You’re driving west from downtown Fort Worth, and suddenly, the asphalt disappears. Your tires start that rhythmic thump-thump over miles of red Thurber bricks. If you aren’t paying attention, you might just think it’s a charming design choice. It’s not. Those bricks are the literal foundation of a story that turned a dusty North Texas outpost into a modern city.
Camp Bowie Fort Worth Texas isn’t just a street name or a shopping district; it’s a ghost that refused to leave.
Most people today know it as the place you go for a "Roosevelt Special" at The Original Mexican Eats Cafe or to grab a custom-decorated cookie from Blue Bonnet Bakery. But a century ago? This was a sprawling, muddy, chaotic "tent city" where 100,000 men prepared for the horrors of the Great War.
The 1917 Boom: How War Built the Boulevard
Back in 1917, the U.S. War Department needed space. Fast. Fort Worth leaders, always looking for a way to grow the local economy, basically begged the government to pick them. They succeeded. On July 18, 1917, construction began on what would become a massive training ground for the 36th Infantry Division.
📖 Related: Is a Tsunami in Bali Indonesia Actually Likely? What the Experts Really Say
It was named after James Bowie. Yeah, that Jim Bowie from the Alamo.
The camp covered over 2,000 acres in the Arlington Heights neighborhood. Honestly, it was a mess at first. It was technically a "tent camp," meaning thousands of men lived under canvas through one of the harshest winters in Texas history. Imagine four inches of snow in 1917—not exactly the "Sunny South" the army recruiters promised. Thousands of soldiers ended up in the base hospital with measles, pneumonia, and eventually, the Spanish Flu.
Despite the mud and the sickness, the relationship between the town and the troops was surprisingly tight. On April 11, 1918, the soldiers marched through downtown. It’s still considered one of the biggest parades in the city's history, with 225,000 people lining the streets. That’s more than the entire population of the city at the time!
From Trenches to Tudor Cottages
When the war ended in 1918, the camp didn't just sit there. It was closed officially in August 1919 and immediately torn down. But the infrastructure stayed. Builders were smart—they used the utility hookups the army left behind.
That’s why you see those beautiful 1920s bungalows and English-style cottages lining the side streets today. The military layout became the neighborhood layout.
Then came the bricks. In the late 1920s, Fort Worth paved the main stretch with those iconic red Thurber bricks to handle the new "automobile" craze. Driving on them today feels like a vibration from the past. It’s one of the longest stretches of original brick road left in the country, and locals fight tooth and nail to keep it that way whenever the city talks about "upgrading" to smooth asphalt.
The Three Faces of the Modern District
If you're visiting today, you have to understand that "Camp Bowie" is actually split into three distinct vibes:
📖 Related: Nueva Santa Rosa Guatemala: Why This Pine-Scented Corner of the Oriente is Changing
- The Bricks: This is the historic heart. It’s where you find Kincaid’s Hamburgers—which started as a grocery store in 1946—and the legendary Roy Pope Grocery.
- Camp Bowie West: This part leans into 1950s nostalgia. Think neon signs, wider roads, and mid-century architecture.
- Ridglea: This is the fancy end. In the 1940s, the Luther family developed this area with a Mediterranean flair. The crowning jewel is the Ridglea Theater, with its 70-foot stone tower and Spanish-inspired murals.
Where the Locals Actually Go
If you want to experience the real Camp Bowie Fort Worth Texas, you don't just go to the chain stores. You go where the history is baked into the walls.
Blue Bonnet Bakery is a perfect example. It’s housed in an old 1920s church sanctuary. You’re literally buying petit fours under a vaulted ceiling where people used to pray. It’s weird, but in a very "Fort Worth" way.
Then there's The Original Mexican Eats Cafe. It opened in 1926. Legend has it that Franklin D. Roosevelt’s son, Elliott, lived nearby and loved the food so much he brought his dad there. That’s why the "Roosevelt Special" is still on the menu. Don't ask for substitutions; they take that plate seriously.
For something a bit newer but still rooted in that ranch-culture vibe, the Bowie House hotel (part of the Auberge Resorts Collection) recently opened. It’s high-end, but it pulls all its design cues from the history of the area. Their restaurant, Bricks and Horses, is a nod to the very things that built the street.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
Cities usually erase their history to make room for luxury condos. Fort Worth did the opposite here. By keeping the bricks and the old storefronts, Camp Bowie remains the "Museum District's" cooler, older brother.
It’s where you go after spending the morning at the Kimbell Art Museum or the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, which are just a stone’s throw away at the eastern edge of the boulevard.
The district is a living museum. You aren't just looking at a plaque; you're eating a burger in a 1940s grocery store or watching a band play in a 1947 theater.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit:
- Check your tire pressure: Seriously. Those bricks are bumpy. If your suspension is shot, you're going to feel every single one of those 100-year-old Thurber pavers.
- Park and walk "The Bricks": The area between Montgomery St. and Eldridge St. is the most walkable. Hit Winslow’s Wine Cafe for a glass on the patio.
- Saturday Morning Routine: Do what the locals do—grab a coffee at Love Coffee and then walk over to Roy Pope to see what’s fresh at the butcher counter.
- The Ridglea Photo Op: If you want the "classic" Fort Worth photo, go to the Ridglea Theater at sunset when the neon starts to glow.
If you really want to understand Fort Worth, you have to spend an afternoon on the Boulevard. It’s not as flashy as Sundance Square, but it has a lot more soul. It’s the sound of the tires on the bricks—that’s the heartbeat of the city.
✨ Don't miss: How Many Texans Died in the Alamo: The Truth Behind the Numbers
To get the most out of your trip, start at the Veterans' Park at the corner of Camp Bowie and Crestline. It’s a small, quiet spot that honors the men who lived in those tents in 1917. It puts the whole "shopping and dining" experience into perspective when you realize you’re standing on what was once a massive staging ground for world history. From there, head west and let the bricks guide you.