About an hour and a half drive from Dallas is Granbury, Texas— a gem of a “get-a-way”  from city life. 

Steeped in history and showcasing beautiful old homes, it is set on picturesque Lake Granbury— a virtual water playground with a sandy city beach, boating, skiing and fishing. An extensive trail system is perfect for hiking and bicycling.  

However, if the “great outdoors” is not your cup o’ tea; don’t worry.  The historic town square is lined with quaint boutiques, charming eateries and the famous Granbury Opera House.

The Westside Wanderers from Central Christian Church (named after the drama company  founded by the late Ed Delatte) took the short drive Saturday morning to enjoy lunch on the square and see the matinee performance of “South Pacific” in the beautifully restored opera house. 

Originally built in 1886, the Granbury Opera House has been painstakingly renovated to the period.  The interior boasts elaborate, imported chandeliers, elegant curved staircases, the original limestone walls, filigree iron balcony railings, pressed-tin-inspired acoustic ceiling tiles and an intimate seating arrangement.  

The Opera House, the landmark crown jewel of Granbury, brings to the small town patrons of the arts from all around the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is home to the Granbury Theater Company.  

Rogers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” originally opened on Broadway in 1949 but the story, set during World War II, could not be more appropriate then than it is today. 

Granbury production director Jay Lewis encouraged everyone to enjoy the enchanting story, but added that, “maybe you will be challenged to reach across and better understand those who you might consider different from yourself.” 

A great cast performed the musical with Amber Lanning playing Nurse Nellie Forbush and Brian Lawson playing Emile de Beque, sounding a lot like Ezio Pinza. 

In addition to a wonderful theater experience, the group enjoyed lunch at one of the many tea room style restaurants or diners on the Square and still had time to browse the many interesting shops. 

A couple of us came home with coconut balsamic vinegar from 1890, the olive oil and vinegar gourmet shop on the Square. Can't wait to experiment with that.

Day trips from Dallas are a fun and economical way to see our state, get to know our neighbors and make new friends.