Grapevine CVB

The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau acts as the promotional arm of the City of Grapevine and is responsible for actively selling, marketing and publicizing Grapevine globally. The Bureau promotes the city's hotels, meeting facilities, historic and family attractions, festivals and events, dining establishments and retail businesses to the group meetings and leisure markets.

Meet the staff and for more information, contact the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at +1.800.457.6338 or +1.817.410.3185.

Grapevine FAQs & Fun Facts

Ever wondered how Grapevine got its name? or who's the man who graces the dome on Grapevine's City Hall? Well, read on and find out all the trivia!

General FAQs

1. How did "Grapevine" Texas get its name?

From the wild mustang grapes that grew abundantly here. They still grow wild on the fence rows. Grapes today grow to produce Texas wines!

Learn more about Grapevine and find visitor information, here.

2. Two "infamous" outlaws killed two of Grapevine's motorcycle patrolmen in 1934. Who were the outlaws?

Bonnie & Clyde.

3. What is a "calaboose"?

A jail - the Spanish slang word -- Grapevine's old calaboose is on Main Street and is open so people can get inside and take pictures!

Learn more about the calaboose in Grapevine

4. What crop grew so abundantly around Grapevine that a railroad was built to the city in 1888?

Cotton. The Grapevine Cotton Belt Railroad Depot is the current ticketing site of the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.

Discover the Grapevine Vintage Railroad

5. What is the most visual historic landmark in Grapevine?

B&D Mills - it is visible for miles and located at 702 S. Main Street.

Explore historic downtown Grapevine and other attractions on Main Street.

6. Why did the 1891 Brick Hotel have a separate entrance for Ladies?

To shield them from the "rougher" aspects of 19th-century society.

7. In the late 1880s, why was Grapevine touted as being a good place to live?

Because it was free from such popular vices as saloons and billiard halls! Grapevine is still a great place to live and visit...very safe with lots of entertainment venues where you can wet your whistle and play some games!

Explore Grapevine's nightlife and entertainment options.

8. How did Grapevine's blacksmith test the precision of his branding irons?

He burned them into the door of the shop.

9. What is Grapevine's railroad turntable used for?

To turn the Grapevine Vintage Railroad's trains around. Join us for a ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad! Tickets can be purchased online for all rides.

Get tickets to for the Grapevine Vintage Railroad

10. What type of flower is planted in a garden to keep away unwanted insects?

Marigolds. Visit the Grapevine Botanical Gardens to learn more about the flowers and plants of Grapevine!

View info for the Grapevine Botanical Gardens

11. What year was the City of Grapevine founded?

Grapevine was founded in 1844, one year prior to the Republic of Texas becoming the State of Texas.

12. How long has Grapevine been known for transportation?

Grapevine first became known for transportation in 1888 when the Cotton Belt Railroad opened its railroad depot in Grapevine. Grapevine was a stop between Missouri and Fort Worth.

View modern transportation information for Grapevine, here.

13. What couple's gang members robbed Grapevine's Home Town Bank?

Members of Bonnie and Clyde's gang made a significant withdrawal.

14. What do the 14 stars on Grapevine's City Hall mean?

Seven stars represent the Mayor and City Council Member and seven stars represent the planning and zoning commissioners.

15. How many acres of land did Grapevine donate to build DFW International Airport?

Just shy of 8,000 acres of land were donated to help build the DFW airport.

View transportation to and around Grapevine here.

16. Who is the man who graces the dome on Grapevine's City Hall?

Grapevine's Night Watchman stands proudly atop City Hall. The Night Watchman was the front-runner to Grapevine's modern-day police force.

Check out the Grapevine Night Watchman Ghost Tour.

17. What other cities have Grapevine's Night Watchman prominently displayed?

Grapevine has two sister cities: Krems, Austria and Parras de la Fuente, Mexico. Each city was given the Night Watchman Statue as a gift from the City of Grapevine.

Learn more about Grapevine's sister cities.

18. What year was the original Palace Theater built?

The Palace Theater, now the Palace Arts Center, was built in 1939 as a movie house. It was restored for $5 million and reopened in 2001. It is home to many performing arts events and live entertainment.

View the Palace Arts Center's calendar of events.

19. What year did Willhoite's Garage open?

Willhoite's opened in 1919 as a dry good store. It became Grapevine's first full-service gas station in the 1920s. Today, it's known as a place that will still fill you up since Willhoite's is now a quaint restaurant and honky-tonk.

Willhoite's is stop #56 on the Grapevine walking tour.

20. What year did the Grapevine Sun newspaper begin publishing?

The Grapevine Sun first rolled its presses in 1895. The 1888 Keeling House was the family home of the owner of the long-running Grapevine Sun Newspaper. The museum inside the home chronicles how Grapevine developed from a pioneer settlement into a world-class city and visitor destination. Guests will also discover a working 1881 Chandler & Price printing press and even try their hand at printing with living historians.

View more Keeling House Museum information.

21. What year did the original Wallis Hotel open?

The Wallis Hotel opened in 1891 and stood just north of the Cotton Belt Depot where A.J.'s on Main is now located.

22. When was the Wallis Hotel rebuilt and reopened? What organization calls it home?

The Wallis Hotel was rebuilt in 1991, reopened in December 1992, and was home to the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau until 2012. It is now home to Messina Hof Grapevine Winery.

23. Who is the man who sits on the bench on the Wallis Hotel's porch?

The Sidewalk Judge sits on the park bench and monitors everyone's comings and goings. He commemorates Grapevine's old-timers who could determine if a stranger who had come to town was in trouble or down on his luck.

24. What is the cabin that sits to the north of the Wallis Hotel and where did it originally stand?

The Torian Cabin was built in 1845 out on Lonesome Dove, which is part of Grapevine, and is the oldest building in Tarrant County. The cabin is original and was saved from demolition by Grapevine's Historical Society who had only 24 hours' notice to save it.

25. What place does the Texas Wine Industry hold in wine production?

The Texas Wine Industry, based in Grapevine, is the 5th largest wine-producing state in the country.

View Grapevine wineries, vineyards, wine trains and more.

26. What disease would have wiped out wine production in the world had it not been for T.V. Munson discovering the cure?

The world would have succumbed to phylloxera, a root rot disease. T.V. Munson discovered that Texas' hearty vine stock, when grafted to other vines throughout the world, strengthened the vines to withstand the disease.

Learn about Texas wines

27. How many grapevine varietals are native to Texas?

13 of 16 varietals are native to Texas soil.

Explore Grapevine's wineries

28. What cities are Grapevine's famous suburbs?

Dallas and Fort Worth.

29. What do people who live in Grapevine call themselves?

Grapevinians.

30. How many species of butterflies can be seen in North Texas?

About 50 species. Grapevine's Heritage Garden was designed to attract butterflies...and in October, Grapevine celebrates the migration of the Monarch Butterflies through town on their way from Canada to Mexico with a special one-day festival - the Butterfly Flutterby!

Learn more about the annual Butterfly Flutterby festival

31. What will happen if a theatre ever becomes pitch dark?

Ghosts will move in! Stop by Grapevine's newly restored Palace Theatre - ca. 1940. Originally built for $25,000...it has had a $5 million redo.

32. What type of wagon "opened the West"?

Conestoga wagons. Stop by the Heritage Center and check out a genuine wagon used on Texas' Sesquicentennial wagon train ride.

33. What famous trail passed through Fort Worth over which lots of cattle were driven?

The Chisholm Trail.

34. How old is Grapevine's railroad depot this year?

Built in 1888! The Depot is the home of the Grapevine Historical Museum...come check out everything from real dinosaur footprints to the nightwatchman's pistol.

Learn more about the railroad Depot here.

35. How many Indian tribes signed the Treaty of Birds Fort which opened North Texas for settlement?

Ten. Grapevine is proud of its American Indian heritage. The Walking To Texas Fountain in Liberty Park lists the tribes, and the four horse heads on the fountain symbolize the four directions and honor Grape Vine Prairie's earliest inhabitants as well as the pioneers.

36. What is a featured industry in Grapevine?

The wine industry - Grapevine is home to several wonderful winery tasting rooms and hosts an annual wine festival, Grapefest, that spans several days!

Learn more about the various Grapefest events and activities.

37. Grapevine's Main Street is very old and historic. Where is it listed?

On the National Register of Historic Places. There are a number of historic markers along the Main Street area which make strolling through town very interesting reading!

38. One of the largest bait shops in the world - with over 7,000 lures -- is located in Grapevine. What is it called?

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

39. There is a lake in Grapevine...what is it called?

Lake Grapevine! Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1948 - it attracts over 1 million visitors each year!

Discover things to do at Lake Grapevine.

40. A grand resort hotel opened in Grapevine in 2004. There is one in Tennessee, Florida, and Maryland. What is it called?

The resort is called the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center on Lake Grapevine.

41. What is the friendliest town in Texas?

Grapevine!

42. Who was the first criminal ever locked up in the "Calaboose?"

Because the Night Watchman was also the occasional "dog catcher" in town, the first prisoner was rumored to be a dog!