The little Community of Fort Davis, tucked in the heart of the Davis Mountains in west Texas, is a gateway to an unspoiled terrain that offers an extraordinary blend of majestic scenery, abundant wildlife, cultural resources and the history of the American West.  With no traffic lights or chain stores, Fort Davis offers a retreat to an earlier—simpler—time of the 19th century western frontier.

At the center of this community is the Fort Davis National Historic Site, located at the foot of Sleeping Lion Mountain and Hospital Canyon.  A key post in the defense system of western Texas, Fort Davis played a major role in the history of the Southwest.  The site, established in 1854 to protect emigrants, mail coaches and freight wagons along the San Antonio-El Paso Road, is now celebrated as one of the nation’s best preserved frontier forts. It has been faithfully restored to its original plan and the surrounding vistas remain largely untouched.

The renovated adobe structures at the base of Sleeping Lion Mountain are a significant part of the historic core of the Community.  Many of the buildings created in the late 1800s are still in use today.  The Historic Indian Lodge, a pueblo-style adobe hotel built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, underwent an extensive renovation in 2006 to bring it back to its original 1930s glory.  The 1883 territorial style adobe Veranda Historic Inn has been a lodging property for more than 120 years.  The Hotel Limpia, built in 1912, has long been a distinguished and comfortable refuge for tourists escaping the heat of eastern cities.

The physical surroundings of Fort Davis make it an ideal destination for travelers seeking a retreat to the natural world.  Long stretches of open space of the Chihuahuan Desert lead out from the Davis Mountains.  West of town, a popular 74-mile scenic loop winds through canyons and woodlands dotted with pine, juniper and oak.  The route passes through the 2,700-acre Davis Mountains State Park, which offers camping, picnicking, hiking trails and a scenic mile-high drive. 

The National Historic Site Museum and the Overland Trail Museum have an extensive and diversified collection of artifacts and materials from Fort Davis and Jeff Davis County dating back to the late 1800’s. Nearby the University of Texas' McDonald Observatory hosts star parties that offer a clear view of one of the nation’s darkest skies.

"Fort Davis is an all-too-rare community that has valiantly preserved the irreplaceable features of its past," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  "Its natural beauty and architectural significance coupled with its relaxed  rural frontier ambiance offers an extraordinary mile-high vacation for any traveler looking for an authentic experience."

"A mild year round climate, abundant wildlife, wide-open spaces, unique shops, a low population and great hospitality, makes Fort Davis a fantastic place to visit year round," said Lisa Nugent, executive director of the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce.