The first settlement in the Fort Davis area was a Native American village that early explorers called Painted Comanche Camp. It was named after United States Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. The United States military constructed Fort Davis in 1854 following orders from General Persifor F. Smith. He personally selected the site during a multi-day journey because he and his traveling companion, Lieutenant W.H.C. Whiting, found a mountain pass and a stream to provide water. Soldiers established the fort to protect travelers using the San Antonio-El Paso Road as they headed west to seek gold in California. It was one of the largest forts on the frontier. You can learn more about this fort from 1854 until the start of the Civil War in 1861 by visiting Fort Davis National Historic Site.
Within a year of the fort being established, Henry Skillman and George Giddings agreed to operate the mail route from San Antonio to El Paso. Almost simultaneously, a stagecoach route through the area was established along with the town of La Limpia Station because stagecoach drivers needed a place to get a fresh team of horses. The community was about a mile from the Army fort. Indian raids were a frequent problem, and when federal troops arrived in the area during the Civil War, they found the community had been destroyed.
Following the Civil War, the military began to operate Fort Davis again. They employed over 200 civilians to help build new structures and repair what was left. This second attempt was halted in 1869 until Lieutenant Colonel William R. Shafter, better known as Pecos Bill, took command of the fort in 1871. You can learn more about the early settlers in Fort Davis by visiting the Old Overland Trail Museum.
William Johnson McDonald was a wealthy banker who lived in Paris, Texas. Upon his death on February 6, 1926, he left behind over $1 million to the University of Texas to establish an observatory at Fort Davis. He never discussed the idea with university officials, and McDonald's heirs were unhappy about the gift and took the university to court five times, saying he was not of sound mind. Numerous towns vied for the right to host the observatory. Still, University of Texas President Harry Benedict announced that the university was putting the funds in the bank for at least 10 years. Meanwhile, officials at the University of Chicago announced that they wanted a southern United States observatory but did not have the funds during the Great Depression to build one. The two schools worked together, and an announcement was made in 1932. It was the first time that two schools shared a large-scale research program. Mount Locke was finally selected as the site, and many found work during the Great Depression by constructing what became the McDonald Observatory, which you will want to visit during your stay in Fort Davis.
Frontier Christmas – Shop for Christmas presents, take a hayride, and participate in other holiday-themed activities during this December festival.
Davis Mountains Brigade Spring Rendezvous – Watch history come to life during this primitive camping festival held at Evans Mulhern Ranch in April.
Coolest Fourth of July – Join festivities on the courthouse lawn to celebrate July 4. Then, watch the fireworks show.
Viva Big Bend - Listen to over 50 bands perform at various venues around the Big Bend area in July.
Watch the sun gently kiss the mountains as it rises for the day at Big Bend National Park. Explore the historic lodge, go for a hike, or take a scenic drive at this park covering more than 1,252 square miles.
Climb to the summit of El Capitan to enjoy the scenic views when you visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Stop at the Pine Springs headquarters to learn about special events occurring at the park, and take a tour of the historic farmstead.
Go deep underground while visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Then, stretch your legs on one of their nature trails. Watch hundreds of bats emerge from the cave on summer nights.
Quietly head to the bird blind at Davis Mountains State Park to go bird-watching. There are many miles of trails to explore at this park, and you will love the scenic views. The 4.5-mile Skyline Drive Trail is a super spot to go mountain biking.
Balmorhea State Park near Toyahvale is a great place to go scuba diving. Take a swim in the pool that is fed by the underground San Solomon Springs. This is an excellent place to get a snack in the summertime to enjoy while hiking the park's trails.
Big Bend Ranch State Park is a terrific place for a hike, mountain bike ride, backpack adventure, kayak trip, or horse ride. There are over 238 miles of multi-use trails at this park.
Stop at the Jeff Davis Courthouse to see the small statue of Sergeant Manuel Gonzales. During World War I, Gonzales was referred to as a "One Man Army" for destroying four machine gun nests, a mortar squad, and one 88-millimeter machine gun, although he was wounded at the time. The statue depicts the soldier carrying an American flag. Later, he also knocked out a Mark IV tank with a bazooka. When the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce installed the statue, they noted it was essential to recognize the role of Hispanic soldiers during World War I.
You may want to consider camping at Davis Mountains State Park, Guadalupe National Park, or one of the local campgrounds when visiting Fort Davis, but if you are considering combining a trip to Fort Davis and Carlsbad Caverns, you can find terrific campgrounds there. Carlsbad KOA offers large pull-through sites with cable TV and free internet. Another excellent choice is Carlsbad RV Park & Campground, which provides an on-site grocery store and gift shop. Pine Springs Campground is also in the area. It offers 13 RV sites with access to drinking water and toilets.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Fort Davis, TX, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Fort Davis?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Fort Davis from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Fort Davis?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
