Steeped in history, Graham TX builds on its past to promote a welcoming Community rich in tradition and committed to a progressive future. Discover Graham’s spacious town square where friendly hellos and secret bits of the past mix.
Shop at boutique clothing stores and admire the wares of local artisans. You can also venture north a few miles to Possum Kingdom State Park, where you can enjoy hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities.
Downtown Square
Graham is a small town with some great shops and restaurants. The town also boasts the largest downtown square in America and hosts many local events all year round.
You can best experience this city by strolling around the square. Grab a seat, and enjoy the sights. Enjoy the historic buildings, and the work of local artists. Then after a long day you can head over to the local restaurants and bars for a good meal and drinks.
The town of Graham marks the beginning of the Goodnight-Loving Trail immortalized in Lonesome Dove, a bestselling novel. A playful sculpture is located near the old post office. The locals are friendly and helpful, and the Young County Arena hosts a variety of western-inspired events during the year.
Possum Kingdom State Park
Possum Kingdom State Park is a haven for nature lovers and sits adjacent to a scenic lake. Visitors can explore the hiking trails or swim, fish and boat at a lakeside. There are also air-conditioned camping cabins, as well as primitive and full hookup RV campsites.
Hell’s Gate, the area’s southern shoreline, is also a spectacular view of the limestone cliffs. It’s a popular place for cliff jumping.
Other Graham attractions include the opulent Chandor Gardens with sparkling fountains, a 30-foot waterfall and fascinating sculptures or Clark Gardens Botanical Park, which boasts unique trails amid beautiful trees. Picnic areas, water sports and playgrounds are available in other local parks. Weatherford is just a few minutes away, and offers shopping and dining opportunities.
The Drive-In Theatre
Graham TX is home to a drive-in outdoor movie theater, which will make you and your children smile.
This single-screen theater opened in 1948 and is one of the oldest drive-ins in Texas, according to its website. Every weekend, they show both classic and current movies.
They have a 50’s cafe onsite that serves burgers, fries, nachos, hot dogs and funnel cakes. Outside food and drinks are not allowed, but you can bring your own blankets or lawn chairs. Pets are permitted as long as they’re quiet, friendly and on a leash at all times. The movie theater is operated onsite at Community First! The Village provides micro/tiny houses and alternative housing in Austin as part of the community initiative to reduce homelessness.
Restaurants
A visit to Graham is a trip back in time to the days when farmers, merchants, and ranchers dominated the landscape. The city still embraces the vision of its founding fathers by promoting community, opportunity, and growth.
The downtown square of Austin is one the largest in Texas. Its streets are wide enough to allow a wagon turn around. Its people are warm and friendly. And the food is delicious. Its renowned restaurants include Possum Hollow, which serves everything from soup to steak dinners.
It’s also the home of the oldest newspaper in northwest Texas. The Graham Leader has been published every week for 132. Gustavous A. and Edwin S. Graham were its founders. They came to North Central Texas in 1869 and purchased land and a salt plant on Salt Creek.
Shopping
Graham has one of America’s largest downtown squares and streets that are wide enough to turn a wagon. Its founders surveyed the town with an eye to building a community that would prosper. They created the downtown square with its 44 historic properties and built a city water plant in 1929.
Farming, mercantile, and land sales were the mainstays of early Young County until oil was discovered in 1917. That brought rapid growth, but not the uncivilized growth of other boomtowns.
The Graham Leader is the oldest weekly newspaper in Northwest Texas. It was founded in 1876. In 1884 Dr. J. E. Ryus built a two-story brick pharmacy on the west side the square. He leased the upper floor to the Federal District Court, which moved to Abilene.