Things to Do in Mineral Wells

As the doors of Moxley Manor Haunted House creak open, guests may find themselves unsure of where truth ends and legend begins. Walking down foggy hallways and surrounded by disorienting strobe lights, they’re immersed in the haunting, real-life tale of the ill-fated Moxley family—all brutally murdered by a coldhearted mistress. These horrific events are brought to life by a cast of talented actors toting roaring chainsaws, severed heads, and the bodies of long-dead houseplants.

The charitable staffers at Moxley Manor Haunted House scare the dickens out of their guests for a good cause—the haunted house’s proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Moxley Manor also opens its doors to murder and mayhem on a few of the less spooky holidays, including Christmas and Valentine's Day.

Founded by a gregarious coach named Mike Winburn, Win Kids has grown from a tiny operation with a handful of play mats and a lone guitar to a 27,000-square-foot facility that plays host to a huge variety of kids' classes and camps. Monitored by a talented staff that includes former competitive swimmers and black belts in judo, taekwondo, and jiu-jitsu, children aged 6 months to 15 years old build stronger bodies and self-confidence in sessions ranging from gymnastics and martial arts to dance and cheer. A certified lifeguard watches over paddlers during lessons and birthday parties held around the 90-degree swimming pool. Staffers also teach private music lessons, where youths can learn songs to coax out reclusive invisible friends, and a new QUICKSTART and Jr. Tennis Program rounds out services at the facility.

At Off Duty Armory, instructors with backgrounds ranging from hunting to anti-terrorism operations supervise a seven-lane indoor pistol range. Within this climate-controlled facility, a HEPA filtration system vanquishes discharged particles from the air, and an auto-retrieve system places targets up to 25 yards away. In addition to overseeing open range times, the instructors lead classes that include standard NRA courses, ladies-only sessions, and one-on-one training. Off Duty Armory also houses a pro shop, where weapon experts dispense advice on both armed and non-lethal forms of self-defense.

Painting with Patience hosts relaxing do-it-yourself evenings of colorful exploration for painters with or without previous experience. Guests need only bring a lust for life along with their favorite wine and snacks, as they uncork and follow a progression of easy-to-follow instructions. Each class focuses on one specific design, allowing students to follow along with others while adding their own flair to images such as gnomes or Italian waterways. Students can create their own simulacra of famous works including Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Munch’s The Scream, and Monet’s Bridge Over a Pond of Water Moccasins. Multiple classes are scheduled each week and include all painting supplies as well as ice buckets and corkscrews. The artistic educators at Painting with Patience can also wrangle groups of 10–25 artisans for adult or children’s private painting parties.