This Texas city transforms its downtown into an urban island with a vibrant Riverwalk

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A trip through Texas can be magical, unexpectedly dynamic, or so desolate that you’ll find yourself counting tumbleweeds on a long drive, but if there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the Lone Star State is constantly changing.

Whether it’s a new Buc-ee’s, a new airport, a new highway or trendy hamburger stands Whataburgerthere is always something brewing.

But the latest project to come out of Texas’ trendiest city is questionably oversized, even for a state known for proudly doing all things larger than life.

True, San Antonio may want to keep a close eye on their rearview mirror, as they will no longer be the only vibrant, canal-laden cityscape with a major riverfront.

What’s known as ‘Cowtown’ will soon be a ‘Rivertown’ as the Panther Island project progresses, with shovels pounding the ground and dredgers carving out riverbeds for Downtown Fort Worth is elevated transformation into a vast urban island.

From ‘Where the West Begins’ to Where the Trinity Never Ends

Fort Worth has become a well-known hotspot. Across the south you’ll find plenty of laid-back towns with stories to tell – some more than others.

But the old facades of ‘Cowtown’ speak for themselves, especially along perhaps the best-preserved time capsule of any major city: the famous Stockyards.

Fort Worth still offers daily cattle drives, which feature herds of cows sent along red brick roads in a timeless setting of legendary saloons and steakhouses.

But don’t worry: the city’s upcoming makeover won’t make the waterfront Bahamas 2.0 with swimming farm animals…

Fort Worth’s current cityscape is here to stay. You can still bar hop on honky-tonks Sundance Squaredevour a Texas-sized steak in an old-fashioned saloon, or see the immortal Willie Nelson perform at Billy Bob’s for his 120th birthday, just a few years away.

What shall change is the aesthetic, walkability and pleasures of the waterfront where many currently turn a blind eye to the Trinity River, which is not exactly a glittering oasis…

But Fort Worth is betting it could become the next San Antonio, with its own version of a “Riverwalk” and revamped waterways to renew a mediocre skyline that kids today would call “middle.”

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What can you expect on Panther Island

Panther Island may sound like something you’d find in Ron Burgundy’s perfume collection, but that’s the name for Fort Worth’s $1.16 billion project.

Once a largely industrial strip of land just north of downtown, Panther Island is being transformed from underutilized lots and abandoned fields into a dynamic urban island.

The aforementioned Trinity will be routed through landscaped canals, creating continuous waterfront edges, promenades, parks and walkable public spaces, which upon completion will surely be lined with restaurants, cafes and shops.

Essentially, the center is being expanded, connected by a rerouted Trinity that will bring new opportunities to a city far from considered a riverside destination.

In fact, Fort Worth’s riverfront parks typically made headlines for being too close for comfort sightings of alligatorsso maybe hold your hands in the future water taxi rides.

In a nutshell, here’s the overall vision for the glow-up of Fort Worth’s Panther Island:

• Waterfront promenades: walkable paths to replace empty lots and former industrial land
• Parks on the river: green spaces built for walking, relaxing and outdoor events
• Aquatic sensations: kayaking and paddling where the dry land was once barren
• Dine by the water: restaurants, bars, cafes and shops along a new scenic waterfront
• Expansion of the city center: reconnecting the city center with the Trinity for the first time
• Spaces ready for events: public spaces designed for festivals and diverse live entertainment
• Alternative along the river: Fort Worth’s own canal style neighborhood, without copying San Antonio
• Water taxis and boat trips: future river transit and leisure cruises
• Walking distance to Sundance Square: Suggested as an easy walk to the heart of downtown
• Mentality change: transforming a city for a day trip into a place to “stay a while”

When will Panther Island be completed?

San Antonio will be happy to know they still have years to wait for Texas’s new riverwalk rival.

Clearly, projects of this magnitude won’t happen overnight, unlike China, which reportedly built a brand new station in one day.

Texas likes to take its time like it’s slowly smoking a brisket — just ask motorists on the city’s endless highway projects that hold up traffic every day.

According to city ​​officialsAfter multiple delays, Panther Island is currently on track to welcome visitors 2032.

“Until then, Fort Worth is still an underrated vacation destination because of its Old West charm, surprisingly luxurious hotels, and sensational food across the board, whether it’s barbecue or fishbowl margaritas.

Sam Sears

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Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.