Fort Worth’s Hell’s Half Acre evolves from long-ago crime hub to tourist hotspot
May 16,2025
See full Fort Worth Star-Telegram article here.
This list of stories illustrates the ongoing evolution of Fort Worth's historic Hell's Half Acre.
Once infamous for saloons and crime, the area now hosts landmarks like the Cutting Edge Haunted House, set in a historic meatpacking plant that reflects the Acre's gritty past. The redevelopment of the Stockyards contrasts with the past, transforming former livestock barns into shops and restaurants as the district sees significant tourism growth.
Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Convention Center stands on what was once the heart of the Acre, reflecting urban development trends that erased older structures. Efforts to balance history and modernity continue, as seen in the Fort Worth Stockyards Museum's preservation efforts amidst nearby redevelopment.
NO. 1: SEX, GAMBLING SECURED FORT WORTH’S WILD WEST REPUTATION THROUGH LORE OF HELL’S HALF ACRE How bad was Cowtown back in the old days? City’s reputation was of debauchery and unsavory characters according to a local historian, author. | Published June 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tiffani Jackson
NO. 2: FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS MUSEUM DETERMINED TO HOLD ITS PLACE IN HISTORY AMID REDEVELOPMENT Did you know Fort Worth’s Stockyards Museum has a light bulb that hasn’t burned out in more than century? Or an 1886 wedding gown that has brought “disaster” to all who wore it? Here are some other hidden gems you’ll find there. | Published July 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Lillie Davidson
NO. 3: THEY ONCE DEMOLISHED 14 BLOCKS OF DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH, SALVAGING 8 MILLION BRICKS. WHY? The first block was pulled down all at once using bulldozers, a crane and a one-inch-thick cable. | Published October 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Carol Roark
NO. 4: THIS FORT WORTH HAUNTED HOUSE WAS RANKED NO. 1 IN THE COUNTRY BY USA TODAY Just in time for Halloween, a Fort Worth haunted house was ranked as the best in the country. | Published October 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales
NO. 5: IS DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH STILL A TOP DESTINATION FOR A NIGHT OUT? BAR TABS REVEAL A SHIFT Downtown, anchored by Sundance Square, used to do the most business in the city when it comes to alcohol sales. That’s no longer the case, as these other districts have flourished. | Published November 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kate Marijolovic
Location Mentioned: Hell's Half Acre