FORT WORTH, Texas — The DFW Car & Toy Museum has been named a Best of Texas winner in the Museum category by Guide to Texas, an annual statewide program that lets readers nominate and vote for their favorite Texas businesses and organizations. The award, announced in October 2026, recognizes a museum that has quickly become a North Texas destination since opening at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth in March 2025.
For the museum’s founder, Ron Sturgeon, the honor carries particular weight because it came directly from visitors and the broader Texas community. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for us,” Sturgeon said. “We built this museum because we wanted people to have a place where they could see incredible cars and toys, learn something, have fun and simply enjoy themselves. To have Texans recognize us with this award means a tremendous amount to us.”
The Best of Texas designation is the highest statewide winner status awarded by Guide to Texas. According to the organization, winners are selected primarily based on voting results, with votes reviewed for validity and businesses verified before being named. For the DFW Car & Toy Museum, the recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects support from the people the museum was built for: its visitors and the wider Texas community. “We don’t take this for granted,” Sturgeon said. “Every person who visits, tells a friend, posts a photo, leaves a review or votes for us helps us continue building something special here in Fort Worth. We are very thankful.”
The museum’s story began decades before it opened in Fort Worth. Sturgeon started collecting toys in the 1980s and eventually expanded to full-size automobiles. What began as a personal passion grew into a collection of more than 200 cars and more than 3,000 toys and collectibles. The collection was originally housed in Haltom City, where Sturgeon built his automotive business, but as it expanded, so did the need for a larger home. That led to the move to the approximately 150,000-square-foot facility in North Fort Worth, near Meacham Airport and I-35W.
Today, visitors can explore an ever-changing collection that includes European classics, American automobiles, Japanese cars, race cars, celebrity vehicles, unusual and quirky automobiles, vintage toys, model cars, robots, and antique German toys, among other items. Perhaps the biggest surprise for many first-time visitors is that admission is free. The museum was created to be accessible to everyone, whether someone is a lifelong car enthusiast, a serious collector, a parent looking for something fun to do with the kids, or simply curious about what is inside.
Beyond its exhibits, the DFW Car & Toy Museum has become a gathering place for the North Texas community. It hosts events every weekend, bringing together car clubs, collectors, families, enthusiasts, and visitors from throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. From car shows and specialty gatherings to toy events and community activities, there is always something different happening. The museum also offers flexible event spaces for private parties, corporate gatherings, club events, meetings, celebrations, and other special occasions, and it is dog friendly.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with final entry at 5 p.m. It offers free admission and free parking. With more than 200 cars, thousands of toys and collectibles, and events throughout the year, the Best of Texas award highlights a simple reality: a museum built from one person’s passion has become a community asset that Texans themselves have chosen to celebrate.
