Uniquely Granbury

Episode 16: Historian Melinda Ray (Part 2)

Featured Guests: Melinda Ray

Overview: Historian Melinda Ray shares some of her favorite stories of Granbury and Hood County, focusing on the people who make the history come alive. #uniquelygranbury  

Links:


– Melinda Ray on Amazon: Learn More


– Limestone Legacies: Buy Now

– City of Granbury: Web Site

– Visit Granbury: Web Site

– Granbury Events: Online Calendar

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 15: Historian Melinda Ray (Part 1)

Featured Guests: Melinda Ray

Excerpt (Melinda Ray): “... that instilled in me a realization at a very very early age that the people you read about in the history books are living, breathing people who could be your neighbor ... your family ... your friends." 

Overview: Melinda Ray loves history. The longtime Granbury resident and career librarian fell in love with history when she started focusing on the people in the history books. She dedicated her life to sharing history when she realized the people from our history "could be your neighbor ... you family ... your friends."  On this first episode in a two-part series, we get to know Melinda Ray. We get the opportunity to hear her story - specifically how she ended up in Granbury, Texas. #uniquelygranbury  

Links:


– Melinda Ray on Amazon: Learn More


– Limestone Legacies: Buy Now

– City of Granbury: Web Site

– Visit Granbury: Web Site

– Granbury Events: Online Calendar

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 14: The Doll House Museum

Featured Guests: Barbara Williams and Jane Sharp

Excerpt (Barbara Williams discussing the Doll House Museum): “It's amazing. You really just can't believe all that you're seeing." 

Excerpt (Tammy Dooley discussing the passion of Barbara Williams and Jane Sharp): “They are two grown ladies that I could see, as little girls, playing with dolls and enjoying every minute. You just feel it when you're with them."   

Overview: There are a lof of adjectives that could be used to describe The Doll House Museum – one of Granbury's most unique attractions. Some people say it's "magical," while others say it's "amazing" and "fantastic." Probably the most common description is "must-see." On this episode of Uniquely Granbury, we share conversations with Barbara Williams and Jane Sharp, the two sisters who helped make the Granbury Doll House come to life with its more than 6,000 dolls. They share where their love affair with dolls started and how that passion grew into a "one-of-a-kind opportunity." #uniquelygranbury  

Links:

– Doll House Museum: Visit Granbury Web Site

– Doll House Museum: Facebook

– City of Granbury: Web Site

– Visit Granbury: Web Site

– Granbury Events: Online Calendar

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 13: Founder's Day Bean Queen

Featured Guests: Cheshe Langford, Tammy Dooley, Diane Hedges, Kim Fancher, Barbara Boozer and  Vicki Risinger

Excerpt (Tammy Dooley discussing Founder's Day and the Bean Queen tradition): “It's just an opportunity to celebrate who we are and tell our story. A lot of cities have their events, but you need to be true to yourself - who you are in Granbury. (Founder's Day) is a down-home, local celebration that we get to invite people in to be part of who we are. "

Overview: This episode of Uniquely Granbury lives up to the name of this podcast series, focusing on the community's most unique event and its "icing on the cake" ... the one-of-a-kind Bean Queen!  Every Spring, this distinct honor is handed down as part of Granbury’s Founder’s Day celebration. It is given to a community member who has a servant heart and embodies the spirit of the town. This unique tradition started in 1983 and has turned into the event’s crown jewel. On this podcast, we share conversations with former Bean Queens, which use words like "special," "fun" and "honor" to describe their out-of-the-pot experience. #uniquelygranbury  

Links:

– Historic Granbury Merchants Association: Web Site

– Founder's Day: Web Site

– City of Granbury: Web Site

– Visit Granbury: Web Site

– Granbury Events: Online Calendar

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 12: Santa's House

Featured Guests: Arlis & Ken Holland and Santa Claus

Excerpt (Arlis Holland on the idea behind Santa's House): “Santa's House was first designed to be a place where Santa could be warm and safe and comfortable. But it was also designed to be a place for people to come for free. To share the magic. We want everyone to be able to come in and feel the magic of the season."

Excerpt (Tammy Dooley when asked about Granbury during the holiday season): “We're a Hallmark town at Christmas ... I think people come here and they think they're going to fall in love with a sleigh, horses going by and the snow is going to start falling. Because that's really what it looks like."

Overview: Santa Claus is in the building ... literally! This is a magical episode of Uniquely Granbury,  because we had a sit-down conversation with Santa. Yes … St. Nick … Kris Kringle. We had to bring Father Christmas on this episode, because it showcases something very magical that happens every Christmas in Granbury, Texas … Santa’s House. The main two voices you’re going to hear on this episode of Uniquely Granbury, though, are Arlis and Ken Holland - the couple who started this magical tradition in Granbury. Santa’s House is currently in its 10th year, spreading Christmas joy to more than 40,000 people since it opened its doors. #uniquelygranbury  

Links:

– Granbury Santa House: Facebook

– City of Granbury: Web Site

– Visit Granbury: Web Site

– Granbury Events: Online Calendar

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 11: Winter Guest & Goosebump Jump

Featured Guests: Sam Houston (publisher of the Hood County News) and Tammy Dooley (director of Visit Granbury)

Excerpt (Sam Houston when asked why tourism was important to him on a personal level): “...I truly believe that Granbury is the most unique city that I've ever been in. If you're bored in Granbury, you want to be a hermit, because there is something going on all the time. And it's so exciting for me, when I walk around the square on a Saturday night, to stop people and ask them where they're from and what they're having fun doing. And they think they've come to paradise." 

Excerpt (Tammy Dooley when asked if she has ever participated in the Goosebump Jump): “I have done it. I will tell you ... I'm a wimp. I make it out about almost to my waist - maybe a little less. It's cold - very, very cold." 

Overview: Granbury is intentional about embracing the cold! That hasn't always been the case. There are bleak stories of Granbury in January and February - a cold, empty square just waiting for spring to arrive. That's when Sam Houston and Micky Shearon had an idea. They wanted to put emphasis on the frigid months, launching what is now known as the city's WinterGuest initiative. This stratigic marketing campaign - spearheaded by Visit Granbury - wrapped its arms around the winter months, creating a WinterGuest Passport with more than $1,000 in savings for visitors. Tammy Dooley and her team did not stop there, adding the wildly-popular Goosebump Jump to the WinterGuest experience. Now, you can jump into frigid Lake Granbury before catching a show downtown or eating dinner with ol' friends. By simply listening to local stakeholders, Granbury is now the place to be when the temps are hovering around freezing. #uniquelygranbury  

Links:

– WinterGuest 2024: Web Site

– Goosebump Jump: Web Site

– City of Granbury: Web Site

– Visit Granbury: Web Site

– Granbury Events: Online Calendar

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 10: Celebration Capital of Texas

Featured Guests: Chris Coffman (Granbury City Manager) and Rep. Shelby Slawson

Excerpt (Rep. Shelby Slawson when asked if it was fun to help Granbury secure its celebratory designation): “So much fun! I mean, behind it is a lot of enthusiasm and energy from the community and from Tammy at Visit Granbury. And these are some of the most exciting things we can work on in the legislature, because it gets our people fired up and it really highlights communities that we know are the best part of the state and inviting others to come and see why."   

Excerpt (Tammy Dooley when asked if she was proud of securing this designation for Granbury): “It's the biggest thing I've ever been a part of, and I'm extremely proud for Granbury, Texas, to be known as the Celebration Capital of Texas. It is something that our entire staff is proud of. I think the city is proud of. More importantly, the people who live here have embraced it and they're proud of it."

Overview: Locals live here because Granbury is alive with events and activities year-round. Visitors travel to Granbury to Celebrate everything! Festivals, history, patriotism, arts and culture, music, culinary, nature and recreation, lake activities, and even monarch butterflies. Add in girlfriend weekends, family reunions, weddings, conventions, car shows, and more, and that will give you just an idea of what Granbury has to offer. Voted USA Today's Best Historic Small Town in America in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and designated the Celebration Capital of Texas in 2023, we invite YOU to come and celebrate in your own Uniquely Granbury way! #uniquelygranbury  

Other guests include: Tammy Dooley (Director of Visit Granbury)

Links:


– City of Granbury: Web Site

– Visit Granbury: Web Site

– Granbury Events: Online Calendar

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 9: Cowboy Tourism

Featured Guest: Wes Stevenson, Hall of Fame Cowboy

Excerpt (Tammy Dooley when asked about Cowboy Tourism): “I can already smell the leather ... and see the boots ... and the cuisine is changing. Because it's the craze right now."

Excerpt (Francie Stevenson when asked about her first impression of Granbury): “I love this community. I love the small-town of it. I love the friendliness of it - the community-feel. The minute we drove around the square, it felt like home."

Overview: Cowboy Tourism – which celebrates anything and everything Western Heritage – is about to take off in Granbury, Texas. On this episode of Uniquely Granbury, we highlight three passionate people who are spearheading this cultural movement. Francie and Wes Stevenson launched the premiere rodeo event in Granbury - Hood County Stampede. Homer Robertson helped start the Texas Cowboy Symposium and Chuckwagon Cookoff, which now calls Granbury home. Is there more to come? All of our guests - as well as Visit Granbury's Tammy Dooley - have no doubt! #uniquelygranbury  

Other guests include: Francie Stevenon and Homer Robertson

Links:

– Hood County Stampede: Web Site

– Hood County Stampede: Facebook

– Texas Cowboy Symposium: Facebook

– Visit Granbury: Web Site

– Granbury Events: Online Calendar

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 8: Granbury Cemetery Tour

Featured Guest: Mary Ella Riley

Excerpt (Mary Ella Riley, about knowing the history of a community or town): “...it makes you have a little heart and love for some place when you know what happened from the beginning."

Excerpt (Tammy Dooley, when asked if Jessie James is actually buried in Granbury Cemetery): “Absolutely ... I embrace it. I will never not believe it. You cannot tell somebody in Granbury, Texas, that he is not. So, that's good enough for me."

Overview: On this episode of Uniquely Granbury, we’re going to address a longtime fascination with … cemetery tours. Yes … this is a thing, and it has been a thing for a long time. People love to visit cemeteries.The million-dollar question: Why? According to author and professor Keith Eggener.“Cemeteries are the coming together of these disparate states of life and death, nature and culture. Cemeteries are the places that those kinds of meetings of the past and the future come to the fore.”
That actually makes since. And it has to be why Tammy Dooley and her staff at Visit Granbury started to embrace the local cemetery and started promoting its cemetery tour in Granbury. They are kind of like this podcast, which puts an emphasis on the history and the people of this community.

Other guests include: Ben Holmes, Jack Martin and Aaron McClain

Links:

– Preserve Granbury: https://preservegranbury.org

– Cemetery Tour Brochure: https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/granburytx/Granbury_Cemetary_Brochure_FINAL_4b9fa7f9-f425-4bb4-b846-28696887f505.pdf

– Visit Granbury: https://www.visitgranbury.com

– Granbury Events: https://www.visitgranbury.com/events/calendar/

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Episode 7: Music Friendly Texas Certified Community

Featured Guests: Kristen Gibson & Tami McDonald

Excerpt (Kristen Gibson): “It's definitely a process and it's definitely a lot of work ... but when you look at our community and all of the joy that the music in our community brings, it's 100 percent worth it."

Excerpt (Tami McDonald): “All the musicians that I know just help each other out. That's the kind of music community that we're creating here in Granbury. It's all for one and one for all."

Overview: Back in February 2023, Granbury, Texas, was designated as the 40th Music Friendly Certified Community by the Texas Music Office. On this episode of Uniquely Granbury, we’ll explain exactly what that means. Spoiler Alert: It’s a big deal. Tammy Dooley, director of Visit Granbury, confirms that bold claim in the first four minutes of the podcast. She also talks about her staff's significant role in making this vision a reality. Kristen Gibson, assistant director of Visit Granbury, is the one who spearheaded the initiative. On this episode, she discusses the process and hard work that went into the designation, and she shares the amazing ripple effect that is being felt across the Granbury Music Scene.

Other guests include: Chip Adams and Rebecca Meadors.

Links:


– Granbury Music Scene on FB: https://www.facebook.com/makesong2u

– Texas Music Office: https://gov.texas.gov/music

– Silver Saddle Saloon: https://silversaddlesaloongranbury.com

– Visit Granbury: https://www.visitgranbury.com

– Granbury Events: https://www.visitgranbury.com/events/calendar/

Uniquely Granbury is spearheaded by Visit Granbury.

This is a production of the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau.