Tours in Weatherford

Originally a TWA aircraft, the Southern Cross Douglas C-47 was adopted by the Army Air Corps to shuttle troops to the front. The twin-propeller plane survived World War II and in the ensuing years underwent a series of makeovers. Its career includes years spent as a reliable set of wings for Delta Air Lines, a troupe of skydiving enthusiasts, and at least one head of state. The C-47 is now meticulously restored to its original WWII-era condition and in the dutiful care of Greatest Generation Aircraft, a nonprofit organization that introduces 21st-century crowds to the C-47 during rides and aerial shows. Flying out of Fort Worth's Meacham International Airport, the C-47 also shares a hangar with a B-25 bomber and other veteran planes.

Fly-A-Sim gives humans wings and shows them how to use them. But these wings aren't covered with feathers or drenched with barbecue sauce—they're virtual and perfect for soaring across an imaginary stratosphere. A certified flight instructor begins each simulated journey with a lesson on how aircraft fly. Afterward, participants board a comfy jet simulator that trains real pilots for a solo flight in the captain's seat. Realistic sounds and visuals conjure a rush of excitement as virtual pilots execute basic maneuvers such as takeoffs and landings. For most simulations, the pilot-in-training can bring along a friend to test-drive the plane or point out clouds that look like Nietzsche's mustache.

Boneyard Haunted House has been featured in numerous local media outlets, including in a story on CBS 11 news exploring whether or not the space is actually haunted. Rumors swirl that the large, formerly abandoned building that operator Dan Hall has converted into a haunted house harbors some very real ghosts. To give his guests a proper Halloween fright, Hall has outfitted the building's downstairs area with more than 40,000 square feet of realistic-looking skeleton scenes, elaborate designs, and passageways that reduce one’s line of sight to up the surprise factor. But, as Hall told CBS 11, other unintentional things have been happening inside the haunted house. Rolls of receipts have rolled across the floor and trash cans have accelerated across the room, all seemingly of their own volition. The phenomena have even caused paranormal investigators to come in with recording technology to try to contact the spirits of any lingering souls or prolific Ouija boards that might be stuck on the premises.

For guests who have walked through the haunted house in previous years, every season brings new and scary surprises. A writer from the North Dallas Gazette reported on the effort, noting that "each year, the haunt is completely taken down and the team starts fresh building exclusive rooms and new props." The attraction also boasts an indoor festival area with games, music, concessions, and vendors.

Atop Segway i2 personal transports, guides at Cowtown Segway Tours escort explorers through the botanic gardens, the cultural district, and other Dallas landmarks. Voyagers take part in a 15- to 30-minute training session to become acquainted with their Segway's controls and favorite conversation topics before setting out on their sightseeing adventure. The Cultural District and Trinity Trails tour takes groups of about 10 sightseers on a cruise through the Fort Worth art district, where they take in the marvels of nature, science, and modern architecture that permeate the landscape. During the cultural district tour, riders also zip through a scenic portion of the 32-mile Trinity Trail while gliding past picturesque foliage and racing competitive squirrels on the path to Trinity Park.

The guides at Fort Worth Tours & Trails seek out storied locales and dish out historical secrets of Panther City through the outfit's assortment of tours via bus or by foot. For walking tours, groups gather at one of two locations: the east lawn of the Courthouse for the Hell's Half-Acre to Sundance Square tour or in front of the Visitors' Center on Exchange Avenue for the Stockyards and Historic North Side tour. The former stops at several spots that figured prominently in the downtown area's early development, while the latter combs the brick streets of the historic north side, home to the Cowboy Hall of Fame and the world's only longhorn herd that hasn't succumbed to Internet stardom as a dancing flash mob. On both excursions, tour-goers have the opportunity to hear a plethora of little-known facts and cocktail party-worthy anecdotes from the city's rich history.