Hidden Lake Safari Ranch and RV Park

Start local explores with a jaunt into Jacksboro (10 minutes’ drive), to wander around Jack County Museum, a place stuffed full of relics from the town’s early days along with military exhibits and mementos from the local high school. Just outside town (15 minutes’ drive) is Fort Richardson Historic State Park, which gives more glimpses into past Texas life. This was once the nation’s biggest fort, and played a key role in the struggle between Anglo settlers and Native Americans; park rangers now tell the stories on tours, and there are regular re-enactment events to look out for. Setting your sights beyond the town itself might involve outings to see the rescued big cats at the Center for Animal Research and Education (35 minutes), golf and watersports at Possum Kingdom Lake (an hour) or beetling around some the Texas vineyards that are gathering praise from the world’s wine buffs (several within an hour’s drive).