Ever Heard of Limestone County? Tourism Booms There

A bus full of tourists got chauffeured to all the prime places in Limestone County, Texas, history on a cold Saturday in mid-October for the first time ever.

People here expect that their vibrant and rich story will help in attracting a growing tourist business in Central Texas.

Larry Smith, who guides Limestone County Tourism efforts, anticipates that people get used to the sight. “It’s the first, and we hope, of many,” he said.

He considers that the colorful history of the County makes it ideal for tourism purposes; the story of Native Americans kidnapping a young girl, who later becomes the last Chief of the Comanche.

Smith expects tour operators from Waco, Dallas and Houston will pull visitors in steady numbers and money.

“There’s some risk to putting on the bus tours, but if we turn it over to the pros, then they’ll just call us and say when they want to come and we’ll put it together for them,” he explained.

Also, Smith brought a celebrity to live in Limestone. The lauded longhorn, “Valentino”.

“He belongs to my son and was a member of the Fort Worth herd for 8 years, the herd that they drive up and down Exchange Avenue,” said Smith.

Now, you’ll find him at Smith’s ranch with the rest of his herd. And with all the movement in tourism in Limestone County, the board of the historical museum lately voted to inspect the prospects of moving the museum to a site on Highway 14 between Groesbeck and Mexia at the entrance to Old Fort Parker.

Museum leaders are keen to put themselves in the midst of a rising tourism business and pull visitors from a wider area. “We wanted a more central location and we want the entire county involved, it shouldn’t be hidden in one town,” he said.