Tourism
Killeen, located on U.S. Highway 190 near the heart of Texas, isa gateway to the beautiful Hill Country.
Two man-made lakes, Belton and Stillhouse Hollow, nestled among the hills and bluffs, not only add a peaceful beauty to the land but also provide excellent fishing, boating, sailing, skiing and swimming opportunities.
Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA) is located on the Fort Hood military reservation but open to civilians as well as military. Features include waterslides, paddle boats, horseback riding, jet ski rentals and a beach for swimming. Picnic areas and campsites are available.
Chalk Ridge Falls, located below the dam of Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, features water falls, picnic areas and colorful hiking trails. Miller Springs Nature Center, located below Belton Lake Dam, has hiking trails, fishing, bird watching and identification of native plants.
At nearby Fort Hood, two outstanding museums are available to visitors. The museums, with displays of weapons, uniforms and other artifacts, trace the histories of the two divisions, the 4th Infantry and the 1st Cavalry, through peace and wars.
In the last few years, Killeen has concentrated on preserving its history, and especially its historical buildings.
Among the outstanding preservation efforts is Avenue D School, a school built in 1923, with separate entrances for boys and girls. All grade levels were housed in the school for many years. The building, which features decorative stonework in its two stories and a basement, has been restored and now is used as Killeen's City Hall.
Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, organized about 1864 on what is now the Fort Hood reservation, was moved to Killeen in 1889. The oldest church building in Killeen, it features a steep gable roof and double-door entry with Gothic-inspired window details. It now houses the Killeen Area Heritage Association.
The Santa Fe Depot, which now is home to the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, was built in 1913 after the first structure was destroyed by fire. After the railroad took the building out of service, it was acquired by the City of Killeen and moved to its present location, 350 feet west and 130 feet north of its original site.
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