Southlake: Nature, History and Tennis

Discover Southlake through several specific interests: nature in the Cross Timbers habitat, tennis and local history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Southlake, first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay. This can help you choose your destination based on the places and activities that matter to you.

Nature in the Cross Timbers

The Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve covers 758 acres of Cross Timbers ecosystem, where more than 1,100 species of flora and fauna have been identified. Bob Jones Park spans nearly 500 acres of original Cross Timbers habitat. The two places offer different highlights: the Preserve focuses on the ecosystem and number of species, while the Park showcases the expanse of original habitat. When deciding how much to focus on nature during your stay, consider whether you’re especially interested in biodiversity or the Cross Timbers landscape.

Recreation at Bob Jones Park

A six-acre pond with a fishing pavilion adds a specific activity to Bob Jones Park’s focus on nature. The Park also has an equestrian area with horse-trailer parking, corrals, hitching posts, a picnic area and a water station. These facilities offer further options for planning a visit: fishing at the pond and an equipped area for horseback riding.

Tennis and lessons

Southlake Tennis Center is a public tennis facility with 19 lighted hard courts available to rent by the hour. In addition to court rentals, it offers private and group lessons with instructors certified by the USPTA or USPTR. If you’re interested in tennis, you can choose between playing on your own and taking lessons when planning the sport into your trip. Schedules and registration details may change; check them before your trip if tennis is a definite part of your plans.

Southlake’s history and townscape

The log cabin replica in Bicentennial Park helps visitors learn about the lives of Southlake’s early settlers. The Southlake Log House was built in 2008 from three log structures dating to the 1850s and 1860s that stood in what is now Southlake. Carroll School is considered Southlake’s birthplace because residents voted there in 1956 to incorporate the city. This brings both the history of settlement and the founding of Southlake, including the specific reason for it, into focus.

Southlake Town Square is designed to look like a downtown from around the turn of the 20th century. A sculpture of Bob and Almeady Jones in Bob Jones Park pays tribute to the Jones family. The design of Town Square and the sculpture show different aspects of the local townscape and its commemorative culture.

A culinary activity

A cooking class is offered at Central Market in Southlake. If you’d like to include it in your plans, check whether the class is available before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Grapevine, Arlington, Edgecliff Village, Everman, North Richland Hills, Bedford, Mansfield, Blue Mound

For the broader travel overview: Tarrant.