Lately the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District has had some Fort Worth locals, and others, worried that a proposed development in the Stockyards area would somehow compromise the Historic District's integrity.
From what we understand of the proposed development it seems like it would enhance and improve the Stockyards, not damage them.
We have long been fond of the
Fort Worth Stockyards, it being Fort Worth's only unique tourist attraction.
We have also long thought Fort Worth does not devote sufficient resources to the Stockyards, of the improvement sort, that such a tourist attraction warrants.
So, let's take a look at this "Historic District" and see how historically well preserved it currently is.
Above we are walking on the sidewalk on the north side of the east end of Exchange Avenue, the Stockyards main drag. Last December, on a night visit to the Stockyards, I tripped when I came to this section of missing sidewalk. The lighting in the Stockyards is very bad, drastically needs improving.
The sign on the missing sidewalk is pointing you to the Stockyards Stables Petting Zoo.
The Petting Zoo is housed in what looks like a circus tent. Is this one of the new developments threatening the historical integrity of the Historic District?
Next we are looking at the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze.
Is this an historically accurate maze? Does it add to or detract from the Stockyard's authenticity? Is the proposed new development, which is seen by some as so threatening to the Stockyards historic integrity, of the same sort thing as this maze?
And then next to the maze we have the Mechanical Bull installation.
Again, is a Mechanical Bull an historically accurate thing to install in an Historic District? Or does it compromise the Historic District's integrity?
Next we come to a recent addition to the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Hyatt Place Hotel.
I do not remember much protesting happening when a developer proposed building a new hotel in the heart of the Stockyards. The hotel was built where a tacky carnival was located. We thought it to be a big improvement on that piece of land, and the building aesthetically matches the look of other older Stockyard buildings.
And then we come to The Shoppes on Rodeo Plaza.
We have long thought the garish yellow did not look good. And that the use of the word "Shoppes" seemed out of place. Is the new proposed development of the quality level of The Shoppes on Rodeo Plaza?
And then there is the tackiest eyesore in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.
The New Isis Theater. This has been a boarded up mess since before the turn of the century. The billboard used to say "New New Isis Theater Opening Soon." Now the billboard says "Welcome to the Stoc Yards." Missing a 'k'.
Now, all those people upset about the proposed new Stockyards development, how do they rationalize being upset by that, while tolerating the boarded up New Isis Eyesore?
There have been some attempts to improve the Stockyards in the past, such as that which you see below.
This is Saunders Park. A Venice-like scenic spot in the Stockyards which few people see. The water you see flowing under the Stockyards is Marine Creek. We believe if you have been in the White Elephant Saloon you have been above the water tunnel you see here.
Now, why have few people seen this scenic part of the Fort Worth Stockyards? Below is your answer to that question.
Access to Saunders Park and Marine Creek is via the alley you see above. This alley is a short distance east of the aforementioned White Elephant Saloon. There is no signage on Exchange Avenue pointing you to the park. If you venture down this alley you get to walk past some fragrant garbage bins before you take a right turn to find yourself surprised by Saunders Park.
The most authentic part of the Fort Worth Stockyards is the actual stockyards, with its impressive boardwalk one can walk on to view the stock, such as the Fort Worth Herd, which you see below, taking a rest between their twice daily
Cattle Drives down Exchange Avenue
We don't believe the actual stockyards, which you see above, are threatened by the proposed new development.
Is the proposed new Fort Worth Stockyards development developing the area we refer to as
The Stockyard Ruins? That being the area of the long abandoned Swift Armor meat packing plants, which in the 21st century look like Berlin at the end of World War II.
The Stockyard Ruins were used by the FOX TV show,
Prison Break, to simulate a Panama prison. We can see where some might think the Stockyard Ruins are an amazing eyesore. But we think of the Stockyard Ruins more like an historic relic, and thus fitting quite well being adjacent to a National Historic District.
