Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

Today they had a interactive exhibit on the Wizard of Oz. It was well set up and the staff was very friendly. Walking around the building, it is very pretty and so cool inside. They have a public bathroom which most stores downtown do not. Did I mention is air conditioned. The building is renovated and very nice.

I love Grapevine also! Pledged to support the local businesses by buying most my gifts this year downtown instead of on Amazon. Sadly the Grapevine police are running a speed trap on 114 onto Main Street. They’re not giving warnings despite this area being newly opened following lengthy construction closure so unfamiliar to many of us. I should have stayed home and shopped Amazon, would have been much much less expensive. Shame on you Grapevine! Others be warned. You may want to take your business elsewhere.

Grapevine has the most grand and elegant Vistors Center I have seen in Texas. It’s a replica of an 1880’s train station that why it looks so old and prefect, shiny and new at the same time. Nice friendly service from some seasoned ladies familiar with everything in the area. Tons of free maps, guide and clean public restrooms.

I have hosted shows at different convention centers all over Texas, but the Grapevine Convention Center is one of the most difficult venues to work with. They want to have you guarantee $ 300 of sales at their concessions per day, but they will only stay open for a couple hours during the show, making it almost impossible to meet the guarantee. I have NEVER encountered any center that operates their concessions like this.
You look at the rates for a show and they seem reasonable until you realize that they charge you a high hourly rate if you need to go past 6 PM and that includes loading out after the show. A rental that should have only cost $ 2125 becomes $ 3600 because they charge $ 300 per hour for every hour before 9 AM and past 6 PM.
The staff seems overworked and is very depressing to work with and they have NO flexibility to work with promoters.
I will be looking for another location to host my shows and I think this is the LAST time I will use this venue. For the city of Grapevine to have the 4^th largest CVB in Texas they sure run their convention center as if they are smallest CVB and have little or no concern for their convention centers poor operations. The City of Grapevine should be thoroughly EMBARRASSED, but they are NOT and they have NO CLUE how idiotic they look!

After having breakfast up the street, we came to see the new glockenspiel; Nat and Willy, would be train robbers, come to life.
Although signs warned that because the glockenspiel was still «undergoing mechanical refinements» and that «the characters may not emerge from the Tower as scheduled», we did get to see Nat and Willy come to life. Now I’ve seen my fair share of glockenspiels in my day, but this was the most unique. The best observation spot is caddy-​corner to the south-​east, where an audio program accompanies the action on the tower. Do arrive a bit early though, as the show starts BEFORE the designated hours (noon and 6PM).
Status of the glockenspiel can be found here:

After the show we went into the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is also described as a «Museum Complex» and «is a symbol of friendship and hospitality. The facility represents the architectural period of significance from the 1870s through 1915 and is a tribute to the architectural and commercial heritage of Grapevine.» (wall plaques, outside along Main St., explain the buildings)
The inside of the building was very nice, and refreshing cool. We hoped to find out where the glockenspiel was made, but no one in the facility knew*. There was however a good selection of pamphlets on local and statewide tourist activities.
Also on our visit the National Watercolor Society Traveling exhibition was on display (through June 15^th, $ 3 entry fee). I suspect other venues will making use of this very nice space.
* I’ve since learned: «The Glockenspiel was built by The Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 1842, the Verdin family has been dedicated to creating tower clocks, street clocks, fine cast bronze bells, carillons and more that enrich communities and become cherished legacies for generations to enjoy. Grapevine’s Cotton Belt Hotel Tower’s Glockenspiel is the first of its kind in North America.» —