At the intersection of Farm Road 1996 and the St. Louis Southwestern Railway lies the town of Oglesby, just 13 miles east of Gatesville, Texas. Despite the fact that settlers inhabited the area in the mid-1850s, the community of Oglesby was not established until 1882 when the railroad began to be developed in the area.

In fact, the original settlement name was called Hilltop due to the town’s location at the highest point above sea level on the railroad. In honor of William Oglesby, who gave the land for the townsite, the name was changed to Oglesby. 

One year after being established, a post office was opened, followed by the town gristmills, cotton gins, churches, and a school. 

Today, the small town has a population of 480 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

Dining

Start your morning off with a fresh cup of coffee from the Coffee Shop Cafe. This establishment has the perfect home-cooked style food that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner! 

For dessert, head on over to Jack & Jill Donuts and be sure to try their jalepeño sausage kolaches! 

Outdoors

Pack a lunch and drive to Oglesby City Park and enjoy a nice afternoon at this quaint park that has plenty of lush greenery to have you feeling refreshed. 

Or, if you’re in the mood for some adrenaline, load your bike into your truck and visit Retro BMX Racetrack, and hit the slopes! 

Arts & Entertainment

For over 50 years, the small town of Oglesby has been a hot destination for snake lovers! Each year, the town hosts Rattlesnake Round-Up during the last weekend of February. The annual festivity began in 1969 when locals would go on hunts to control the snake population. Today, the event welcomes nearly 3,000 people to the small town.