Exploring Waxahachie Texas

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Exploring Waxahachie Texas

Exploring Waxahachie, Where Fun and History Intertwine

The county seat of Ellis County is happening place filled with eclectic charm. Less than an hour South of Dallas lies the historical town of Waxahachie. Whether you’re simply thinking of exploring Waxahachie or are considering moving there, prepare yourself to get to know the Gingerbread Bread City.

Waxahachie is a town full of history and fun activities for the whole family, well worth exploring any time of the year.

Here are just some of the many interesting facts to help pique your curiosity! Get to know the home of the newest Altus Emergency Center through Exploring Waxahachie!

Waxahachie welcome sign

What’s in a Name?

cow in a wildflower field

As we set off exploring Waxahachie, the first thing that people will notice is its unusual name. There has been a lot of mystery surrounding the name of the town, the most popular theory is that it has its origins with the Alabama Coushatta people who migrated to the area in 1850, at roughly the same time the town was founded.

If this is the case and it is a native Alabama language term, then Waxahachie means “calf’s tail”; the Alabama word “waaka” is an adaptation of the Spanish word vaca which means cow. Source: en.wikipedia.org This just goes to show that it’s a small world after all.

Exploring Waxahachie flyer

As we drive up to our destination exploring Waxahachie, we will be greeted by a happy sign, ‘Welcome to Waxahachie, the Gingerbread City”. As in many towns in Texas, Waxahachie has its own nicknames. Locals will commonly refer to it as “Hachie” for short. Other common names are Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas and in its past history, the Cotton Capital of Texas.

Eccentric Neighbors

historic home in Waxahachie

One of the town’s landmarks is the Munster Mansion, an almost exact replica of the 1960’s TV show’s home of the Munster Family.

Charles and Sandra McKee, watched all 70 episodes of the show to come up with the floor plan to their unusual home. The Waxahachie owners are such great fans of the classic show that they even included all of the props of the original home such as the coffin shaped phone booth, the electric chair, the stairwell, the kitchen with the bubbling brew and even the smallest details like the cobwebs and the cracks on the wall. If you are wondering if they keep Spot, their pet dragon under the stairs, the answer is… Yes!

If you would like to go exploring Waxahachie from an eccentrically spooky perspective, the Munsters Mansion is open to the public on Halloween each year, when the owners host a charity event.

Scarborough Renaissance Festival®

Waxahachie Texas Scarborough Renaissance-Festival

Who doesn’t enjoy a little renaissance entertainment? The renaissance fair themed village features full combat armored jousts, birds of prey exhibitions, a mermaid lagoon and lots of good old-fashioned Henry the VIII style entertainment.

The Scarborough Renaissance Festival® has been held each year to the delight of history lovers since 1981 during April and May and through Memorial Day. There is a myriad of activities to enjoy at this eight-week long festival where you can proudly display your sword fighting skills or enjoy live entertainment. People get to enjoy a taste of history, feasting like kings; or for the connoisseurs, there are wine and beer tasting events. As for the shopaholics, there are more than 200 shops to visit. This is only a small glimpse into the fun that’s in store for you on your visit to Waxahachie!

Historic Architecture

Historic homes in Waxahachie

From its beginnings, Waxahachie has been an economically thriving town that was left relatively unaffected by the Civil War. Source: tshaonline.org Today, the prosperity of those times survives in the architecture that remains; majestic Victorian-style houses and buildings meticulously restored dating back before 1900. Thanks to these architectural treasures, the city of Waxahachie received its top nickname, “Gingerbread City”.

Waxahachie’s architectural legacy is so vast, it accounts for 20% of all the buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places in Texas. One of the most beautiful and famous historic buildings is the Historic Ellis County Courthouse.

During the month of June, Waxahachie holds the Gingerbread Trail Tour, in which participants visit private historic homes as well as historically recognized buildings including the Ellis County Courthouse, the Sims Library, and other museums. Other activities include tea time for children, expositions, live music, food and much more with all proceeds benefitting the Ellis County Museum.

Parks, Museums, and Recreation

Cowboy Church in Waxahachie

The city offers it residents and visitors a rich array of places to enjoy weekends and holidays for all ages and tastes. The following are just a few of the highlights:

  • There are several parks, including the Getzendaner Memorial Park, where healthy fun outdoor activities may be enjoyed such as picnicing, playing sports and hiking.

  • For the history buff, the Ellis County Museum is the perfect place to learn about the colorful past of this beautiful town.

  • Hearing the gospel has never been as fun as this! Enjoy a unique spriritual experience at the biggest cowboy church in the world. Historically big on spirituality, before the civil war, Waxahachie already had four churches in existence. Visitors can enjoy a casual, friendly and lively church experience at the non denominational Cowboy Church of Ellis County where jeans are the norm, baptisms are done in a horse trough and on site rodeos follow the worship service.

  • Lots of family fun awaits at the Madd Dogz Paintball Park or at the local bowling alley, Hill-Top Lanes where kids play free all summer through the month of October. Where did I leave my bowling shoes?

What would you like to do on your visit to Waxahachie, Texas? Please feel free to comment below!

Know Where to Go in Case of an Emergency

Choose Altus text on Wrapped Altus vehicle

Access to High-Quality ER Attention, With No Lines!

Since it’s ribbon cutting ceremony held on March 27, 2017, Altus Emergency Waxahachie has provided an Emergency Medical Care solution OPEN 24 HRS with No Lines. Located Next to TaMolly’s on 1791 N. Highway 77 Waxahachie, Texas 75165, Altus Emergency truly improves quality of life in Waxahachie.

The residents and visitors of Waxahachie will no longer have to spend hours waiting to receive quality on site ER care performed by emergency trained physicians. We provide Freestanding Emergency Center solutions for Adults & Children including:

  • Trauma & Injury Care,

  • Cardiology,

  • High-Tech Imaging

  • and a Full Diagnostic Lab On-Site.

At Altus Emergency Centers, we are proud to be a part of such a historic and family oriented town and are honored to employ talented and dedicated emergency care staff. We thank you for your warm welcome and look forward to serving the community for years to come.

Our expertly trained staff is available 24/7. We are here for you in the event of a medical emergency. Don’t drive far distances to receive proper care! Visit your nearest Altus Emergency Center!

Altus Emergency Centers
Freestanding ERs. Saving Lives 24/7. No Lines.
Find an Altus ER Near You.

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