International Porcelain Artists and Teachers, Inc.
204 E. Franklin Street, Grapevine, Texas 76051
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1807, Grapevine, Texas 76099
817-251-1185
IPAT Museum of Porcelain Art Grapevine, TX
Below is a list of hotels. For the best price, you may want to consider a site like booking.com or hotels.com. Keep in mind that hotels book quickly in Grapevine. Short term rentals (i.e., AirBnB, Vrbo) are not allowed in Grapevine city limits, but are in some nearby cities.
If you are coming from DFW airport, you can catch the TEXRail from Terminal B to Grapevine.
The City of Grapevine also offers three complimentary shuttle lines to take people around the City. Hotels serviced by the routes are noted above. Routes and times may be found here.
Some hotels offer shuttles to Main Street or destinations of your choosing around Grapevine. Please check with your hotel.
Main Street is very walkable. There is a slight rise in elevation as you head north. The map at the right shows key convention places. To see the full map with places to eat, click here or on the map.
IPAT Museum
In 1843, Sam Houston met with ten Native American leaders to sign the Treaty of Bird's Fort not far from modern Grapevine. The Treaty allowed Texans to settle North Texas without fear of attack from Natives. The next year in 1844, Grapevine was settled. In 2021, the City dedicated the "Peace Circle" on Peace Plaza in front of the Grapevine Main. The ceremony had representatives from the original ten nations whose leaders, along with Sam Houston, are represented by bronze figures at 1.25 the size of life.
The Peace Circle is just one of many in a series of public art features around Grapevine. Funded at no cost to tax payers, there are sculptures and murals all over Grapevine with most centered on Main Street. Be sure to plan a walk after dinner to enjoy these.
In 1888, the agrarian way of life in Grapevine was transformed by the coming of the St. Louis Southwest Railroad, or Cotton Belt Railroad. The original station and section foreman's house from circa 1888 still stand and are open to the public on weekends from free. From the station, you can catch a ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. Ride 1920s cars lead by a restored engine. Advance purchase is recommended at GVRR.com.
In the Spring of 2021, the Grapevine Main opened. Across the tracks from the original station, it resembles a train station and houses meeting rooms, a food court, and the Grapevine Visitor's Center. Visitors may go to the top of the tower and enjoy views of the DFW area from 150ft in the air for a small fee.
The City was named for the wild mustang grapes that grew on the prairie. Today, Main Street and nearby is home to several wineries, a couple of breweries and a cidery. There are even places with alcohol infused popsicles and ice cream.
Grapevine is also the home of the largest in tact homestead in Tarrant County located three blocks west of Main Street. In 1859, Thomas & Elizabeth Nash moved to their land. By 1869, a new home was completed. It has been lovingly restored. Open 9 am to 5 pm daily, visitors may tour the home and grounds that include heritage breeds of chickens, turkey and sheep. Admission is free. More information may be found at Nashfarm.org.
The Grapevine Botanical Garden is a few blocks west of Main Street. With free admission from 8 am to 6 pm daily, it is tranquil place to rest for a few minutes. Home to the annual "Butterfly, Flutterby," it also has a large sculpture of butterflies in flight.
For those who prefer indoor activities, Grapevine Mills Mall is a shuttle ride away from Main Street. It features wonderful outlet shopping in addition to Meow Wolf, Legoland, Sea Life Aquarium and Rainforest Café.
There are so many things to do in Grapevine! For a full list, visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com.
Grapevine is located halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth for those who are more adventurous and wish to go further out.
Hotel | Address | Phone Number | Shuttle | Driving to Venue per Google |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Comfort Suites near DFW | 301 Capitol St | 817-329-9300 | 1 mile 4 minutes | |
Comfort Suites DFW North/Grapevine | 1805 Enchanted Way | 866-584-3823 | 3.2 miles 9 minutes | |
Courtyard/Towneplace Suites by Marriott | 200 Bass Pro Ct | 817-251-9095 | Merlot, Green | 2.6 miles 8 minutes |
Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas DFW Airport North | 2401 Bass Pro Dr | 972-724-9095 | Merlot, Green | 2.7 miles 8 minutes |
Gaylord Texan | 1501 Gaylord Trl | 817-778-1000 | Merlot | 2.4 miles 9 minutes |
Grand Hyatt DFW | 2337 S International Pkwy | 972-973-1234 | Green | 6 miles 14 minutes |
Great Wolf Lodge | 100 Great Wolf Dr | 800-693-9653 | Merlot | 1.9 miles 6 minutes |
Hampton Inn & Suites DFW Airport North/Grapevine | 1750 N Hwy 121 | 972-471-5000 | 3.1 miles 9 minutes | |
Hilton DFW Lakes | 1800 Highway 26E | 817-481-8444 | Merlot | 3.1 miles 10 minutes |
Hilton Garden Inn DFW North/Grapevine | 205 W Hwy 114 | 817-421-1172 | Merlot, Green | 1.4 miles 6 minutes |
Hilton Garden Inn Grapevine At Silverlake Crossings | 2240 Bass Pro Ct | 817-601-8280 | Merlot | 2.5 miles 8 minutes |
Holiday Inn Express DFW/Grapevine | 309 W Hwy 114 | 817-442-5919 | Blue | 1.4 miles 4 minutes |
Homewood Suites by Hilton DFW Airport North/Grapevine | 2214 Grapevine Mills Cir W | 972-691-2427 | Merlot | 2.9 miles 8 minutes |
Hotel Vin, Autograph Collection | 215 E Dallas Dr | 817-796-9696 | Merlot, Blue, Green | .5 miles 3 minutes |
Hyatt Place Grapevine | 2220 Grapevine Mills Cir W | 972-891-1199 | Merlot | 3.1 miles 9 minutes |
Hyatt Regency DFW | 2344 N International Pkwy | 972-453-1234 | Green | 5.7 miles 11 minutes |
Residence Inn by Marriott/DFW Airport N/Grapevine | 2020 Hwy 26 | 972-539-8989 | Merlot, Green | 2.9 miles 8 minutes |
Springhill Suites by Marriott Dallas Airport North/Grapevine | 2240 Grapevine Mills Cir W | 972-724-5500 | Merlot | 3.1 miles 9 minutes |
Super 8 by Wyndham Grapevine | 250 Hwy 114 E | 871-796-9994 | Blue | 1.3 miles 5 minutes |
I am planning on driving my car. Where can I park?
There is limited parking behind the Museum, simply drive between the buildings. If that is full you may park on the curve on the east side in front of the Carriage House or in the public lot to the west of the Museum.
I am coming from out of town. Do I need to rent a car?
That really depends on how much exploring of Grapevine you want to do. Many hotels have shuttles to and from the airport, as well as, to and from Main Street. You will have to check with your hotel to see when it is available. The City of Grapevine provides a free shuttle service between many of the City’s hotels and the venue. It runs hourly. You can see the whole schedule by clicking here. You also have the choice of going from DFW airport to the venue by TexRail. Go to Terminal B, proceed to the bottom floor and exit heading left. After a couple of minutes, you will be at the kiosk to purchase tickets for TexRail. It heads west to Grapevine one-two times an hour. Click here for the schedule. Currently, a one-way ticket is $2.50. Grapevine is the 2nd stop. From where it lets you off, it is a short walk to the pickup for the City of Grapevine Shuttle.
I am seeing a lot of hotels that say "Airport"? Aren't there any hotels in the City?
A lot of the hotels in the area just use the phrase "airport" to denote that they are near the airport, not that they are on the airport grounds. That being said, the Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport is located next to Terminal C, and the Grand Hyatt DFW is located next to Terminal D. DFW airport is actually larger than Manhattan. If you look for an "airport" hotel outside of the Grapevine city limits, make sure it says Airport NORTH. Airport South will be a bit of a hike.
How walkable is Grapevine? Can I just walk from my hotel?
Main Street is very walkable. It would be very easy to find your parking spot in the morning, and not drive again until you are ready to return to the hotel at night. From the main venue at Harvest Hall, the Museum is only a five-minute walk. Farina’s, the site of the Gala dinner is about the same. (The Museum is a slight right turn off of Main Street, while Farina’s is on Main Street.) There are plenty of places to eat, drink and shop located on Main Street.
What is missing from Main Street are the hotels.
Most of the hotels are a mile or more away. While that may not sound like much, the best walking route might involve going along busy highways without much sidewalk. Texas gets close to 100°F for much of the summer, and most people have cars, so the area just wasn’t designed for long walks. Refer back to that free shuttle or see if your hotel has one of its own.
Hotels make me feel claustrophobic. Why can’t I find an AirBnB?
The City of Grapevine is one of the many cities that doesn’t allow short term rentals. If you are willing to stay a little further away, then look at someplace like Coppell or Irving. They allow short term rentals and are a fairly short drive. Even some place like Denton could be a good option and is only about a 30 minute drive depending on traffic.
What is there to do in Grapevine after class times?
There is so much to do here! There are historic locations, art galleries, tons of shopping, there is something for everyone. You can visit https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/ for more information on Grapevine. If you are more adventurous, then you can take the TexRail west to Ft. Worth and visit the Stockyards. Or travel east to Dallas to visit the museums or catch a show in the big D.
What is there to eat nearby?
Grapevine is a city of 50K people with over 200 restaurants. There are close to two dozen restaurants just on Main Street within a ten-minute walk of the Museum. There are a half dozen wineries on Main Street, many of which also have a full menu. So there is plenty--from a quick bite to a relaxing meal, you can get it.
What should the weather be like?
It depends on the time of year, but even when temps are over 100, breezes keep it from feeling hot--at least for a short walk. If you want to look at the forecast yourself, and your app needs a zip code use “76051.”
I have another question that isn’t here…
If you have a question, just email office@ipatinc.org. The office manager will get back to you as quickly as possible, and it just might be added here as well.