Roanoke: Local History, Water Park and Music

Roanoke combines a historic downtown district with a range of experiences to consider when planning your trip: a historic walking tour takes you through downtown, while the water park, skate park and concert series offer different kinds of activities. Consider whether you’d like to focus your stay on local history, active pursuits or family activities.

Local History in Buildings and on a Walking Tour

The Roanoke Visitor Center and Museum is housed in a restored stone building dating from 1886. The building was formerly known as the Silver Spur Saloon. Its historic name and age offer tangible ways to explore Roanoke’s past as part of your travel interests.

The Old Fire Station also tells the story of the town’s former functions: it originally served as Roanoke’s main fire station and as the town jail. The building also housed the night watchman’s cell. The fire station, jail and night watch offer different glimpses into everyday municipal life in the past.

Roanoke’s downtown district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A historic walking tour, the Roanoke Route, takes you through downtown over an area of 16 blocks. If you enjoy exploring local history on foot, you can make this tour a separate stop on your itinerary.

The Roanoke Museum’s archive collection is also of interest if you’d like to explore local history: it is fully accessible online. This lets you view historical content independently of an in-person visit and include it in your trip planning if you’re interested.

Water Park, Skate Park and Music

Hawaiian Falls Roanoke is a family-friendly water park with water slides, play areas for children and relaxing attractions. It’s especially appealing to travelers looking to include water activities and a variety of play options in their family plans. There is also a fish-stocked pond in a park in Roanoke, offering a different natural setting from the water park.

Roanoke Skate Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. If skateboarding is one of your interests, you can use these opening hours to plan your day.

Music and food also feature in the descriptions of Roanoke. The Texas House of Representatives officially designated the town as “The Unique Dining Capital of Texas.” The Evenings on Oak Street concert series takes place every second Thursday from April through June. If music is an important part of your trip, you can take this period into account when planning. Taste and Tunes on Oak Street is also scheduled for the first Saturday in May. This date offers another specific guide when choosing when to visit Roanoke.

Getting There and Finding a Vacation Rental

Roanoke is located on Highways 114, 377 and 170, which can help you find your way when traveling by car.

If you’d like to include other nearby destinations in your search, you can also explore The Colony, Sanger, Pilot Point, Lake Dallas, Lewisville, Denton and Trophy Club.

Back to the main travel overview: Denton.