Old City Park

What a hidden gem--literally hidden in plain sight! When we asked a 29-year veteran of the city Parks and Rec department (busy with Christmas lights), he admitted he didn't even know this (privately funded?) park existed until a few years ago. The website boasts '22 acres,' but the part with all the charming structures feels a bit cozier. Perfect for a leisurely stroll lasting just over an hour.If I were managing this park, I'd slap QR codes for donations on every sign--it's got that endearing "needs-a-little-love" vibe. I would've gladly donated $20 to help restore those adorable, albeit crumbling, porches and windows. You can't deny the charm, especially on a cool November Saturday with only about 15 other visitors. It feels like your own secret garden.This place screams 'storybook wedding venue,' and if I were in charge, I'd offer 'engagement experiences'--think: cute setups with champagne, a picnic basket, personalized decorations, and a photographer. Genius additional revenue stream, right?Despite its clear need for restoration, the park has an undeniable charm. It's an affordable outing, perfect for a relaxing stroll or letting the kids run wild and burn off energy. A little love, some creativity, and maybe a few QR codes could make this park even more magical.Oh, AND, TWO sets of clean restrooms.

What an amazing idea for a park!Stumbled upon this spot looking for an after dinner walk upon a visit to Dallas and we caught the tail end of an event (after some research it was a Family day out put on by the Parks Dept, who are the new overseers of the park as of May this year) there was live music as we walked around exploring the historical buildings. A lot of what seemed to be under construction, it felt a little like Disneyland and I can only imagine how cool it would be to see if the park was alive and operating (with actors?) as you run around the main street downtown liquor store, schoolhouse, railroad, dentist, bank, entertainment building, saloon, hotel and general store! It almost makes me nostalgic for a time I never knew.Would def recommend a stroll around this park or tour if they're giving them. If it hadn't been so hot out I would've loved to look up the history and location behind each of the original spots! Hope to see this park flourish in the coming years and more cities follow suite!

2023 was my second time attending (first post-COVID) CFF. It's worth the price (general and VIP). You'll leave full and tipsy. We skipped about 1/3 of the tents and all of the wine (the plan was to make a second walk around). My tummy just wouldn't let me be great (I should have worn something with a stretchy waist... LOL). Each serving was two to three bites. Sweet, savory, and everything in between. Vegetarian and mocktail options. Adequate seating, adult games (think blown up beer pong), and clean restrooms added to the A+ experience. The greeters and security were quite efficient to ensure the line moved quickly at check-in. Go. You won't be disappointed.

This was definitely a Historical day for me. I learned a lot about my ancestors yesterday. My guy being a Native Texan he was the Best tour guide a woman could ask for. Thanks to the groundskeepers as well.

My family and I went to candle light this year and we were very disappointed. First off you couldn't go inside and tour the buildings like you could in past, there was ONE vender leaving the vender space empty, they got rid of all the animals except for two sad reindeers you couldn't interact with, there were no blacksmiths, no performers, and Santa was sitting in a depressing blank white room. The magic of old city park is gone and all that's left is its lifeless exterior. Maybe that might have been tolerable if it wasn't POURING the entire time. We won't be going back next year and I expect other people won't either.

Definitely worth a visit to get some sense of life from various eras in Dallas history. Great variety of buildings have been moved here, and wonderful knowledgeable staff are happy to share more depth. And it's free!

What a fabulous indoor/outdoor museum of 19th century Texas life. These are ACTUAL historic buildings that have been moved from their original location throughout North Texas. Most of the buildings are open and staged so you can walk through and get a feel for how they were used. They day we went, they were washing wool behind the farmhouse. Our kids had the opportunity to see and touch the wool at each stage of the cleaning process - and to feed the newly sheared sheep! They were also given (free) food to feed the chickens and got to stop and pet the mammoth donkey, Waylon. My husband I particularly loved talking to the blacksmith and learning quite a bit about metal work both then and now.It was a small crowd there on a Tuesday morning, which provided us all the time we wanted in each building. My kids liked the general store best since you could actually go behind the counter and touch the register, but really the entire grounds were exciting to them. They ran from building to building looking inside and pointing out all the interesting things they saw. So fun!Pack and lunch and plan to spend a good 3-4 hours here. The entire park is beautiful, with many shaded areas and lots of open space for kids to play. FYI they have shut off their drinking fountains so be sure to bring your own water.The prices are VERY reasonable- Adults: $8Kids: 5-12: $4Kids 4 and under: FreeWe will absolutely be back.

You know sometimes , you just have to tour your own city . There are times when you want to explore . I was Dora the Explorer and stumbled upon this gem . I was never a big fan of History in school , but if I can learn it visually , it's a win win . The property is full of various historical homes , a train station , a bank , and many other fun viewings . It takes you right back to that time. The set up is very realistic . The highlight of my visit was the Millermore Mansion . It's an original home that was moved to this location. I found that pretty awesome . You are welcomed into the home by a lovely woman named Nancy . Nancy is the sweetest lady you'll ever meet ! She explained the entire history of the mansion . She knows her stuff ! Even if you don't care to see the property, just stop by to say hello to Nancy !

This place basically have banned American Civil War re-enactors because "they will loose their city funding" if they let us in there. A staff member once told me that American's aren't smart enough to tell the difference between the Union and Confederate soldiers!!!They manufacture the history of some of the buildings and they think that Americans are stupid!This is a no go for re-enactors and living historians as well as the general public.

Took my grandkids during the summer. We were the only ones there . Buildings were locked up. If you look through the windows, most buildings were empty with no furniture . I realize it was free, but pretty disappointing. We just walked around in the heat and they were pretty bored.