In 1875, when two pioneer Texans, Jacamiah S. Daughterty and Charles U. Connellee, purchased land and platted the townsite of Eastland. With the railroad extending westward, early town promoters offered the Texas and Pacific Railway one‐fourth of the town lots in exchange for building the railroad through Eastland. The railroad accepted the offer, and the first engine puffed through town in 1880. Local improvement projects such as the brick pavers on the Bankhead Highway through town reflect the prosperity offered by oil production in the region. The 1928 Connellee Hotel provides a glimpse into the extravagant getaway experiences travelers could find in the West Texas oil boom towns. Auto‐tourists looking for a more subtle overnight experience stayed at the Eastland City and Tourist Park, one of the few surviving examples of a once popular lodging type. While you’re in town, stroll over to the courthouse for a glimpse of Old Rip, Eastland’s legendary horned lizard, who lived for nearly 30 years entombed in the cornerstone of the old courthouse.
Eastland City and Tourist Park
Neblett St.
Just off the main road on a hill overlooking the city and surrounding countryside, Eastland City and Tourist Park offered tourists and locals a picturesque setting for a picnic, a game of tennis, a day of swimming, or simply napping under a tree.
More Locations in Eastland
Gas Station
401 E. Main St.
The builders of this service station on the outskirts of downtown may have fashioned the brick detailing around the doors and windows as an eye-catcher to draw in customers, or they may just have been having some fun. Either way, it remains a unique detail on this 1950s building.
The Connellee Hotel
209 Main St.
The elegant 1928 Connellee Hotel was and continues to be the crown jewel in downtown Eastland, harkening back to a time of big oil and big extravagance. Restored and home to the Eastland Civic Center, the elegant ballroom, roof garden, and plaza are popular event venues.
Brick Roadway
West Commerce St.
Travel along this 1.1‐mile stretch of brick roadway through Eastland and get transported back to a bustling oil‐boom city and the early days of auto‐travel. Be sure to check out two embedded stop signs at the intersection of W. Commerce and Mulberry streets.