Given that I travel to the area north of Dallas fairly often – I was there five times in the past year alone – I couldn’t help noticing one picturesque little town that looks as though time stopped there around the turn of the 20th century. It is called Pilot Point and lies about an hour’s drive from Fort Worth Airport in Texas.
As you arrive, you are greeted by a fairly large “Welcome to Pilot Point Texas” sign, which is very charming and picturesque, immediately suggesting that this place has a soul of its own. The entire town is filled with buildings that evoke the style of the Old West – brick facades, wooden details, and an atmosphere that instantly transports you back a few generations.
A little history: how the “Pilot Point” in the middle of Texas came to be
Pilot Point is the oldest settlement in all of Denton County, and its history dates back to 1845, two years before the county itself was officially established. The town’s name comes from its location – it stood on a prominent hill topped by an enormous cottonwood tree that was visible for miles. This natural “beacon” served as a landmark for Native Americans, Texas Rangers, explorers, and the first settlers who moved here from Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri. They called it “Pilot’s Point,” and over time the name was shortened to Pilot Point.
On Christmas Eve in 1853, the town was officially surveyed, and land sales began a year later. One of the first buildings on the square was Dr. Eddleman’s drugstore; he had arrived here from Missouri with his wife. In 1872, local resident John Merchant built the first brick building in all of Denton County on the northeastern corner of the square – using bricks made right in Pilot Point. Soon afterward, all the wooden buildings around the square were replaced with brick ones.
The route of the legendary Butterfield Stage – an overland mail stagecoach line – also passed through the town, and the first telegraph line arrived in 1877. The first telegraph operator was Ed Reaves, the son-in-law of former Texas governor Throckmorton, who later became the chief telegraph operator at the White House. In the fall of 1880, the first train passed through Pilot Point, and the town quickly became an industrial center of North Texas. At the time, it was home to the largest cotton gin in the United States.
The chapter involving German Catholics is also interesting – in 1891, the Flusche brothers brought a large group of German Catholic settlers here, who founded St. Thomas Church and a parish school where classes were taught in both German and English. The town still celebrates these German roots today with an annual Oktoberfest held right on the historic square.
The historic square: a walk among 19th-century buildings
The entire downtown area of Pilot Point has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2007, and a walk around the square is like a living history lesson. Here you will find buildings dating from 1870–1900 in the Italianate commercial style, which was very fashionable in Texas at the time – flat roofs with decorative brackets, ornate window cornices, and large storefront windows.
The oldest brick building in all of Denton County dates from 1872 and originally served as a general store, with a meeting hall on the second floor. Right next to it stands a building from 1873 that was originally connected to it. On the square, you will also find a building from 1882, a former police station from 1892, and, of course, City Hall.
Also worth mentioning is the Pilot Point Opera House from 1894, which is now home to the Garage Door Theater, a community theater that hosts performances and concerts.
A couple of videos for interest :):
Farmers and Merchants Bank: star of the movie Bonnie and Clyde
The undisputed landmark of the entire square is the Farmers and Merchants Bank – an imposing building constructed in 1896 in an eclectic style combining elements of Beaux-Arts, Tudor Revival, and Romanesque Revival architecture. The bank served local residents until the Great Depression, when it closed its doors.
But its greatest fame was yet to come.
In 1966, director Arthur Penn selected this building as the ideal backdrop for the bank robbery scene in the movie Bonnie and Clyde (1967), starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. In the film, Clyde Barrow and his brother Buck, played by Gene Hackman, burst into the “Farmers and Merchants Bank,” and Buck proudly exclaims, “We’re the Barrow boys!”
The film crew also shot scenes in Pilot Point at the local gas station, and the actors returned in person for the movie’s premiere. According to contemporary press reports, Beatty, Dunaway, and other cast members arrived by bus with a police escort and were enthusiastically surrounded by a crowd of “several hundred people equipped with cameras and autograph books.” Children were even excused from school so they could attend the festivities. The actors posed with mannequins dressed as Bonnie and Clyde – complete with submachine guns.
Interestingly, Bonnie and Clyde never actually robbed the bank – but the building’s architecture was simply perfect for the film. What is fascinating, however, is that Pilot Point had a direct connection to the real Bonnie and Clyde. The town was in fact a known hideout of the real Bonnie and Clyde and the Barrow Gang. According to local legend, a family member lived nearby and provided the gang with a safe haven. Local resident Joe Spratt, who personally saw the real Bonnie and Clyde at the local Grave’s Café in 1934, was even given a small role in the film – he played the poor farmer whose money Clyde spares during the robbery.
The film’s southwestern premiere was held at the nearby Campus Theatre in Denton – ironically, just one block from where Clyde Barrow committed one of his first crimes.
Today, the historic bank building houses the Farmer’s & Merchants Gallery, and every fall the Bonnie & Clyde Days festival is held here, featuring a reenactment of the movie’s robbery scene, a classic car show, live music, and family activities. The festival began in 2010, when a couple of longtime local residents were reminiscing at Lowbrows Saloon about the days of filming – and decided to revive the tradition.
Where to go: a coffee house, saloon, and Western atmosphere
Pilot Point Coffee House
On the north side of the square, at 110 W. Main St, you will find the Pilot Point Coffee House – a coffee shop that has become the heart of the local community. They serve excellent coffee from a local roastery, cocktails, and also offer board games, so you can enjoy a quiet card game or simply sit and relax. The coffee house also hosts karaoke evenings, trivia nights, and live music concerts. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly – exactly what you would expect from a small Texas town. It was even a two-time finalist in the Texas Downtown Association’s competition for the best downtown business.
Lowbrows Saloon
On the south side of the square, at 200 S Washington St, you will find Lowbrows Saloon – a Western bar in a historic building dating from 1893. This place has an incredible atmosphere – old walls, original decor, and even the oldest stone jail in Denton County standing behind the building. They serve cocktails, beer, and good food, and regularly feature live music. It was right here, over a beer, that the idea for the Bonnie & Clyde Days festival was born. If you are looking for an authentic Texas saloon with soul, this is exactly the place.
In addition, there are plenty of other shops, small galleries, and boutiques on and around the square that complete the Western atmosphere.
What else is worth visiting nearby
If you have more time, Pilot Point offers several other attractions that I did not visit myself but are definitely worth mentioning:
Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch – a privately owned zoo with exotic animals such as camels, kangaroos, alpacas, sloths, bears, and lemurs. Ideal for families with children.
Lake Ray Roberts – a huge lake covering more than 12,000 hectares, just a few minutes from downtown. You can rent a boat, kayak, or jet ski, go fishing, or simply relax by the water. Isle du Bois State Park offers hiking and cycling trails.
Western Son Distillery – a Texas vodka distillery where you can take a tour and enjoy a tasting. Right next door is Whistlepost Brewery – a local brewery.
Texas Tulips – a family-run tulip farm, open seasonally from February to April, where you can pick your own tulips. Vast fields of blooming tulips in the middle of Texas – it is a truly unexpected sight.
The entire area around Pilot Point is also known as the horse capital of Texas – Denton County is home to more than 25,000 horses and 300 ranches, making this area one of the largest equestrian centers in the entire United States.
Is Pilot Point worth visiting?
Definitely – if you are passing by, stop and take a look. Pilot Point is a beautiful little town with a Western spirit, where life is peaceful, the people are friendly, and the atmosphere draws you in. There are also playgrounds all around, so if you are traveling with children, they can have plenty of fun.
Overall, it is definitely worth stopping for at least a cup of coffee at the Coffee House, admiring the historic buildings on the square, seeing the famous bank from the movie Bonnie and Clyde, and soaking up the Western atmosphere. And if you enjoy history, this place has plenty of it. From Native American trails, stagecoaches, and the railroad to German settlers, Hollywood stars, and real gangster hideouts.
Pilot Point is definitely worth a stop.
