Grapevine, TX

Originally named Grapevine Prairie for the wild mustang grapes that grew in the area, Grapevine, Texas, today is part of Tarrant County and is a suburb of Dallas and Fort Worth. With a population of nearly 50,000, the city is home to the Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport, as well as Grapevine Lake, a large reservoir and recreation site. In 2007, Grapevine ranked as one of CNNMoney.com's best places to live in America.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is a major source of jobs in the Grapevine area, and businesses supporting the airport contribute to the city's economy. But tourism also provides an important component. There were 18 million visitors to the city this year.

Grapevine has an unemployment rate of 2.5 percent. Some of the most common industries for the residents of Grapevine include educational services, health care, social assistance, management, administrative and waste management services. Some of the major employers include GameStop, Pavestone Company, SuperShuttle, Texas Toyota & Scion and McKesson Medical-Surgical. Recent development of the Great Wolf Lodge (a family recreation destination) and the expansion of the Gaylord Texan and the Convention Center have added to the revenue created by tourism in Grapevine.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

All of the population of Grapevine is urban. Neighborhoods and districts of Grapevine accommodate around 16,000 houses, out of which more than 15,000 are occupied. Of the occupied houses, around 65 percent are owner-occupied, while renters occupy the remaining 35 percent.

• Historic Downtown Grapevine: Visitors and locals alike shop and dine in this quaint, historic area. Downtown Grapevine is also home to a wide array of art galleries run by local artists: Art and Clay on Barton, Blue Moon Gallery, James A. Humphrey Art Studio, Mud, Wind, and Fire and Vetro Glassblowing Studio.
• Many grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, schools and drugstores are located close to the center of Grapevine. Grapevine Mills Mall provides 1.6 million square feet of shopping opportunities. The mall houses more than 200 stores. Bass Pro Shop is a unique shopping destination, offering everything the outdoors-lover could possible want. Shoppers can also take advantage of the dozens of specialty shops in historic downtown Grapevine.

BEST BETS

• Visitor's Information Center: Grapevine tourists stop into this downtown center for information, maps, train schedules and brochures.
• Grapevine Historical Museum: This museum offers exhibits on pioneer and local history. It's housed in a renovated railroad depot that was originally built in 1901, serving as the city's railroad station until 1973.
• Grapevine Vintage Railroad: Passengers can take a ride on one of Texas's oldest railways. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad runs two vintage trains: an 1896 steam engine named Puffy and a GP-7 diesel locomotive built in 1953. The trains transport passengers from Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards; both trains offer 1920-1930 Victorian-style coaches for an authentic look and feel.
• The Palace Theatre Arts Center: This center, which includes both the Lancaster Theatre and the Palace Theatre, is home to Grapevine's performing arts scene. The building itself is art-a restored, 1940s, Art Deco-style building.
• Grapevine Opry: Every Saturday night, visitors can catch a show featuring the best in opry-style, live performances and music. The Opry is held in the Palace Theatre Arts Center.
• The heart of outdoor activity is Lake Grapevine, an 8,000-acre recreational lake that attracts boaters, water-skiers, wind-surfers and hikers, who enjoy the lake's nine miles of wilderness trails.
• There is great recreation on dry land, too. Golf Digest included all three of Grapevine's golf courses in its list of the 50 best public golf courses in the country. The city's courses include Bear Creek Golf Club, ranked as one of the Wall Street Journal's "10 Great Places to Golf"; Cowboys Golf Club, an 18-hole course close to downtown Grapevine that features an NFL theme; and Grapevine Golf Course, a 27-hole course for both novices and advanced players.

EVENTS

• Blessing of the Vines and New Vintage Wines: This annual ceremony marks the opening day of Delaney Vineyards, the largest vineyard in the northern part of Texas. The festival starts with a procession through the vineyard and is followed by a free wine tasting and live music.
• Annual Grapevine Heritage Jubilee: This swanky event is Grapevine's biggest party, with hors d'oeuvres, a live band, dancing, Texas wine and martinis.
• Grapefest: At this fall festival, locals and visitors can sample wines, take a spin on one of the carnival rides or dance to live music.
• Spring Into Nash Farm: Held on Nash Farm, this annual event offers fun for the whole family with pony rides, cooking demonstrations, sack races and a petting zoo.
• Flag Day Celebration: On July 14, the city hosts an annual celebration in downtown Grapevine.
• Historic Downtown Grapevine Market: From March through November, residents can enjoy this European-style, open-air market. Art, antiques and jewelry are among the items for sale.

FOR VISITORS

Grapevine has developed a number of attractions around local vineyards. Wineries in the area include:

• Cross Timbers Winery
• Delaney Vineyards
• Farina's Winery
• Homestead Grapevine Winery
• La Buena Vida Vineyards
• Su Vino Winery

LOCAL MEDIA

The Grapevine Sun and the Grapevine Courier are local newspapers, and Grapevine is also covered by the Dallas Morning News.

Grapevine is served by radio and television stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth media market.