Along meandering Salado Creek unfolds the story of Salado, Texas: Frontier College Town. Primitive Indians lived here early on, Spanish explorers mapped the area, veterans of the Texas Revolution claimed their land grants here, and hearty pioneers planted a flourishing community. The first order of business by locals was to establish a college on the rolling hills overlooking the creek.
Salado College, like none other in this region, was a private school founded on the unconventional belief that men and women deserved equal access to higher education. The school became a magnet drawing large families here from across the Nation. Early graduates became governors, judges, teachers, business and civic leaders who excelled in their chosen fields. Pioneer settlers built large Greek revival style homes that also served as boarding houses for students and faculty of the college. The story of Salado and its college is one of courage and conviction during difficult times on the early Texas frontier.
Today, the "Athens of Texas" has developed into a quaint little village drawing people from around the country to enjoy its special atmosphere. Twenty-one bed and breakfast inns, dozens of historical features, a variety of restaurants and a mixture of charming specialty stores make a visit to Salado an unforgettable experience.