Today, Main Street blends small-town charm with a lively, walkable vibe. Historic brick buildings and vintage storefronts set the scene for a day of tasting, browsing and indulging. Local wine spots like Bingham Family Vineyards and Messina Hof pour Texas reds, while boutiques like Willow Cottage and The Palm Tree offer a mix of quirky and stylish gifts. Chocolate lovers can swing by Dr. Sue's for artisan dark chocolate or Chocolate Hangover for boozy truffles and Texas-shaped fudge. It's the kind of place where every block has something to sip, shop or snack on.

Stepping back two centuries, it's easy to imagine the first settlers seeking shade beneath the boughs of Grapevine's ancient Witness Tree. Still standing watch to this day, it has lived through unimaginable change, in a landscape transformed by pioneer grit and railroad steel. This living landmark anchors the Cotton Belt Railroad Historic District, where visitors can trace the journey from frontier survival to railroad prosperity that connected North Texas to the world.

From wilderness to civilisation

The Witness Tree's 200-year lifespan bridges:

• 1840s frontier era – Peters Colony settlers carving farms from Cross Timbers wilderness
• 1880s railroad boom – Cotton shipments fuelling Grapevine's growth
• Today – Preserved Historic District along the original Cotton Belt Route

“The same families who survived under this tree's shade later celebrated when the railroad came through,” notes Elizabeth Schrack, Director of Communications, Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau. “That iron connection to Fort Worth meant survival — no more weeks-long wagon journeys to market.”

The railroad that built a region

Grapevine Vintage Railroad (GVRR) historic locomotives now retrace the vital 1888 route that:

• Transported cotton to Fort Worth mercantile exchanges
• Brought manufactured goods back to frontier families
• Connected settlers to Fort Worth markets
• Enabled Grapevine's transformation from farming village to commerce hub

The pioneers' lifeline: Fort Worth

Just 22 miles west via today's railroad excursion:

• 1849 – Fort Worth established as Army outpost protecting settlers
• 1876 – Arrival of Texas & Pacific Railroad created Cowtown
• 1880s – Historic Stockyards became an economic engine for Grapevine farmers

Experience the journey

Visitors can:

• Stand beneath the Witness Tree where surveys began
• Ride authentic 1920s coaches to Historic Stockyards
• Explore Fort Worth Log Cabin Village (home to actual pioneer structures)
• Return via rail to Historic Main Street

Plan your trip

Visit grapevinetexasusa.com
Grapevine Vintage Railroad (GVRR): gvrr.com
Witness Tree location: Scribner & West Wall Streets

About Grapevine, Texas

Grapevine, Texas, is a charming destination in the heart of Dallas Fort Worth, offering a blend of history and modern amenities. Known for its vibrant hospitality, Grapevine is home to world-class hotels like Gaylord Texan, Hotel Vin and Great Wolf Lodge. Discover the Urban Wine Trail, Historic Main Street, Historic Nash Farm, Grapevine Vintage Railroad and annual events including GrapeFest® – A Texas Wine Experience, Main Street Fest – A Timeless Texas Tradition and the Christmas Capital of Texas®, featuring more than 1,400 holiday events over 40 days.