Waxahachie earned the nickname “Gingerbread City” honestly. Cotton money built this Ellis County town into one of the wealthiest places in Texas around the turn of the 20th century, and families poured it into ornate homes trimmed with spindles, turrets and wraparound porches. Many of those houses still stand, along with one of the most striking courthouses in the state.
It’s only about 30 to 40 minutes south of downtown Dallas and under an hour from Fort Worth, so it makes an easy half-day or full-day outing. Here’s what to see.
The Ellis County Courthouse
You’ll see it before you park. The Ellis County Courthouse is a Richardsonian Romanesque landmark designed by the famed architect James Riely Gordon. The cornerstone went down on July 4, 1895, and the county formally accepted the building in 1897. Its builders used several kinds of stone, including gray and rose granite, limestone and red sandstone, topped with a slate roof and four bronze eagles.
The details reward a slow walk around the outside. Look for the 21 carved stone faces on the porches, credited to stonemason Harry Herley. Local legend says some of the faces trace back to an unrequited crush on a young woman named Mable Frame, the daughter of a boarding house owner. The county’s own history page points out that similar carvings show up on European Romanesque buildings, so take the romance with a grain of salt. It’s still a fun story to tell the grandkids.
The building was closed and restored in the early 2000s with help from a state matching grant. The county suggests starting a self-guided look at the north entrance, where you’ll find the state historical marker.
Gingerbread homes: take a drive or a stroll
The real fun in Waxahachie is just cruising the residential streets near downtown. Victorian, Queen Anne and Gothic Revival homes line the blocks, many of them lovingly restored. These are private residences, so admire from the sidewalk or the car window and don’t wander onto porches.
If you want to step inside, there are two good chances each year. The Ellis County Museum hosts the Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes each June; the 2026 tour ran June 6 and 7. And in December, the Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes opens six decorated historic homes on Dec. 12 and 13, 2026, from 1 to 7 p.m. Proceeds support Historic Waxahachie, Inc., a local preservation group.
Ellis County Museum
Right on the square at 201 S. College Street, the Ellis County Museum is the best place to get the backstory on the town, the cotton boom and the families behind those big houses. Admission is free. According to the Waxahachie CVB, it’s open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. It’s a good first stop to get your bearings before you set out.
Downtown shopping, eating and a few oddities
The square and the blocks around it are full of locally owned shops and restaurants, and downtown sits right along the old cattle-drive route. A few spots worth knowing about:
- Southern Roots Brewing Company pours craft beer in a restored early-1900s freight depot at 421 S. College St.
- Webb Gallery is a well-known folk and outsider art gallery near the square.
- The Munster Mansion is a full-scale replica of the house from the 1960s TV show The Munsters, and it’s a private home. Tours are by appointment only, so book ahead through the owners before you go.
Hours vary from shop to shop, and Saturdays are usually the liveliest time downtown. Check each business before you make a special trip.
Coming up this fall and Christmas
Waxahachie keeps a busy calendar, and a few 2026 events are already set:
- Crossroads of Texas GO TEXAN Country Festival: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. around the courthouse square. Admission is free, with 200-plus booths featuring Texas vendors and artists, plus live music on stages all over downtown.
- Bethlehem Revisited: A free outdoor living nativity at 402 N. College St., behind Central Presbyterian Church, Dec. 4–6 and Dec. 11–13, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s a beloved Christmas tradition that has run since 1997, complete with live animals and costumed townspeople. If you’re looking for a way to keep Christ at the center of your family’s Christmas, put this one on the calendar.
- Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes: Dec. 12–13, 2026.
Good to Know
- Where: Waxahachie, Ellis County, about 30–40 minutes south of Dallas and roughly 50 minutes from Fort Worth.
- Courthouse: On the downtown square. Self-guided exterior viewing anytime; the Ellis County Visitors Center is in the basement.
- Ellis County Museum: 201 S. College St. Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–4 p.m. Free.
- Visitor info: Waxahachie CVB, 2000 Civic Center Lane, 469-309-4040.
- Home tours: Most gingerbread houses are private homes. Tour them only during scheduled events.
Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the official website before you head out.
Waxahachie is the kind of town that feels like a step back in time without trying too hard. Bring comfortable shoes, slow down, and let the old houses do the talking.
Featured photo: w_lemay via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
