History

Hundreds of thousands of Texans have enjoyed beautiful Benbrook Lake since its opening in the 1950s, but few know the lake’s rich history.

The Boaz family was one of the most prominent families in southwest Fort Worth and Benbrook in the late 19th century.

In the first half of the previous century, the Dutch Branch Ranch totaled over 1,300 acres and was owned by Elliott Roosevelt, son of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR).

In Pecan Valley Park, just a short walk from the main trail, lives a gigantic bur oak tree that once was the “Tallest Bur Oak in Texas.” Though it gained local fame for its enormity, the bur oak would garner more far-reaching notoriety in 1884 when it was used to hang members of the…

Did you know the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald once lived in Benbrook, TX? That’s right, the notorious assassin of President John F. Kennedy moved to Benbrook as a child in 1945.

When you think of pop superstars today, you may picture Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, or Luis Fonsi. But if you were to live in the turn of the previous century, the first names that would come to mind would likely be Vernon and Irene Castle, a husband-and-wife dance duo known for…