Abilene is a great place to live, not just for its two legged residents, but their much furrier best friends as well. The Camp Barkeley Dog Park, named after the old Civil War fort located 11 miles southwest of Abilene (since renamed Dyess Air Force Base), and in homage to every dog’s favorite word, opened in late November, giving the city a new pet-friendly resource on top of its already very walkable cityscape.

When the original Camp Barkeley was built, it was only meant to be a temporary encampment, now not only does the original structure still function in a military capacity, but the name will live in four-legged lore. The new Camp Barkeley is located next to the Abilene Zoo, but don’t worry, your pet will be neither caged nor on display, rather privy plenty of controlled walking space and an acre of leash free land on which they can run wild wild within reason, of course. In order to ensure the safety of all dogs and their owners, there are rules in place regarding proper conduct and park use. Abiding by these simple sixteen do’s and don’ts will keep the city’s newest recreational resource fun for the whole family from the ground up:

The dog park is open dawn to dusk. (more…)

The southwest corner of Abilene is home to the Dyess Air Force Base where loyal American citizens dedicate their time and effort to serving our nation. The base contains the 7^th Bomb wing, which operates B-1B Bombers and is completed by the only B-1B combat crew training squadron. The facility is also equipped with two combat squadrons, a weapons school, and a B-1B test and evaluation squadron. Their mission is to “provide world class Airmen and air power for the warfighter.”Dyess AFB has also become an important part of the Abilene community. On July 3, the base hosted its 4^th annual fireworks/military appreciation show, complete with games and live music. Starting August 9, the Dyess Chapel will feature a free Vacation Bible School focusing on the story of Joseph. It’s refreshing to see a site give so much back to the community that it protects. (more…)

If you’re visiting Abilene and need fun ways to fill up your days, the Abilene Round Up Pass will show you a great time for a great price. The pass grants access to six of Abilene’s best attractions for one low price. Check out the great opportunities the pass can open to you:

1. 12^th Armored Division Memorial Museum: this Memorial Museum is an educational and inspiring collection of World War II memorabilia. The displays provide a visual and an interpretation of the events that shaped our countries history.
2. Abilene Zoo: the Zoo is Abilene’s most visited attraction, and for a reason. Home to over 500 animals in over 160 species that include (but are NOT limited to) jaguars, black rhinos, bison, maned wolves, giraffes, black bears, lions, white tigers, and monkeys, the zoo provides a full day of fun for the whole family.
3. Buffalo Gap Historic Village: a long time ago, Indians dominated the land of Texas we Americans now call home. The Historic Village offers a rich collection of artifacts once owned by these Indians as well as frontier firearms we used to conquer them. Learn about the history of Abilene in the 1870s-1920s, see the two room school house where the children from back in the day got their education, and watch entertaining films to help you understand the towns accomplishments. (more…)

Located at 102 Cypress St, just off of Interstate 20, The Grace Museum provides the quaint city of Abeline with a rich foundation for both arts and education. The beautifully sprawling brick building houses actually houses 3 separate museums in 1 as it serves not only as an art museum for the city, but also houses a historical museum and a children’s museum within its 55,000 square foot edifice.Grace’s art museum mixes an eclectic blend of both today’s contemporary artists and exemplary exhibitions of old. More than just paintings on the wall, the art museum comes to live through a wide variety of lectures, symposiums and family activities. The historical museum is a window into Abeline’s unique past, complete with various restored period rooms, painting a picture of what life was like for Abeline resident’s from 1910-1948. The Malouf Boot Shop, a recreation of Albert J. Malouf’s actual boot shop in the 1940′s, gives the museum a distinct West Texas flavor. Still intact and on display are the shop’s original equipment, handmade tools, original cash register, along with various Malouf made boots that would’ve been worn by real Abilene old-timers. (more…)