Think you know Round Rock? Think again! Behind the city’s historic charm are tales of Wild West shootouts, zombie apocalypses, and even a mysterious, hairy legend. This spooky season, uncover Round Rock’s eerie side as you explore chilling stories, local legends, and historic landmarks. Ready to discover the unexpected? Check out these eight intriguing spots and the fascinating stories behind them!
1. SAM BASS SHOOTOUT
The Wild West was closer to Round Rock than you think! In July 1878, the outlaw Sam Bass known as “Texas’ Beloved Bandit” rode into Round Rock planning to rob a bank. A former gang member had already tipped off the Texas Rangers. The shootout that followed left Bass mortally wounded, and he died two days later, on his 27th birthday. Deputy A.W. Grimes, another Round Rock legend, also lost his life that day. You can visit the shootout site and imagine the gunfire echoing down Main Street. Stop by the Round Rock Cemetery to see where Sam Bass and other Round Rock heroes AND villains are buried. Read the full story of Sam Bass here!
2. THE HAIRY MAN LEGEND
Every town needs a good legend, and Round Rock has a particularly hairy one! According to local folklore, a young boy became separated from a settlers’ caravan and grew up wild along Brushy Creek. Some say the mysterious Hairy Man still lurks among the trees today! Feeling brave? Take a drive down Hairy Man Road, but keep your eyes peeled. You never know when the Hairy Man might jump out from the bushes! Round Rock turns the tale into a party every October at the Hairy Man Festival, complete with the Hairiest Man Contest. Bring your friends and family for a day of fun activities including face painting, a live band, dozens of vendors, and, of course, the legendary hairy competition itself!
3. WHEN THE WALKERS TOOK THE FIELD AT DELL DIAMOND
In September 2017, the apocalypse arrived at the ballpark. AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead took over Dell Diamond and turned it into a post-apocalyptic survivor camp, with filming wrapping in early March 2018. The Round Rock Express even played a game as the “Armadillos,” named for the show’s fictional team. Look closely at season four and you’ll spot a very familiar stadium.
4. WOODBINE MANSION
Woodbine Mansion has been collecting stories for over a century, and if only its walls could talk! Now a gorgeous venue for weddings and private events, the Nelson-Crier House has housed just three families since 1900, from three generations of Nelsons to the Goodrich family, who took over in 1960. More on the mansion.
5. THE BROOM FACTORY: NOT JUST FOR WITCHES!
Broomsticks aren’t only for Halloween. The historic downtown limestone building once produced an award-winning broom that won gold at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. The broom factory was also once a general store, furniture store, school, skating rink, and car repair shop. Talk about adaptable!
6. ROUND ROCK’S FAMOUS WATER TOWER
Built in 1935, the 130-foot tower held 60,000 gallons until it was retired in 1986. Now it’s a downtown landmark, and it’s the stop where many ghost tours wrap up. For more information on the history of the tower and Round Rock’s water systems, visit here!
7. J.A. NELSON BUILDING
Grabbing a coffee at Lamppost or a pizza at 600 Degrees? This historic building has survived more than its share of fires. In 1900, J.A. Nelson rebuilt the structure in with a cast-iron façade to better withstand the flames, and Nelson Hardware supplied much of the material for Round Rock’s historic homes that you can see today. Later, the building housed thousands of chicks as the Round Rock Chicken Hatchery, then the Williamson County Farmers Co-op through 1983.
8. GHOST TOURS
If you’d rather hear these stories from a guide, Spell Caster Ghost Tours runs the family-friendly Ghosts of Old Round Rock walking tour plus an after-dark adults’ tour, which departs from Main Street Plaza and ends at the Water Tower!