EXTRAORDINARY VENUE FOR UNFORGETTABLE EVENTS

The town of Nocona owes its very existence to the arrival of the railroad. As the cattle drive era of the Chisholm Trail quickly became a thing of the past, the town was platted in early 1887 and named after Peta Nocona, the father of the famous Comanche Chief, Quanah Parker. The first train arrived on June 7, 1887, consisting of a locomotive and one passenger car. It wasn’t long before several passenger and freight trains traveled to Nocona on a daily basis. As Nocona became an economic and industrial center of the county, many older towns in the area, bypassed by the railroad, shuttered their doors as their citizens moved to Nocona.

The depot was built in 1898 and served as the Nocona train depot for more than seventy years. In their heyday, railroads connected the county’s cotton and livestock production with a means of delivery throughout the nation, providing area residents with their main source of livelihood. The farming, dairy and leather goods industries all gained worldwide success because of their access to the railroad. By the 1950s, the railroads faced fierce competition from large-truck freight lines, automobiles and airplanes. Gradually, coaches were removed until, by 1955, only two remained. As business continued to decline, officials decided to discontinue passenger service altogether to and from Nocona. The last passenger train from Wichita Falls passed through Nocona on May 15, 1959.

The depot was moved to its current location on Highway 82 in the 1970s and was lovingly restored by Jodi & Kyle Womble in 2020 to preserve the charm of the original depot and surrounding community. It was renamed Peonies Depot and renovation began to revive the building that played such an important role in Nocona’s history.

Peonies Depot opens a new chapter in the train station’s long history. Today, Peonies Depot is both one of the newest and oldest treasures in Nocona. The depot’s rich history and beauty serve as the perfect backdrop for an inviting yet unique experience and home to Peonies gift boutique.