Eastland County: Lakes, Art and History

At Lake Cisco, the catch rate for largemouth bass fishing is considered good to excellent. Lake Leon offers a different focus with its well-known largemouth bass tournaments, and also has good populations of channel catfish, sunfish, and white bass. This gives you a concrete comparison for a fishing trip: Lake Cisco for its catch rating, Lake Leon for its tournament fishing and additional fish species.

Lakes, Fishing, and River Landscapes

Lake Cisco is three miles northwest of Cisco in northwestern Eastland County; two public boat ramps are available at the lake. Olden Lake covers 130 acres on the Leon River in Eastland County, and several campgrounds are located along its shores. When weighing your options, you can compare the boat ramps at Lake Cisco with the campgrounds on the shores of Olden Lake.

Russell Creek also provides a geographic point of reference: it begins in Eastland County and flows into Palo Pinto Creek near the headquarters of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. Its course runs from Eastland County to its confluence with Palo Pinto Creek near the park headquarters of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.

Museum and Stories from the County

The Eastland County Museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; check the opening hours before you arrive. On the first floor, a permanent exhibit presents the history of Eastland County. Its opening days and exhibit topic give you specific points of reference when planning a museum visit.

The Eastland County Courthouse is associated with Old Rip, a famous horned lizard. According to legend, Old Rip was freed from the cornerstone of the former courthouse and found her final resting place there. The story links the courthouse to a local tale whose key points are the former building and its cornerstone.

The Connellee-Majestic Theatre was built in 1920 and hosted numerous touring theater productions, musical events, and plays. It has been designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark since 1988. In Ranger, the Roaring Ranger Oil Boom Museum is located in a former train station.

Art, Theater, and Events

Eastland’s Outdoor Art Exhibit features 41 works of art placed near or on businesses in Eastland. Each work includes a story about the life of the artist or interesting details about the original piece. The installation may have changed; check which works are currently on view before your visit.

Between Cisco and Eastland is the Kendrick Religious Amphitheater, with a permanent religious diorama and an annual Easter performance. The Old Rip Parade in Eastland is listed as an annual event. If you want to plan your trip around the parade, check the event dates.

Getting Around the County

Eastland County is served east to west by Interstate 20 and north to south by U.S. Highway 183. These routes provide a general sense of direction in the county when planning a trip that includes its different waterside and cultural destinations.

Discover more destinations: Gorman, Cisco, Ranger, Eastland, Winkler County, Navarro County, Stonewall County, Callahan County.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.