The home sits on 1.4 acres of land near the Trinity River. | Photo via Candy’s Dirt
One of the oldest houses in Fort Worth could soon be a place to kick back and grab a brew. The owners of the historic David Chapman Bennett house — located at 731 Samuels Ave. — have proposed a plan to transform the home into a wine and craft beer tasting room. Here’s everything we know about the project.
A brief history lesson
The Victorian-style riverfront home is located on the west side of Samuels Avenue overlooking the West Fork Trinity River. It was built around 1865 by David Chapman Bennett — co-founder of the First National Bank — and is one of the few historic landmarks in the city that remains on its original build site.
The current owners purchased the home in 1997 and began a 10-year process of restoring it to its original style. That included installing central air conditioning, restoring the original pine floors, and replacing the electric wiring + plumbing.
Plans for the future
During a city council meeting last week, the owners requested that the home be rezoned from “D” High-Density Multifamily to “PD/H” Planned Development for all uses in the Central Business District plus single-family residential, brewpub, and distillery uses.
The proposed plan includes enlarging the current patio areas, adding new outdoor space, and engaging the street and pedestrian corridor. The current zoning for the property does not support the new additions.
Because the 157-year-old home has a Historic Overlay on the site, there are no plans to alter or demolish any of the buildings or remove any large trees on the property. Being within walking distance to the Stockyards, Sundance Square, and bike trails, the adaptive reuse of the home could offer an opportunity to bring new life into the building.
Sip on this
Malibu-based Saddlerock Wine & Beer Co. is currently working on renovating the house into a tasting room.
The tasting room will serve wine from the California family farm — including rosé, pinot blanc, grenache, and malbec — along with 14 beers on tap, all of which will be locally sourced from Texas.
Saddrock’s Fort Worth general manager Francesca Lawrence told PaperCity Magazine that guests can expect food trucks on-site and will also allow guests to bring their own food.
A grand opening will be held at the start of the new year.
Share this story with the person you'll be visiting the new tasting room with.
Where Independence Begins Dedication | Wed., Sept. 21 | 9 a.m. | Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth, 912 W. Broadway Ave. | Free | Come out to support the dedication of a 2,000-sqft mural that features high-contrast images, colors, and tactile elements.
Fort Worth Fashion Week | Wed., Sept. 21-Sun., Sept. 25 | Locations vary | Times vary | Cost of purchase | Celebrate local designs at various events happening throughout the city.
Thursday
North Texas Giving Day | Thurs., Sept. 22 | All day | Various locations | Prices vary | NTX Giving Day is an all-day giving event designed to empower people to give back to the community by supporting local nonprofits.
Cirque du Soleil: OVO | Thurs., Sept. 22-Sun., Sept. 25 | Times vary | Dickies Arena | $54+ | Embrace your inner child and be mesmerized by bouncing crickets, a hypnotic spider contorting inside a web + foot juggling ants that explore the beauty of biodiversity.
Salsa in September | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Burnett Park | Free | Get your groove on and learn the basic salsa steps and twists.
Friday
Waiting for Bojangles | Fri., Sept. 23 | Times vary | Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth | Free | The critically acclaimed movie is featured as part of the Magnolia at the Modern series.
Saturday
Tarrant County Heart Walk | Sat., Sept. 24 | 9-11 a.m. | The Shops at Clearfork | Free | Join the community for the annual walk with family-friendly activities and a PAW-Parrazi Pet Zone for your four-legged friends.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
Will Rogers Memorial Center is getting $89 million worth of improvements, ranging from new escalators to overall accessibility. The 86-year-old event facility has already received updates to its roof and technology but will spend another $27 million on projects starting in 2023. Read more about the funding. 💸 (Fort Worth Report)
Opening
Hurtado Barbecue is getting ready to open next month + is hiring for several positions. The Arlington-based restaurant will take over the former Derek Allan’s Texas Barbecue space at 1116 8th Ave. near the Medical District. Stop by for open interviewsthrough 4 p.m. tomorrow. 🍖
Drink
You’re invited to a sneak peek and a free drink at the new No Limits Bar at Texas Motor Speedway. Guests can meet the new general manager Mark Faber + NASCAR Xfinity Driver Sheldon Creed. Stop by Fri., Sept. 23 from 3-5 p.m. on the Concourse near Gate 4. 🍻
Eat
Join Funky Picnic Brewery & Cafe to celebrate Oktoberfest next Mon., Sept. 26 from 7-9 p.m. Tickets include a five-course German-style meal paired with five Funky Picnic beers. Ticket sales end on Sat., Sept. 24. 🥨
Traffic
Expect delays around downtown next week as crews begin road work on the Downtown Street Resurfacing project. Starting Mon., Sept. 26, several streets will be closed as crews remove pavement. View the impacted roads. 🚧
Concerts
Chef Tim Love’s Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall is getting ready to open next month + tickets are now on sale for the first round of concerts. The entertainment venue will feature five full-service bars, handmade pizza, and a boutique. View the opening lineup set for Sat., Oct. 1. 🎟️
Sports
Don’t miss it — the Texas Rangers have kicked off their 50th Anniversary Fan Appreciation Week. On Sun., Sept. 25, fans will receive a pocket schedule, a ticket voucher for a 2023 regular season game + the first 10,000 people will receive a Tom Grieve bobblehead. Grab your tickets to the game. ⚾
Ranked
Cowtown was named one of the 10 small towns in the US that feel like the Wild West. Fort Worth ranked No. 9 and is noted for the Stockyards Historic District and is one of the country’s largest horse and cattle markets. Check out the other towns that made the list. 🐮
Real Estate
When the Menard family decided to move home, the hot CA sun wasn’t the only thing heating up Orange County. Learn how an Opendoor-backed offer landed them the house of their dreams.*
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The new additions are expected to open fall of 2024. | Video by FTWtoday
We’re getting a better idea of what TCU’snew east campus will look like. Last fall, the Board of Trustees approved construction plans for the first residence and dining halls on the east campus to support the growing student population.
The parking lot — bordered by Merida and Lubbock Avenues and West Lowden Street — will be home to two residence halls that will house up to 500 first-year students and a dining hall that will seat up to 700 people. Renderings show space for students to study and hang out, along with plenty of green space. The facilities are expected to open in the fall of 2024.
This isn’t the only new addition for the school — last month the university broke ground on the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at 1100 W. Rosedale St. The $62 million facility will rise four stories in the Medical District and hold about 240 students. The new campus will open summer of 2024.
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Rebecca.
Editor’s pick: DYK FTWtoday has its own store — Six & Main — that features products from local artists + vendors? This week, AlanaKay ART was added to our inventory and the shop features fun earrings, cocktail glasses, decorative trays + more. If you know a local artist that should be featured on our site, let us know.
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