If you’re looking for a quiet vacation that still thrills, Terrell, Texas is the perfect place for you. Not only is Terrell home to the first British Flying Academy, bookstores and coffee shops, but also Terrell is a known paranormal location. That’s right: ghosts walk the streets of this small Texas town. Hopefully, you won’t be too scared to enjoy everything else that this town has to offer. Read on to learn about the best things to do in Terrell, Texas, for your next trip!
1. Griffith Homeplace Museum
If you are a fan of history, tales and mystery, this is a must-see destination for you. Tourists from near and far visit Griffith Homeplace Museum to see preserved artifacts and memorabilia from Griffith Collection. People like to spend their weekends here to experience an extraordinary house tour, accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide.
The place is not only full of wonders, but also stories which will make your visit more exciting. Each room has its own story and the tour guide surely knows his tales which will keep you entertained all throughout.
Griffith Homeplace Museum
Address: 805 1st St, Terrell, TX 75160, United States
Website: Griffith Homeplace Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm; Sat & Sun: 9am - 3pm
2. ExCEL Center - Terrell ISD
This facility houses eight basketball/volleyball courts, a soccer/football field, a track for walking/running, fitness center, and rooms for private functions. It’s an all-around complex where people can enhance their skills, stay healthy and enjoy at the same time. ExCEL Center caters summer camps, sport leagues, enrichment programs and more!
Aside from hosting their own events, they also hold rentals to other organizations for their tournaments and events. People from all ages and gender are welcome to come, get fit and enjoy social interactions with others.
ExCEL Center - Terrell ISD
Address: 1251 Colquitt Rd, Terrell, TX 75160, United States
Website: ExCEL Center - Terrell ISD
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
3. Ben Gill Park
This is the perfect go-to spot for families who want to bond and relax. Ben Gill Park offers a lot of amenities such as basketball court, baseball field, soccer field, and two parks, one for kids and another for adults. This place is also pet-friendly, so you can take you fur friends along for the fun.
Ben Gill Park
Address: 1039 9th St, Terrell, TX 75160, United States
Website: Ben Gill Park
Opening hours: 9am - 11pm (daily)
4. Film Alley Terrell
Are you up for fun and games? Film Alley Terrell offers you eight dine-in theaters where you can watch your favorite movies on luxurious recliners and munch on your favorite snacks. After the movie, head to their bowling alley and knock those pins down. You can also play games in their arcade, and whenever you feel hungry, head straight to their full service restaurant. People commend their squeaky clean place and affordable rates.
Film Alley Terrell
Address: 750 American Wy, Terrell, TX 75160, United States
Website: Film Alley Terrell
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm
5. Number one British flying training school museum
Beyond history buffs and aviation enthusiasts, few people know that during World War II, thousands of British soldiers were trained to be pilots in the United States. Stationed at six locations, the men learned the craft of flying with the base in Terrell, Texas the first and largest. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the official United States entrance into the war, American Aviation Cadets also began training at the school, totaling over 2,000 Royal Air Force and American Army Air Force pilots. At the museum, you will learn about this piece of history from hundreds of historical items. Log books, training materials, uniforms and more are on display for visitors to explore and learn about this little-known piece of history.
No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum
Address: 119 Silent Wings Blvd, 75160 Terrell, TX
6. Ghost walk
If you’re looking for a spooky night adventure, take the Terrell ghost walk. This hour-and-a-half-long tour is led by an expert guide who knows the ins and outs of the city and its paranormal inhabitants. Bringing a camera is advised in the hopes that you can snap a shot of something not of this world.
During the tour, you will have a chance to explore the Brin Building, both a historic—and haunted—location in Terrell that just so happens to be the ghost hunter’s office. Local business owners, city officials and even clergy members will be more than happy to tell you true stories about paranormal encounters that have occurred around town. For the serious ghost hunter, equipment is available to better reach the other side. And if you’re too chicken to brave the tour alone, you can always bring your dog to protect you from the ghosts.
Terrell Ghost Walk
Address: Terrell Paranormal and the Terrell Ghost Walk, 106 East Moore Avenue, 75160 Terrell, TX
Website: Terrell Ghost Walk
7. Clear Springs Scuba Park
Most people who think of scuba diving picture the ocean depths with sharks and exotic fish swimming around those brave enough to swim the oceans. At the Clear Springs Scuba Park, you can enjoy diving without worrying about the sharks—at least real ones. Since 2001, the 9-hectare (22-acre) spring-fed lake has been one of Texas’ most sought-after, freshwater diving locations, with a naturally beautiful and clear environment for all to explore.
Some rental equipment is available to help you explore the depths of the water approximately 19 meters (63 feet) down. Annually, the Polar Bear dive is held, bringing pro and novice divers alike to brave the icy January waters. During the summer, the park hosts the North Texas Scuba Relators Association (NTSRA) dive, a fun-filled dive where you can view and try new equipment on the lake.
Clear Springs Scuba Park
Address: 8131 Co Rd 346, 75161 Terrell, TX
Website: Clear Springs Scuba Park
8. Thrillvania Haunted House Park
During October, haunted houses pop up all over the United States. However, none are quite like the Thrillvania Haunted House Park. At Thrillvania, three different houses are displayed, including the famous Verdun Manor. Thrillvania’s forerunning attraction, the Verdun Manor, like all good haunted houses, has a history steeped in blood. According to legend, a psychopathic werewolf, Baron Michael Verdun, built the grotesque house, where he performed cruel experiments on travelers.
The experiments turned the travelers into animal-human hybrids, and together with his vampire wife, Lady Cassandra, he fed human flesh to his not-so-human creations during masquerade parties. Eventually, an angry mob stormed the house, set it ablaze and killed Verdun and Cassandra. However, visitors can rest assured that his dying wish to haunt the house and grounds was granted, because he and his followers protect the remains to this day.
Thrillvania Haunted House Park
Address: 2330 Co Rd 138, 75161 Terrell, TX
Website: Thrillvania Haunted House Park
9. Books and Crannies
If you’re not into horror and would much rather stay indoors with the comfort of a book, look no further than Books and Crannies. Fantastically located in an old 1925 movie theater that was still putting on shows as late as 2001, Books and Crannies has been renovated into a bookstore while holding on to the style and feel of the old theater. The store is a peaceful place to find copies of your favorite author’s work, read the latest addition to a series or pick out a new favorite.
Close to 100,000 books, in all genres, call Books and Crannies home, and new books are ordered every week, perfect for keeping any book lovers thirst at bay—at least for a little while. If you’re running low on cash, bring in a gently loved copy from your collection to trade for store credits and ‘purchase’ a used book in stock at the store. Before you go, be sure to ask when the next classic movie or live show will be presented in the small theater in the back.
Books and Crannies
Address: 209 W Moore Ave, 75160 Terrell, TX
Facebook: Books and Crannies
10. Outlaws Saloon
Since 2011, the Outlaws Saloon has been giving the Terrell community a fun place to hang out and relax in a modern-day bar, but with an Old-West feel. Designed to mimic a traditional saloon, the Outlaws Saloon is a place to dance, play pool and of course drink. Themed drinks are on the menu, with names like “Jesse James,” “Billy the Kid” and “Gunslinger,” making the Saloon’s unique signatures many a bar goer’s new favorite drinks.
Outlaws Saloon
Address: 10572 FM2932, 75160 Terrell, TX
Website: Outlaws Saloon
11. Terrell History Museum
During your Terrell, Texas vacation, learning about the city and its history is the perfect way to fully connect to the town and locals. And what better place to do that than at the Terrell History Museum? Serving the community since 1972, the museum is set in an old library and brings together artifacts and Terrell’s history for all who visit. But the museum doesn’t end in the building. Throughout Terrell, murals have been painted, displaying Old West scenes, classic movie posters and Texas pride.
Terrell History Museum
Address: 207 N Frances St, 75160 Terrell, TX
Website: Terrell History Museum
12. Java Junkies Coffee Bar & Bakery
Before leaving Terrell, be sure to grab your morning boost at Java Junkies Coffee. At Java Junkies, you can eat breakfast, lunch or dinner, all the while enjoying a delicious espresso or latte. All ages are welcome, making Java Junkies the perfect place for eating out and spending time with the family. And if you fall in love with the coffee, that’s all the better. The beans are not roasted and packed until after you place your order, ensuring maximum freshness to be enjoyed at home.
Java Junkies Coffee Bar & Bakery
Address: 119 E Moore Ave, Terrell, Texas
Website: Java Junkies Coffee Bar & Bakery
Hunt ghosts in Terrell!
Ghosts aside, Terrell’s welcoming community is sure to draw you back in every chance you get. From coffee shops to bookstores to museums, Terrell will make you feel right at home, no matter how far away home truly is.