BRADY LAKE PARK

With 25 miles of shoreline and 2,020 acres of surface area, Brady Lake offers outdoor enthusiasts boating, skiing, swimming, camping, fishing and relaxation for the entire family. Facilities at the park include an enclosed marina and fish house, covered boat storage, a large covered pavilion, restrooms and showers, full and partial RV hook-ups, screened cabanas, tent and primitive camping, and numerous picnic areas.

Reservations can be made through the full-service Brady Lake Store & Bait Shop, complete with a marine mechanic, boat sales and RV rentals. A game room with pool tables, dart boards, shuffle board and four big screen TVs is open behind the store 7 days a week. Located across from Brady Lake Park, the store also seasonally offers the only hand-dipped Blue Bell Ice Cream in McCulloch County!

www.bradylake.org | (325) 597-1073 | Open year-round with seasonal hours

 

BRADY MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE

Brady's nine-hole public course provides competitors five bunkers and three water hazards with Live Oak Creek crossing the course in two places. Operated by the City of Brady, the course offers golfers and guests daily or annual green fees, cart rental and/or storage, a year-round tournament calendar and some of the best views in Brady.

www.bradytx.us | (325) 597-6010 | Open year-round with season hours

 

CURTIS FIELD AT BRADY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

Beginning in 1941 during World War II, Curtis Field served as a US Army flying school that graduated more than 10,000 cadets. Renovated in 1999, Curtis Field, located three miles north of Brady on US Highway 377, now serves as Brady's Municipal Airport with 4,600 feet of paved runway. Improvements include runway, apron and taxiway resurfacing, plus expansion of the aircraft parking and refueling areas. Overnight hangars and tie-downs, ground transportation and internet access are avilable to visitors, as well as pilot and flight training to those interested. Aircraft painting, refueling, maintenance and sales are also provided on site. Facilities include a pilot's lounge, conferece and meeting rooms, flight planning and a full kitchen.

www.bradycurtisfield.com | (325) 597-1461

 

HEART OF TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM

With more than 100 artists represented, the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum is a musical journey that traces the history of country music industry. Memorabilia includes stage costumes, musical instruments, autographs, posters, and various collector items from legendary figures to honor the rich heritage of the genre. Run by the 800 member Heart of Texas Country Music Association, the museum is open each weekend and is operated by volunteers. Located at 1701 South Bridge Street in Brady, the museum welcomes group and bus tours, and private viewings are available throughout the week by special appointment. Admission is always free!

www.hillbillyhits.com | (325) 597-1895 | Hours of Operation: Friday 2-4pm, Saturday 11am - 4pm, Sunday 12-5pm

 

HEART OF TEXAS HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The Heart of Texas Historical Museum is housed in the former McCulloch County Jail. The three-story structure was constructed in 1910 and served as the county's correctional facility until 1974 when it was deeded to the historical society as a museum. Recently the Curtis Field Control Tower, which was located at Curtis Field during World War II, was donated to the museum, restored and dedicated to the 10,000 men and women who trained there and to veterans of all branches of military service from McCulloch County. Once called the "best small town museum in Texas" by the Fort Worth Star Telegram, the museum is open each weekend and for private tours by appointment at 117 North High Street in Brady, one block west of the courthouse square.

www.heartoftexashistoricalmuseum.com | (325) 597-0526 | Hours of operation: Friday & Saturday 1pm - 5pm; Sunday 1pm - 4pm

 

HISTORICAL MARKERS

A complete list of McCulloch County's 27 registered historical markers is available at the Chamber of Commerce office. Here is an overview of our most popular sites.

Geographic Center of Texas: A point whose coordinates divide our state into four equal quadrants, the true heart of Texas is located on a private ranch north of Brady off of US Highway 377. A historical marker notes the approximate location in a road-side park two miles south of Mercury, Texas.

McCulloch County Courthouse: McCulloch County was organized in 1876, with the City of Brady serving as its county seat. The current courthouse was built in 1900 in Romanesque Revival style. It is currently under complete renovation and historic restoration with anticipated completion of construction scheduled for May of 2009. The courthouse is located in downtown Brady and serves as the focal point of the downtown square.

Soldier's Waterhole: A historical marker seven miles east of Brady notes where US soldiers rested while traveling the nearby military road and patrolling for Indians during the Civil War. One particularly gruesome evening, 27 Indians surprised and massacred 18 men, women and children, burned their wagons and stole their horses. The massacred were buried nearby. The marker is located at US Highway 190 and County Road 412 with the actual site two and on-half miles off the paved road.

 

RICHARDS PARK

Richards Park is a wonderfully shaded city-owned facility along Brady Creek complete with RV hook-ups, primitive campsites, restrooms, showers, a children's playground, a showbarn and covered pavilion, plus baseball and soccer fields, and plenty of picnic areas. A new state-of-the-art aquatic complex will open in the park Summer 2009. The park is also home to the World Championship Barbecue Goat Cook-Off, held each Labor Day weekend since 1973. With over 150 cooking teams represented, this event draws thousands to McCulloch County and offers a barbecued goat meal, an arts and crafts fair, washer and horseshoe pitching tournaments, and live musical entertainment. The entrance to the park is on Highway 87 north.

Camping Reservations: (325) 597-2152 | World Championship Barbecue Goat Cook-Off: (325) 597-3491

 

WILDLIFE AND HUNTING

McCulloch County's location in the northwest Texas Hill Country provides hunting enthusiasts a year-round wealth of dove, turkey, quail, whitetail deer, and exotic species. A complete list of hunting leases and guided hunts is available in the "Community" section on this website.