Casa Mañana, the Jiffy Pop-looking silver dome anchoring the eastern edge of Fort Worth’s Cultural District, is actually the second live theater venue on that corner.
At the well-traveled intersection of University Drive and Lancaster Avenue, today’s Casa Mañana was built on the site of a theater that held outdoor productions starting in 1936.
After Dallas was selected to be the site of the official Texas Centennial Celebration in 1936, newspaper publisher and Cowtown promoter Amon G. Carter began making plans for a celebration in Fort Worth that would rival the event to the east. At the center of the celebration was to be a large outdoor amphitheater and restaurant called Casa Mañana, “The House of Tomorrow.”
The Texas Frontier Centennial, Fort Worth’s special observance of the Texas Centennial, portrayed the culture and atmosphere of the Old West. Carter and other downtown bigwigs paid showman Billy Rose of New York City $1,000 a day to stage the entertainment.
The spectacle covered 162 acres and cost $5 million. The most publicized part of the celebration was Casa Mañana, in which seats and tables to accommodate 3,500 spectators faced a revolving stage on which Rose presented his musical revue. So popular was the celebration that it was presented again in 1937.
The original Casa Mañana outdoor theater was eventually dismantled.
Casa Mañana magic lives on
In the fall of 1957, Fort Worth Opera Association President James H. Snowden Jr. and manager Melvin O. Dacus approached the City of Fort Worth to build a theater complex focused on Broadway musicals. With a budget of $500,000, the City Council approved the project on Jan. 14, 1958.
Construction began on March 13. A record-breaking 114 days later, Casa Mañana Theatre was completed as a fully enclosed, air-conditioned, aluminum-domed theater.
A black-tie opening on July 5, 1958, entertained audiences with a production of “Can-Can” and introduced them to the 1,805-seat house and theater-in-the-round. With no backstage area, the actors and stagehands used the surrounding concourse and aisles to move set pieces, props and other materials on and off stage. With the back row only 36 feet from the stage, audiences fell in love with the unique and intimate setting of Casa Mañana Theatre.
The building, designed by A. George King, features a geodesic dome designed by aluminum industrialist Henry Kaiser and Richard Buckminster Fuller. It was the second building built in the U.S. with a Kaiser dome.
Broadway classics, kid-friendly shows and homegrown stars
Besides offering a full repertoire of renowned Broadway shows, Casa is also home to the Children’s Theatre, which caters to kids and families. Upcoming productions include “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “The SpongeBob Musical.”
Casa Mañana is also a pro-grade training ground for young aspiring thespians. Not only do the classes provide an authentic theater/stage experience, but some students also get to hone their acting chops with roles in the venue’s performances.
One notable alumnus is legendary actress Betty Buckley, who grew up in Fort Worth and attended Arlington Heights High School. She later studied acting more formally at TCU before launching her professional career. Buckley’s most famous project is widely considered to be her role as Grizabella in the original 1982 Broadway production of “Cats,” for which she won the Tony Award for best featured actress in a musical.
Setting the stage for tomorrow
The theater-in-the-round setup was changed in 2003 with a major renovation project to become a more traditional theater setting. The renovation provided a modified thrust stage, a new lobby and new restroom facilities.
Today, Casa Mañana continues to house live, professional theater for the enrichment and education of a diverse Fort Worth.
According to CRE Daily, a leading digital media outlet covering the commercial real estate industry, Fort Worth has been ranked first in the nation for permitting efficiency. The recognition comes from Labrynth’s 2025 Red Tape Index 500, an AI-driven analysis evaluating how quickly and effectively cities process development permits.
With a score of 0.96, Fort Worth leads all major U.S. cities, standing out for its speed, clarity and continuous improvements in permitting operations. For developers and commercial real estate investors, that performance translates directly into faster approvals, fewer delays and greater confidence in project timelines.
The Development Services Department’s top ranking reflects several years of strategic investment in modern digital systems, streamlined workflows and improved customer service. These changes have helped the City process permits more efficiently, ensuring developers can move from planning to construction with minimal friction.
“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our Development team, community stakeholders and the vision of our executive leadership,” said Development Services Department Director D.J. Harrell. “Our team shows up every day committed to delivering clear, predictable and customer-focused service, and I’m incredibly proud of the work they do to support Fort Worth’s growth and economic development.”
The Red Tape Index evaluates 500 U.S. cities with populations of 50,000 or more, measuring:
Fort Worth excelled across all three categories. As Labrynth noted, the City’s success is no accident — it’s the result of intentional reforms designed to support continued growth for one of the fastest-expanding cities in the country. Permitting speed and efficiency matter for investors and developers because permitting speed can dramatically influence a project's viability. Cities that demonstrate predictable, transparent processes offer lower risks, competitive timelines and greater development certainty.
The Development Services Department's top ranking positions the City of Fort Worth as a national model for business-friendly governance, reinforcing its ongoing momentum as a hub for investment and population growth. As Fort Worth continues to grow, its commitment to fast, transparent permitting will remain a key driver of economic competitiveness — and a significant advantage for anyone doing business in the city.
Movies That Matter, a film series program, presents We Are Guardians at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St.
Know before you go: Admission is free. Make reservations online.
About the film: We Are Guardians (2023, NR, 82 min.) follows Indigenous Forest guardians Marçal Guajajara and leader Puyr Tembé as they fight to protect their territories from deforestation, while also exploring the struggles of an illegal logger and a landowner besieged by invaders and extractive industries. Through intimate storytelling, the film examines the Amazon Rainforest’s pivotal role in global climate stability and the economic drivers of its destruction. Blending politics, history, science and consciousness, it provides a deep dive into this complex crisis. Directed by Edivan Guajajara, Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman; produced by Fisher Stevens and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.
Sixteen establishments were recognized at the Nov. 4 City Council work session for their role as the inaugural participants in the City’s Golden Lasso Accreditation Program.
The free and voluntary program certifies bars, restaurants and venues committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable nightlife experience.
The 16 recognized establishments included:
About the program: The Golden Lasso certification demonstrates establishments’ commitment to providing “Safety-Branded Entertainment” for Fort Worth’s residents and visitors. It also empowers them to formalize their practices through policy and employee training, looping in the unique value of “Safety-Branded Entertainment” to enhance patrons’ confidence and peace of mind.
While any establishment is eligible to earn accreditation, the Golden Lasso program specifically aims to improve the practices of businesses that hold a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license. Ultimately, the Golden Lasso Accreditation aims to decrease alcohol-related harm and build positive relationships among business owners, City agencies, state agencies and community groups.
Interested in joining the Golden Lasso program? The City of Fort Worth is actively onboarding new establishments to become accredited and join the Golden Lasso Program. For more information, email Kimberly Tyler or call 682-263-5852.
On Oct. 7, the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD), community leaders and residents came out to celebrate National Night Out. Residents were encouraged to hold events in their communities to get to know each other and the police officers who serve their neighborhoods to help prevent crime.
Cue the confetti and cake! Opal Lee, Fort Worth’s “Grandmother of Juneteenth” turns 99 years young today.
Lee’s circle of influence ripples far and wide. Born Oct. 7, 1926, in Marshall, Texas, she was the eldest of three children born to Mattie (Broadus) and Otis Flake. The family moved to Fort Worth when Lee was 10, eventually purchasing a house on East Annie Street.
On June 19, 1939, just days after moving in, a mob of around 500 white rioters vandalized and burned down their home. Lee was approximately 12 years old at the time of the fire. That tragic event marked the start of Lee’s lifelong activism and fight to keep the memory of Juneteenth alive.
She has spent many decades ensuring that Juneteenth remain etched in society’s collective conscience. Her relentless efforts to make June 19 a federal holiday stand as her most notable and enduring achievement. That law was signed in 2021, and Lee attended the signing.
Steadfast in her commitment to memorializing Juneteenth, beginning in 2016 at age 89, Lee began her annual “Walks for Freedom” on June 19. Since that initial event, Lee’s 2.5-mile treks have continued in Fort Worth, with people across the country joining in their own cities to amplify their voices and show support.
Besides receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024, Lee also has served in several volunteer leadership and service roles, including Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity, Habitat for Humanity, Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society and the Community Food Bank.
On Sept. 16, Fort Worth City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. This year’s budget has been shaped by population growth, with the City’s population now exceeding 1 million people, and by the evolving property tax landscape in Texas.
The approved operating budget is $3.09 billion, an increase of 10.77%, or just over $300 million, from the FY2025 adopted budget.
The budget increase sustains service levels for Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and adds resources for the Housing Priority Repair Program, Mobile Tool Shed Program and animal shelters. Additional PayGo funds have been added for street and park maintenance. The approved budget aligns with the City Council’s Strategic Priorities: Economic Development, Community Investment, Community Safety, Infrastructure and Responsible Growth.
After a public hearing at the Sept. 16 special-called City Council meeting, the approved tax rate for FY2026 is $0.6700, a reduction of 1/4 cent from the current tax rate of $0.6725. Out of the $0.6700, $0.5225 is allocated to operations and maintenance and $0.1475 is allocated to debt.
The approved General Fund budget is $1.11 billion, an increase of 4.56% from the previous year.
Significant organizational changes include establishing a new Emergency Management & Communications Department, moving Homeless Strategies and Planning into the City Manager’s Office, shifting responsibility for homeless camp enforcement from Code Compliance to Environmental Services and redistributing funding and staff from the former Diversity & Inclusion Department.
The increase in the public safety budget is for contractual pay increases as well as additional Neighborhood Police Officers (NPOs) and School Resource Officers (SROs). Eight NPOs and two SROs will be added this year. NPOs were added following a Beat Study, which looked at the geographic boundaries of patrol beats. The result of the study included adding an additional 12 beats, benefiting many areas of the City, as the realignment is designed to yield more efficient and effective police response.
SROs were added in partnership with Fort Worth ISD as they look to address their response to Texas HB 3, which added security requirements for school districts. The two SROs will be added to the current 87 officers.
The new fiscal year starts Oct. 1, 2025.
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If the walls could talk, the stories they’d tell about the legendary Will Rogers Coliseum. Stories about rodeos, the crowning of cutting horse champions, circuses, Golden Gloves boxing, Billy Graham revivals and the list would go on and on.
Preservation of one of Fort Worth’s most significant historical landmarks provides enough reason to renovate the now 90-year-old treasure, but strong demand for its continued use makes a $50.5 million project crucial to the city and region’s economic vitality.
Beginning during the 2025 Stock Show, the endeavor kicked into high gear in February and is projected for substantial completion in late November.
The Will Rogers Coliseum has been, arguably, the scene of more significant events in professional rodeo and western equestrian competitions than any facility in the United States. Beginning with a Texas Centennial rodeo in 1936 and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s move in 1944, other performance horse events followed in the popular building referred to by rodeo and horse show fans simply as “Will Rogers.”
When the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) moved its growing futurity to Will Rogers in the fall of 1962, it’s unlikely anyone knew just how significant the impact on Fort Worth and the surrounding area would be 60 years later. More NCHA competitions followed, including the association’s Super Stakes in March and April and the Summer Spectacular held in July and August.
Other organizations followed, including the American Paint Horse Association’s World Championship Show, the U.S. Team Roping Championships and others. The most significant additions in recent years occurred when the National Reined Cow Horse Association moved the Snaffle Bit Futurity and Celebration of Champions/World’s Greatest Horseman events to Fort Worth from other cities. Between these and other events, the Coliseum’s yearlong calendar is, today, virtually full.
Heavy use over nine decades has created the need for some serious TLC. Wear and tear from “foot traffic” in the concourse and bowl and “hoof traffic” in the livestock infrastructure facilities has taken a significant toll.
While maintaining a commitment to keeping the venue’s iconic feel, the project’s plans also call for expanding the concourse by removing outdated structures (rooms and offices), thus creating new sightlines to the arena, which, in turn, improves lighting throughout the building. Long-overdue restroom renovations will be a very welcome improvement for all Coliseum guests.
“This exciting project will transform the facility into a more open environment, giving our guests a greater feel for the excitement on the arena floor while maintaining the Coliseum’s nostalgic feel and look that they’ve always loved,” said Stock Show President and General Manager Matt Carter. “Besides the concourse and restroom improvements, these upgrades will include replacing the major HVAC and electrical systems, adding fire and life safety systems, as well as accessibility accommodations for all guests.”
Rooms adjacent to the Coliseum’s south end are being transformed from warehouse space into features such as meeting rooms, food preparation and dining facilities. These improvements lend the building expanded usefulness to Stock Show and other year-round tenants.
Restoring the exterior’s original look, as well as improving the overall aesthetic, is also a priority.
Guests approaching the Coliseum will gain a refreshed perspective of the Art Deco style by the removal of an obsolete awning (originally installed years after the original construction) that covered the building’s westside doors.
Historically accurate doors with windows on both east and west sides will not only complement the exterior’s classic look, but will allow more natural light into the concourse. The building’s appearance from the east will also be freshened with an entrance to the newly created multipurpose space in the Coliseum’s southeast corner.
Additionally, much care is being taken to bring back the original aluminum ribs that were part of the iconic look of the building when the roof is replaced.
The longstanding partnership between the City of Fort Worth and the Stock Show is, again, limiting taxpayer exposure while taking advantage of the strengths and efficiencies of both organizations.
The City of Fort Worth will allocate $45.5 million to the project with the Stock Show taking up the remaining $5 million obligation. Moreover, the Stock Show is serving as project manager, working closely with staff from the City’s Public Events Department and the contractor, Sedalco Construction Services.
The renovations are the first of several phases currently being planned for the original 1936 buildings that include the Auditorium and Tower. With a goal of completion by their centennial year, the next decade promises plenty of hope and excitement for our beloved Will Rogers.
On Thursday, June 19th, Dr. Opal Lee will complete her annual 2.5-mile walk to recognize the 2.5 years it took for the news and enforcement of freedom to reach the enslaved people in Texas.
Now a national holiday, Juneteenth celebrates the freedom gained when slavery was abolished all across the country. Unity Unlimited and Ms. Opal continue her walks to educate the nation on the importance of understanding that freedom is for everyone.
Join a team or create a team by registering today and starting a team. Then ask your family and friends to join you in Fort Worth's renown cultural district for a day of unity and fun.
We have a limited number of seats for our senior citizens and mobility challenged. Be sure to register to ride the shuttles that will follow the walkers.
Finally, you may not want to walk but still want to enjoy the day of freedom with great live music and community engagement. Purchase a spectator ticket and T-shirt separately and join in the fun on the 50-yard line of Farrington Field.
Most events will be centered around Farrington Field – both before and after the walk. However, Montgomery Street and Lancaster Ave. will be completely closed for the walk.
FORT WORTH, TX – May 7, 2025 – While humans may flock to Fort Worth Botanic Garden during daylight hours, it turns out our nocturnal neighbors have made it their favorite hangout spot too! Recent acoustic monitoring has revealed that FWBG is the hottest bat destination in Tarrant and Parker Counties, hosting a five-star resort experience for these beneficial winged wonders.
Bat-anical Garden Takes the Crown
A collaborative study conducted by the Cross Timbers Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, the North American Bat Monitoring Program, and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (BRIT) discovered that five different bat species call the Garden home after dark—substantially more than other surveyed locations including the Nature Center & Wildlife Refuge, Tandy Hills Natural Area, and Mineral Wells State Park, which typically hosted just one or two species.
Meet the Night Shift
Using specialized acoustic eavesdropping equipment that captures the high-frequency gossip bats exchange while hunting, researchers confirmed these nocturnal residents:
· Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) – The social butterfly of the bat world
· Evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) – The punctual one, always on time for dinner
· Tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) – The fashionista with its tri-colored fur
Two additional VIP guests were spotted but need formal introductions:
· Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) – The redhead of the group
· Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) – Distinguished by its sophisticated salt-and-pepper look
Of special concern is our petite friend the Tricolored bat, who's having a tough time with white-nose syndrome and is being considered for the U.S. endangered species list—essentially the bat equivalent of needing critical care.
These Bats Mean Business
Don't let their cute faces fool you—bats are ecological powerhouses with impressive résumés. By night, they're pest control specialists consuming thousands of insects each, saving farmers billions and sparing us extra mosquito bites during summer barbecues.
But wait, there's more! These flying mammals are also master pollinators working the night shift. While bees clock out at sunset, bats clock in to pollinate over 500 plant species worldwide. Agave (hello, tequila lovers!), bananas, mangoes, and various cacti all send thank-you notes to bats for their pollination services. Here in Texas, plants like the century plant and organ pipe cactus have evolved into night owls themselves, producing bat-friendly features like after-hours blooming, intoxicating fragrances, and reinforced landing pads for their furry pollinators.
As if that weren't enough, bats are also champion seed spreaders. A single colony's guano works like nature's fertilizer and seed delivery service, dispersing millions of seeds annually. Talk about multitasking!
Tough Times for Team Bat
"Despite their superhero status in the ecosystem, bats are facing some serious villains in habitat loss and disease," noted Ashley Bales, Herbarium Collections Manager for BRIT who participated in the study. "Finding such a diverse bat community at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden proves that urban green spaces aren't just fun places to visit—they're lifelines for wildlife."
Be a Bat Buddy
Want to roll out the welcome mat for these beneficial neighbors? FWBG suggests these bat-friendly home improvements:
· Plant a midnight snack bar with native night-blooming flowers
· Turn down those outdoor lights (bats prefer the moonlight)
· Skip the pesticides—let bats be your natural pest control
· Install a birdbath spa for thirsty visitors
· Set up a bat house (think of it as an eco-friendly B&B for bats)
·
For more information about the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and the Botanic Research Institute of Texas, visit www.fwbg.org.
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