Glen Rose, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Glen Rose STRs averaged $203/night at 42.8% occupancy in April 2026 near Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.
Quick Answer: Glen Rose, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 53%. average monthly revenue is $3,860. average daily rate is $271. the top operator is Evolve with 774 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Texas East Area regional market, which includes Glen Rose. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Glen Rose.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Glen Rose is a small Somervell County town with a population of approximately 2,887, known as the ‘Dinosaur Capital of Texas’ and anchored by two major state attractions: Dinosaur Valley State Park (with dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River) and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (which reported over 330,000 visitors in 2020). The market draws primarily weekend travelers from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $203 and occupancy of 42.8%, generating average monthly revenue of $2,435 per active listing. RevPAR stood at $87. Year over year, occupancy improved 1.1 points, while ADR declined 3.4% and revenue was essentially flat (down 0.2%), reflecting modest demand growth offset by rate softening.
The market data covers a broad regional area. Active listings total approximately 22,225. Entire-place rentals dominate at 20,944 listings (94% of supply), with 1,269 private-room listings and 12 shared-room listings. Bedroom distribution spans 1BR (7,144), 2BR (5,376), 3BR (5,660), 4BR (2,451), and 5BR (1,530). Channel data shows 9,670 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, 10,311 Airbnb-only, and 2,244 VRBO-only, indicating a market with a large Airbnb-primary segment.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33% | $161 | $1,617 |
| Feb | 41% | $161 | $1,627 |
| Mar | 50% | $211 | $2,695 |
| Apr | 41% | $206 | $2,332 |
| May | 44% | $231 | $2,694 |
| Jun | 53% | $271 | $3,778 |
| Jul | 53% | $275 | $4,009 |
| Aug | 42% | $236 | $2,765 |
| Sep | 39% | $215 | $2,247 |
| Oct | 42% | $205 | $2,398 |
| Nov | 41% | $201 | $2,222 |
| Dec | 37% | $190 | $2,096 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Glen Rose
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 774 | 27,617 | ★ 4.71 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 238 | 8,722 | ★ 4.67 |
| 3 | FCR Partners, LP | 103 | 172 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | Neal’s Lodges | 97 | 170 | ★ 4.79 |
| 5 | 979 Vacation Property Services | 96 | 3,231 | ★ 4.62 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Glen Rose?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,144 |
| 2 bed | 5,376 |
| 3 bed | 5,660 |
| 4 bed | 2,451 |
| 5 bed | 1,530 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $281 |
| Luxury | $538 |
| Professionally Managed | $442 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,174 |
| Entire Place | $4,002 |
| House | $4,276 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 46.4% |
| vrbo | 10.1% |
| both | 43.5% |
Investment Analysis
Glen Rose presents a value-oriented investment profile. Monthly average revenue of $2,435 in April 2026 projects to roughly $29,219 annualized. Houses generate $2,608 per month and entire-place listings average $2,513, above the all-listings average. Professionally managed listings command a notable rate premium at $315 ADR versus the market average of $203, a 55% premium, indicating that well-operated properties significantly outperform the market mean. Luxury-tier properties reach $443 ADR.
No housing price data was available in the dataset for this market, so a precise gross yield calculation cannot be provided. Investors should source current Somervell County home values independently.
The investability score of 89.0 out of 100 is the market’s strongest dimension, and the seasonality score of 75.1 reflects the clear summer peak driven by outdoor recreation demand. The regulation score of 60.0 reflects the discretionary SUP process, which introduces permitting uncertainty in residential zones. The primary risk for new investors is that STR permits in single-family residential districts are not available by right: each requires a case-by-case Specific Use Permit approved by the City Council after a public hearing, with neighborhood input considered. Properties outside the R-1 district or already holding an SUP present a lower entitlement risk.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The average booking lead time in Glen Rose is 38.7 days, meaning guests book roughly five and a half weeks in advance. This relatively short lead window reflects the market’s position as a DFW day-trip and weekend destination, where travelers plan outings closer to the date rather than booking months ahead. Operators should keep availability open and pricing dynamic within a 30-to-45-day window to capture last-minute weekend demand.
Average length of stay is 3.81 nights. This slightly longer-than-weekend average suggests a meaningful share of guests are extending beyond a standard two-night visit, possibly combining Fossil Rim and Dinosaur Valley over three or four days. The 3-to-4 night typical stay gives operators reasonable cleaning cycle predictability and enables mid-week rate differentiation.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Glen Rose but are not available by right in residential zones. Properties in single-family residential (R-1) districts require a Specific Use Permit (SUP), reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved case-by-case by the City Council after a public hearing. Approval is discretionary and can depend on neighborhood input and property specifics. City Council agendas throughout 2024 and 2025 show numerous individual STR and guest-house SUP requests being heard, confirming this is an active but uncertain permitting environment.
A combined hotel occupancy tax of approximately 13% applies: 7% city local hotel occupancy tax plus 6% Texas state hotel occupancy tax. City HOT revenue funds the local Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The exact SUP application fee, renewal cadence, any night caps, and owner-occupancy requirements were not confirmed in published sources and should be verified directly with the City of Glen Rose Building and Planning Department at 254-897-2272. Investors should budget for an uncertain, discretionary entitlement process for properties in residential zones.
Market Comparison
Glen Rose’s April 2026 metrics of $203 ADR and 42.8% occupancy place it below the U.S. STR median ADR of approximately $220 and below the national median occupancy of around 55%. On an annual basis, 2025 averaged $210 ADR and 44.6% occupancy, confirming this is a value-priced regional market rather than a premium destination. RevPAR of $87 reflects these combined dynamics. The market’s investability score of 89.0 suggests the platform and data signal strong opportunity relative to its accessible price points.
The professional management segment is led by Evolve with 774 listings and 27,617 reviews (4.71 average rating). Vacasa operates 238 listings (4.67 rating). FCR Partners manages 103 listings (4.68 rating), Neal’s Lodges holds 97 listings (4.79 rating), and 979 Vacation Property Services manages 96 listings. These five operators account for approximately 1,308 listings, around 6% of total supply, indicating the market is predominantly independently operated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Glen Rose, Texas
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