Gainesville, a small Texas city with a population of approximately 15,500, is located 67 miles north of Dallas at the Oklahoma border. It was founded in 1850 and incorporated in 1873. Gainesville offers attractions, activities, parks and recreational facilities for everyone in the family.
The Frank Buck Zoo was started from the remains of a circus that originated in Gainesville and toured nearby towns in Texas and Oklahoma until it closed in 1954. The zoo is named after Frank Buck, a Gainesville resident who was well-known for gathering animals for zoos around the country. The zoo now houses more than 130 animals and an exhibit of Frank Buck mementos and artifacts.
The Morton Museum, operated by the Cooke County Historical Society, features exhibits and attractions pertaining to city and county history. The building was originally the city hall, fire station and jail. It houses exhibits on the Civil War, World War II, outlaws and the Gainesville Community Circus, among others. The museum is the starting point of historical city tours on an old-fashioned trolley or on foot.
The city has parks for leisure and sports activities. Leonard Park's main attraction is a working miniature train named for the town circus founder, Frankie Schmitz. The city recently installed the Home Grown Hero Walking Trail, a one-mile asphalt trail that touches at Heritage Park North, Heritage Park South and Jaycee Park. Forsythe Skate Park is equipped with ramps and obstacles for skateboard enthusiasts. The city maintains a 45-acre soccer complex.
The city's main shopping destination is Gainesville Outlet Shops, located off Interstate 35. Specialty and discount stores sell clothing and shoes, sporting goods, household supplies and much more. Featured stores include Gap, Reebok, Zales, Dress Barn and OshKosh B'Gosh. Popular restaurants include Applebee's and Cracker Barrel.
Many visitors who frequent the WinStar World Casino complex, just across the border in Oklahoma, stay and dine in Gainesville. The 24-hour Chickasaw Nation casino boasts almost 6,000 gaming machines, more than 100 game tables and bingo sessions.
The Winstar Golf Course is located a half mile southeast of the casinos. The 18-hole course, opened in 2006, is on 225 acres with a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse. Pricing and tee times can be viewed on its website.
