Belton, Texas Travel Guide

Region: Prairies & Lakes

Built on the Leon River and Nolan Creek, this town once named Nolanville was a place where merchants sold goods from wagons and tin cups of whiskey from barrels. Today Belton is a small town of over 15,000 residents, best known as the home of the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. The Baptist college began here over a century ago and was once the women's school for Waco's Baylor University.

Two lakes, Stillhouse Hollow and the larger Belton Lake, lie outside the city limits. Both provide fishing, boating, camping and a quiet getaway only minutes from the busy I-35.

Attractions

Bell County Museum. This National Register property (photo, above) was first a Carnegie library. Today the Beaux Arts-style building and its new addition house exhibits on Bell County's first century, 1850-1950. Special displays remember Miriam "Ma" Ferguson, Texas's first woman governor, as well as the history of Camp Hood, later to become Fort Hood. The museum is located at 201 North Main and is open Tuesday through Saturday afternoons. Admission is free. www.bellcountytx.com/Museum

Stillhouse Hollow. Six public parks surround this lake. You'll find the most facilities at Stillhouse Park, the first you'll come to leaving Belton on US 190, four miles southwest of Belton.

Belton Lake. Built on the Leon River, this winding 7400-acre lake features 13 public parks around its 110 miles of shoreline. Trailer sites, camping, nature trails, and boat ramps are available. The lake is five miles northwest of Belton on TX 317.

Summer Fun USA. This 6.5-acre water theme park offers more than 900 feet of water slides to help you cool off in the Texas heat. Hop in an inner tube and enjoy the 750-foot-long Lazy River ride or slide into the water from a 40-foot tower.

Festivals

July: Belton 4th of July Celebration & PRCA Rodeo

August: Central Texas State Fair

December: Christmas on the Chisholm Trail, Belton. Held on the first Thursday evening of December, this family event begins with the lighting of the tree in the historic downtown. Other events include madrigals in Victorian dress, cowboy Christmas tales from “The Singing Cowboy,” arts and crafts vendors and more. (254) 939-3551; www.seebelton.com

Hotels

Booking Belton hotels

Map

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For More Information:

Belton Area Chamber of Commerce
412 East Central
(254) 933-5836
www.seebelton.com