By jim gatewood top o hill casino was taking in over a half a million dollars on weekends in the depth of the great depression while las vegas was but a duty crossroad in nevada. The conservative norris was an ardent proponent of prohibition and gambling reform. Arlington is just as much of a destination for shoppers as it is for sports fans or thrill seekers. At its peak, top o hill terrace was the most lavish gambling establishment in the united states. The college maintains a top o hill terrace website. Discover the historic side of arlington with these 6. But, since the 50s, the gambling operation was stopped, and the bible baptist seminary bought top o hill terrace. Hess, camille and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. Visit top ohill terrace on your trip to arlington or united.
From the entrance hall, one passed through another door which had a peep hole. Frank norris, longtime pastor of first baptist church of fort worth. Built in the mid 30s, it is a decorative mansion complex that hosts a historic tour with amazing architecture galore. The history of top o hill terrace is remarkable and very insightful for not only texans and those of the dfw dallasft. The story of a tearoom evolving into the gambling hot spot of north central texas that was then acquired by a fiery gospel preacher, who foretold its transformation into a baptist seminary and ultimately an accredited bible college, is stranger. Hotel in forest hill tx best western plus fort worth. If history isnt your thing, arlington is now home to the largest esports stadium in the united states. During the era of gangsters and organized crime, texas hosted its fair share of guns and gambling, ransom and robbery. Bryant said of her campaign to preserve the history of the terrace.
Known as vegas before vegas, top o hill terrace was a casino, restaurant, tea garden, and brothel that was very popular among gamblers and gangsters of nearly a century ago. An opponent of the top o hill heyday was the outspoken j. Gonzaullas, who was well aware of the history and difficulties in raiding top o hill. Cheese, puttputt fun center, movie tavern, creative hands. Arlington baptist college is at the location of the former top o hill terrace, a notorious speakeasy and casino during the 1920s1940s. Video of speeches gatewood books by author jim gatewood. The donor established the top o hill terrace museum in arlington, texas at the current location of arlington baptist college. Dozens of historical blackandwhite photographs breathe life into the descriptions of tarrant county areas such as hells half acre and main street circa 1920 in fort worth and top o hill terrace, a popular speakeasy on east division street. There should be a movie filmed about top o hill terrace.
Going down these stairs, the patrons were unaware of the inner room. The first door was one with a twoway mirror which led into an entrance hall. She has amassed a large collection of stories, photographs and interviews for a museum on the college grounds. Read about the rich, the famous and the infamous who visited there in its heyday, and learn the amazing tale of its conversion from casino to arlington baptist college. Rent top o hill terrace 1st edition 9780738585277 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. She is the wife of the current president of arlington baptist college, david bryant.
Camile hess if the saga of top o hill casino becoming arlington baptist college were written as fiction, readers would dismiss it as improbable and. Its resurgence in the united states in the 1920s is credited to the silent film actor buster keaton who wore them in many of his films. Oct 08, 2009 the back door was the main entrance for the patrons of top o hill. History of top o hill terrace in arlington with pictures posted in local history. The conservative norris, cofounder of bible baptist seminary, was an ardent proponent of prohibition and gambling reform. Top o hill terrace the incredible story of a secret place that was vegas before vegas and thrived during prohibition. Top ohill at arlington baptist college lakes trail region. Top o hill terrace facilities included a horse barn and a private stable for brownings prized horse, royal ford, purchased from oilman and arlington downs owner w. If the saga of top o hill casino becoming arlington baptist college w. Browning, a former plumber, was a local boy, had attended the fifth ward school on fort worths near east side. Sep 08, 2019 she coauthored a book about top o hill terrace.
Contemporary to the top o hill heyday was the outspoken dr. The story of a tearoom evolving into the gambling hot. The hats from his films were ones the actor made himself by converting fedoras and other hats into pork pies, creating. Camille hess is the author of top o hill terrace 3. Once a hotspot for illegal gambling in the roaring 1920s, this historic building known as vegas before vegas was frequented by gamblers and gangsters. Were written as fiction, readers would dismiss it as. Enjoyed the great information and even found a long lost cousin from the details. Bonnie and clyde, machine gun kelly, the newton boys, the santa claus bank robbers. Top ohill terrace 3001 w division st arlington, tx.
But the terrace, located in arlington along the historic bankhead highway, and its historic past exhibit the classic characteristics inherent in the texas spirit a little temperance and a lot of independence. History of top o hill terrace in arlington with pictures. Tea time at the casino some folks might consider the top o hill terraces rowdy beginnings a bit too racy for public consumption. Historical site of top o hill terrace casino 1930s40s. Top o hill terrace, texas image of america series by. First visit where learned the story of the very historical top o hill terrace for years i have driven past this college campus without realizing it was anything significant. For a bit history and scandal, take a step back in time with a tour at top o hill terrace. Visit top ohill terrace on your trip to arlington or. Today as a member of a tcc class for seniors i learned this is one of the most historic sites in dfw. View all hotels near top o hill terrace on tripadvisor. Historic features from the casino still present on the campus include a sandstone guardhouse, an iron gate, an openair tea garden, and escape tunnels. Bryant is the coauthor of a book on top o hill terrace entitled, images of america. Author, jim gatewood tells a short story from his collection of books he authored about texas history. After enjoying a fine meal prepared by gussy at the top o hill, the patrons eventually made their way through the lounge and down the stairway to the big steel vault door of the basement.
Hess, camille and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Top ohill terrace arlington 2020 all you need to know. Worth area, but for those looking to see how god is working in miraculous ways with the historic area now being arlington baptist university. Top o hill terrace images of america 9780738585277 by bryant, vickie. Day sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday. Nov 29, 2006 the beginning of the end for the top o hill terrace was august 11, 1947. Top ohill terrace 3001 w division st arlington, tx tourist. If the saga of top o hill casino becoming arlington baptist college were written as fiction, readers would dismiss it as improbable and impossible. There were five doors through which one passed to finally reach the casino. The campus is the site of the former top o hill terrace casino, which has been recognized with a texas state historical marker.
View all hotels near top ohill terrace on tripadvisor. The beginning of the end for the top o hill terrace was august 11, 1947. The top o hill terrace teahouse often appeared in the society columns of both cities. Not sure if this has been discussed here yet, but arlington baptist college is now giving tours of the remains of the top o hill terrace an illegal gambling hall that operated in the 1930s1940s and was bought out by the college in the 1950s. You can see this part of arlingtons history by going on a guided tour at top o hill terrace, where you can see some of the original structures and the tunnel used by patrons to evade authorities. Gonzaullas, who was well aware of the history and difficulties in raiding top o. One of his targets was top o hill terrace, which he vowed one day to own. The story of a tearoom evolving into the gambling hot spot of north central texas that was then acquired by a fiery gospel preacher, who foretold its transformation into a baptist seminary and ultimately an accredited bible college, is. Bryant donated the following items related to the history of top o hill terrace. This short is about bonnie and clyde told at the bankhead highway centennial celebration at the top o hill terrace, april 9th, 2016. Most popular destinations compiled from 2020 lyft ride data. Top ohill terrace arlington all you need to know before.
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