It’s hunting season in the city of Hamilton
Hamilton is a hunter’s community right next to the Texas Triangle. Located around 70 miles west of Waco, Hamilton is an agricultural town in Central Texas with rural and historical appeal. It was once a resting stop for doves during their migration season, at one point even being referred to as the Dove Capital of Texas. “When I was a kid, the hunters came by in droves every season,” Haile Realty Group broker Brian Haile says. “You couldn’t get around town because of all the hunters.” While dove have since migrated away from Hamilton, the area is still rife with wild game such as white-tail deer, quail and hogs. With vast acreage, local restaurants and recreational amenities, Hamilton is a hidden gem for those on the hunt for a new home.
Mexican restaurants and German meat markets
Restaurants are situated downtown around the main intersection. El Jardin is a popular Mexican restaurant that’s well-known for its fajitas, enchiladas and nachos. Woody’s Hamburgers serves smash burgers made from locally sourced beef, and the Wenzel Lonestar Meat Company is a German-stye deli and market. “It’s a good little spot,” Haile says. “They get a lot of people off of the highway who come over there to get a sandwich, sausage or sauerkraut.” Small businesses include boutique stores like Pecan Creek Outfitters and Hamilton Floral & Gifts. Fast food restaurants and convenience stores are scattered along the highway along with a Brookshire Brothers grocery store.
Fixer-uppers, farmhouses and ranch-style homes
Older homes of many sizes are available in city blocks all throughout the downtown area, while others sit on the outskirts of the city. “It’s hard to find homes that are move-in ready on the market,” Brian says. “Most of the time, they need some fixing up, but people take pride in them and make them look nice.” Single-story fixer uppers have gravel driveways, patchy lawns and carports and cost $30,000 to $95,000. Moderate-sized homes feature traditional, craftsman, farmhouse and ranch-style architecture and have half-acre lots between $100,000 and $400,000. Larger two-story homes with quarter-acre lots will be $400,000 to $600,000.
Livestock shows and rodeo at Circle T Arena
Hamilton has many parks and recreational areas around the city. Pecan Creek Park has baseball fields and a disc golf course, and Horton Park got a new dog park in 2025. There’s a small skate park by Old Stockyard Road, while livestock shows and concerts take place at the barn and pavilion at Fair Park. The Circle T Arena is 5 miles northwest of the city and hosts rodeo and roping events throughout the year. Those who come in for hunting season can reserve their leases through the chamber of commerce.
A-rated schools in Hamilton ISD
The Hamilton Independent School District is based on the west side of the community along the appropriately named College Street. The Ann Whitney Elementary School has a Gifted & Talented program and a B-plus on Niche. Hamilton Junior High is highly rated for its teachers with an A-minus. Hamilton High School has a 9-to-1 student-teacher ratio and an A-minus.
Festivities in the Dove Capital of Texas
Every Labor Day weekend, Hamilton hosts the annual Dove Festival, a two-day event that features rodeos, concerts, food trucks and a 5K. A patriotic parade and fireworks display always comes around during the city’s Independence Day celebrations, while trick-or-treaters dress up in their best costume for Halloween On The Square every October. The community also comes together the first Thursday of every December to watch the Christmas tree light up just in time for the season.
Three major highways throughout Central Texas
Hamilton has three major highways that make it easy to get around Central Texas, including U.S. Route 281 and Texas State Highways 22 and 36. “We’re right between Austin, Dallas and San Antonio,” Haile says. “You can be to any one of those within a couple of hours.” The Hamilton General Hospital is open for 24 hours.
