Public Tours
Step into History
Capacity: 1-30 people
Timing: 1-2 hours, Tuesday through Saturday, times vary through the year—see site events calendar
Cost: families (up to three people) $8; adults $5; seniors, veterans, teachers, and first responders $3; youth (6-17) $2; children 5 and under free
Our regularly scheduled tours take a deep dive into the real stories that bring Fort Griffin and the West Texas Frontier to life. A guide will share stories of life at the fort and the nearby wild west town known as the Flat, a gathering of outlaws, gamblers, buffalo hunters and merchants who profited from the hide industry, and cattle drovers who led cattle up the Goodnight and Western cattle trails.
Exploring Fort Griffin: History, Nature, and Fun
Timing: 1-2 hours, Monday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: families (up to three people) $8; adults $5; seniors, veterans, teachers, and first responders $3; youth (6-17) $2; children 5 and under free
A visit to Fort Griffin can include exploring interpretive exhibits, touring the fort ruins by foot or golf cart, hiking nature trails, fishing, bird watching, and fun with sports equipment, games, or on our playground. Whether you want to spend a full day immersing yourself in fort life from the late 1800s or take a few hours to enjoy the flora and fauna of this unique site, Fort Griffin offers something for everyone.
School Tour
Tales from the Texas Frontier
Grades: PreK-12
Capacity: 5-30 students
Timing: 1-2 hours, Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: $1 per person including students, teachers, and chaperones
During a tour of Fort Griffin, Texas history will come to life as students step back to the late 1800s to learn about fort life, buffalo hunting, the hide industry, and the Western Cattle Trail. Students will hike to each of the fort buildings and ruins. At some locations there will be examples of replica items the students can touch, such as a soldier’s haversack and mess hall utensils. This tour will cover topics such as the U.S. Army post-Civil War and during reconstruction, westward expansion, the buffalo hide industry, and the cattle drives. School visits can also add an up-close view of and discussion about the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd to their visit.
Adult Group Tour
Legends of the West: A Journey through Fort Griffin
Capacity: 10-30 people
Timing: 1-2 hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: $3 per person
Guided tours provide an opportunity for in-depth exploration of Fort Griffin, which includes military history, life at the fort in the late 1800s, the history of the buffalo hunting and hide industry, and stories of the Western Cattle Trail. The tour takes you to each of the 12 historic fort buildings, replicas, and ruins, where a guide will share stories and facilitate group discussions about this unique site.
Tour Reservations
Tour reservations should be made at least one week in advance by calling 325-762-3592, emailing ft-griffin@thc.texas.gov, or completing this tour request form. Presentations about the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd can be scheduled in conjunction with a visit to Fort Griffin.
If your group is looking for a specialized tour experience, contact the site directly to inquire about customizing your tour.
Gift Shop
A gift shop is located inside the visitor center. Items available for purchase include books, t-shirts, coffee mugs, postcards, stuffed animals, and a variety of period toys such as marbles, jacks, and doll kits.
Accessibility
The visitor center is wheelchair accessible, and most campsites are on hard ground with wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and fire rings. The campground also has ADA-approved restrooms and showers. Tours cover significant distance over uneven terrain. A golf cart is available for touring the fort grounds, which are gravel and not ADA-approved for wheelchairs. Nature trails in the campgrounds are not accessible by wheelchairs.
Facilities
Restrooms are available in the visitor center, and restrooms with showers are provided at the campground. Drinks and snack items are available in the gift shop. We encourage visitors to bring a picnic lunch and stay all day. Picnic tables are provided at the visitor center and campground for day use.
We’re always looking for ways to improve the visitor experience and are open to suggestions or ideas for future programming and activities offered at the site. If you are a part of an organization such as a school group, historical society, garden club, scouts, etc., and would like us to bring a program to your location, please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Nearby Attractions
While you're in the area, visit these nearby sites:
Albany
Abilene
Graham
For additional travel and history information, see the following resources: