Fighting boredom in Stephenville

BY BRITTANY ROARK / Contributing Writer

Hidden boredom busters are found all throughout Stephenville and surrounding areas to keep residents busy and entertained.

Stephenville, Texas, is known as the Cowboy Capital of the World to many, but that doesn't mean residents still can’t complain of boredom.

“I love how small Tarleton is, it feels like a very tight knit community, but I hate how there is like nothing to do here,” Tarleton Texan, Ailanya Rellano said.

Although the town of Stephenville may seem boring at times, here are a few ideas on activities to fight boredom in Stephenville. 

Rodeos

If you are looking for a cowboy experience while in Stephenville, you may be in luck. Stephenville hosts many rodeos throughout the year, such as the Cowboy Capital of the World Pro Rodeo and the Tarleton State University Stampede Rodeo.

 The Cowboy Capital of the World Pro Rodeo is a long-running tradition in September which includes a rodeo queen contest, barbeque contest and live music.

The Stampede Rodeo is an annual rodeo in April where you can watch college rodeo athletes compete on Tarleton home turf.

Go Outside

There are countless outdoor entertainment opportunities in Stephenville that are waiting to be found. Some of these include the Stephenville City Park, Bosque River Trail and the Outdoor Recreational Center. 

These sights hold activity opportunities such as running and biking trails, skate parks, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, disc golf course, playgrounds, ponds and picnic tables to enjoy the outdoors with others. Both the park and the trail are open year-round to the public. 

The Stephenville City Park is a 112 acre park just off of downtown square. The address for the park is 800 St. Graham Ave, Stephenville, Texas 76401. The Bosque River Trail is a 2.8 mile trail located along the north bank of the Bosque River. This trail goes through wooded areas, throughout neighborhoods and leads to the Stephenville City Park.

On Campus Fun

There are many activities available for Tarleton students on campus year-round.

The Campus Recreation Center is open no matter the time of year and offers a weight room, indoor track, aquatics center, sand volleyball courts, electrical equipment and classes for yoga, pilates and more.

 The Recreational Center is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Hours may vary due to holidays and can be found on the Tarleton State Recreation website. 

Tarleton students in Stephenville taking one or more semester hours are automatically members of the recreation center through payment of the Recreational Sports fee, which is included in their tuition. Spouses of students can be members, but membership fees apply and range from $25 to $100 per semester. Further details regarding membership fees can also be found on the Tarleton State University Recreation Center website.

The Campus Recreational Center also has intramural sports year-round for students to participate in or watch.

A few intramural sports offered include pickleball, soccer, volleyball, softball, flag football and more. Intramural sports offers Greek life teams as well as general teams. To sign-up to play in an intramural league, you can visit the Tarleton Recreation website or visit the Recreation Center in person for any questions regarding your team.

Tarleton's Activities Board (T.A.B.) offers many free events for students to attend that provide food and activities for students to participate in. T.A.B. has hosted concerts, yearly kickoff events and other types of outings.

Tarleton also has many organizations to join on campus to stay busy. 

According to the Tarleton State University website, there are over 100 student led organizations on campus. These organizations offer a variety of social, academic and sport based experiences. 

Day Trips

If you are looking to travel outside of Stephenville for a day trip, opportunities can be found in surrounding cities of Glen Rose and Granbury.

Granbury is only 30 minutes north of Stephenville and is filled with many attractions that include a lake, beach and a shop filled square. 

Just 30 minutes east of Stephenville are the attractions of Dinosaur Valley and Fossil Rim in Glen Rose.

These attractions are a great way to entertain younger audiences and make lasting memories.

Stephenville is filled with many hidden gems to fight boredom. Whether you choose to relax in the outdoors or stay on the Tarleton State University campus, there are many opportunities to stay busy and make memories with others.