E. Division.

Another popular place was the gambling casino at Top O’ Hill Terrace on W. Division. Today, Arlington continues to be one of the state’s premiere destinations for entertainment venues like Six Flags Over

Texas, Hurricane Harbor, The Ballpark in Arlington (home of the Texas Rangers) and Cowboys Stadium.

When visiting Six Flags Over Texas, look for its Historical Marker and other historical markers located at the Carousel, Cable Tool Rig and

Narrow Gauge Railway. The stone murals at The Ballpark in Arlington depict historical Texas scenes.

See the decorative watering trough which is all that remains of Arlington Downs Racetrack, located just N.E. of the intersection of Six

Flags Dr. and Division.

Step back in time and enjoy this tour through Arlington’s history!

                                                                                                                                                      

Arlington Downs Racetrack

The water trough… the only remaining part of the racetrack

Eastern Star Home1201 E. Division

                                                     This structure was completed in 1924 for the

wives of aged Masons. A mason is a worker who builds in brick or stone.

This facility is now closed and former residents were moved to the Texas

Masonic Retirement Center.

This home was used as a temporary shelter after Hurricane Katrina in

September 2005.

The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong.

Eastern Star is a social group made up of people with spiritual values but it is not a religion. Its appeal rests in the true beauty of the refreshing

and character-building lessons.

Texas Masonic Retirement Center, 1501 W. Division                                                     The Mission Revival style facility has been an Arlington landmark since it was opened by the Masons’ in 1911.

The home, which is the only one of its kind in Texas, is open to all Texas Masons and their spouses.

In the early 1920s, Division Street was known as the Bankhead Highway which was named after "The Father of the Good Roads in the United States,"

Senator John Hollis Bankhead. The highway names changed through the years to The Pike, U.S. Hwy 80, Division St. and SH 180.

Center St. was an old military road and formed the town’s north-south axis.

The first traffic light in the city was located at the intersection of Center and Division.

Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church South

(First United Methodist Church), 313 Center  

                                        In 1878, a group of Methodists met in

Schults’ lumberyard at Mesquite and Front Streets and organized the first church in

Arlington’s original township. Property was purchased from the T&P Railroad and the

first church was built in 1885.

The Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church South was the 1st brick church. It was built in 1907 on the N.E. corner of Center and Division Streets. Vandergriff Chapel, built

in 1965, is located there now.

The Cooper Hotel (Top Dollar Pawn),

300 N. Center

                                         Built in the early 1920’s by

James Newton Cooper, it was once home to Texas

Motorcoach Depot, a floral shop and the Rainbow Grill

Restaurant.

The building is currently occupied by a pawn shop

and is an example of a downtown historic building

that has received a makeover with a modern

look.

Arlington Theater (Johnnie High’s Country

Music Revue) 224 N. Center

                                           The Arlington Theater was

built by O’Rourke Construction and managed

by Harold Eppes. The theater had a baby cry room and one

of the state’s largest refreshment bars. The opening night feature

attraction was "Story of Seabiscuit" on February 10,

1950. This structure is currently owned by Johnnie High and continues to be a

popular location for nationally known country western music reviews.

Old Post Office (Worthington National Bank)

200 W. Main                                  

This structure was constructed by the Federal Works administration

in 1939.

Knapp Heritage Park, 201 W. Front

This heritage center site was donated by the grandchildren of James & Mildred Knapp.

James Knapp was a prominent attorney and land developer. He was also instrumental in the development of many of the

highways serving Arlington today such as SH 360.

The Jopling-Melear and Watson cabins, which date to the mid 1800s, Knapp’s office and a 1910 one room schoolhouse are

also located within the park.

Tours available by appointment, call 817-460-4001.

Top O’ Hill Terrace(Arlington Baptist College)

3001 W. Division

                                                 In 1926, Fred & Mary Browning purchased this property and began converting the structure

into a casino. They later added an escape tunnel and secret room to hide gambling paraphernalia during raids by the Texas

Rangers.

Dr. J. Frank Norris was a vocal critic of gambling and vowed to someday own the

property. In 1956, the Bible Baptist Seminary purchased the property and relocated here.

Tours are conducted by appointment. Call 817-461-8741 for museum hours/tours.

Historic Fielder House, 1616 W. Abram

                                               Th

e Fielder House was built in 1914 by prominent banker

James Park Fielder and wife, Mattie.

This two-story brick home was built on a 215 acre site

surrounded by live oaks, orchards and gardens.

Once known as "Home on the Hill," today it is the home of the Fielder Museum, the Arlington

Historical Society and the Arlington Preservation

Foundation.

Call 817-460-4001 for hours/tours.

Old Arlington High School (University of Texas Arlington)

211 S. Cooper                                                 The

Arlington School District built its first high school on the corner of Cooper and

Abram in 1922.

In 1956 it became Ousley Jr. High when a new high school was constructed on

Park Row.

In 1968, AISD sold this building to UTA.

The University of Texas Arlington

Arlington College opened in September 1895 as a private school

with 75 students. 

1901 The school became known as Carlisle Military Academy.

In 1940 the school became a naval and marine training base.

In 1967, it became known as the The University of Texas at

Arlington.

Texas & Pacific railroad Depot Site, 110 N. Center

(No longer existing)                                                 The

depot was built in 1904 and remained until 1952.

The Texas & Pacific Railroad established the city of Arlington by selecting an area

of land for the steam locomotives to receive the water and wood needed to

operate.

Mineral Well (1892-1951), Intersection of Center and Main Streets

The mineral well was a familiar Arlington

landmark for almost 60 years.

The original well was drilled by a wood-powered steam engine in 1893. It’s original use was to provide water for

animals in a trough.

In 1910 the construction of a new mineral well in which water flowed through lions’ heads mounted on a four-sided

structure was built. The well water was thought to have healing powers if you drank it when you were sick.

Through the years, the well was the focal point for political rallies, parades, cotton sales and even for the sale of

mineral water in various forms.

In 1951, the well was permanently capped under the intersection’s pavement because it was a traffic hazard.

Tastes of Arlington

Campo Verde, 2918 W. Pioneer Parkway. Founded in 1982. Owner James Williams made the west Arlington restaurant famous with its list of menu exotics, such as elk, ostrich, buffalo, rattlesnake and alligator. The restaurant features an American Indian-style decor enhanced by Christmas lights draped throughout. The restaurant also features a miniature train and 636 feet of snaking track.

J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill, 400 E. Abram St. Founded in 1979. Owner Randy Ford's key to success is location, location, location. Opened near the University of Texas at Arlington in the heart of central Arlington. Ford's place is home to class reunions, St. Patrick's Day celebrations and live music. It's the home of Irish nachos, fried sliced potatoes smothered in cheddar cheese, sour cream, jalapeños and other fixings

Arlington Steak House, 1724 W. Division St. Founded in 1931. Famous for its chicken-fried steaks, the restaurant began life as the Triangle Inn, a U.S. 80 barbecue joint. In the 1930s, the restaurant also was famous for poker games upstairs.It changed to Arlington Steak House in the 1940s.

Al's Hamburgers, 1001 N.E. Green Oaks Blvd. Founded in 1957. This family-owned burger joint was started by Al Mathews. Known for its family atmosphere and burgers. The original Al's Hamburgers was an old drive-in next to a cow pasture off rural Farm Road 157, before an interstate highway and an amusement park brought the world to Arlington. The drive-in location closed in 1986, and the restaurant reopened on Green Oaks at North Collins Street in 1989.

David's Barbecue, 2224-H W. Park Row Drive, Pantego. Founded in 1988. This is the last outpost of the former Red Bryan's Barbecue. Founded by younger members of Dallas' famed Sonny Bryan family.

Boo Boo's Food Shop, 130 S. Bowen Road. Founded in 1980. Owner Sherry Gould said consistency is the key to her success. The shop's sandwiches and tuna and chicken salads have been a great alternative to fast-food chains. Boo Boo’s has become a neighborhood fixture in the Woodland West shopping center. Her son was Clay Gould, the former baseball coach at UT-Arlington who died of stomach cancer in June 2001. The UTA baseball field is named after Clay Gould.

Chamber of

Commerce Building

City Hall Museum of Art

Shoppes at Brownstone River Legacy Science Center

Lincoln Square

Fountain

Mr. Vandergriff

Vandergiff Park