Established as a railway depot for “the Katy” in 1880, Burleson is a suburb south of Fort Worth. It was named after Rufus Columbus Burleson, who served as the president of Baylor University in Waco, Texas during the mid and late 19th century.
Things to do in Burleson
Begin your visit at the Burleson Visitor’s Center, which occupies a historic interurban depot. In addition to offering a wealth of information about what to see and do in the area, it also houses a heritage museum. Browse the local artefacts and old photographs on display, together with a beautifully restored rail car kiosk.
On the southern edge of the city is Bailey Lake Park, a popular recreational area with an 18-hole disc golf course, picnic tables and a linear trail. Anglers can cast a fishing line to see what’s biting in the three-hectare lake, which is stocked with channel catfish and perch. Adjacent to the park is the Hidden Creek Golf Course with its putting green and driving range.
Burleson makes an excellent base for visiting Dinosaur Valley State Park, where dinosaur tracks dating back 113 million years have been uncovered. More than 30 kilometres of hiking and biking trails traverse the park, together with an extensive network of horseback riding trails. Kids will love the giant models of an Apatosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus rex originally created for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair.
Getting around Burleson
Burleson is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Fort Worth and 40 minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect to Burleson and the city centre is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.