Source of information Texas Historical Markers:
“Beulah Adams Marshall bought land here along the Bankhead Highway in the early 1920s and opened a tea room, hosting teas and serving dinners to Dallas and Fort Worth patrons.”
We fond this terrace area with fountain and a marker that said entertainers such as Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Ginger Rogers performed here.
“In 1926, Fred and Mary Browning purchased the property and shortly began converting the facilities into a casino, adding an escape tunnel and secret room for hiding the gambling paraphernalia during raids. Known as Top O’ Hill Terrace, the popular spot attracted gamblers as well as visitors who were often unaware of the gaming activities. The restaurant, along with the tea garden that exists today, was a legitimate business, operating alongside a brothel as well as the casino, which benefited from the nearby Arlington Downs racetrack.”
We found these stairs, a sign about the escape tunnel, and the entrance to the tunnel itself.
“Contemporary to the Top O’ Hill heyday was the outspoken Dr. J. Frank Norris (d. 1952), longtime pastor of First Baptist Church of Fort Worth. The conservative Norris, co-founder of fundamental Baptist Bible Institute, later known as Bible Baptist Seminary and later as the Arlington Baptist College, was an ardent proponent of Prohibition and gambling reform. One of his targets was Top O’ Hill Terrace, which he reportedly vowed one day to own. In 1947, Texas Ranger Captain M.T. “Lone Wolf” Gonzaullas led a raid on Top O’ Hill, catching the gambling operation in full swing. In late 1956, under the leadership of Earl K. Oldham, the Bible Baptist Seminary bought the property and relocated here, fulfilling Norris’ promise, although neither he nor Browning (d. 1953) had lived to see it. Today, the Arlington Baptist College continues to use the site, which retains many of its original structures and features a statue of Norris by noted sculptor Pompeo Coppini.”
We found the above sculpture and its marker plus another abstract sculpture.
There was another marker near the small museum building. If you are interested you can schedule a tour of the museum and get to view the escape tunnel from inside the building.
There is a book written about this historical place. The book (ISBN Number: 0967446023) tells the story of Top O’ Hill Casino in the depth of the Great Depression. It was taking in over a half a million dollars on weekends while Las Vegas was but a dusty crossroad in Nevada.
FunStuff 
…thank you for taking me back…my Momma and Dad bought the right acres next to the what was then Bible Baptist Seminary in 1960. Today it is Emmott Godfrey Butane. Our family lived in the home there that we bought Frome the Kobe family for ten years. As a Cub scout the front sandstone gate entrance was my castle…I loved playing dragons and knights there. A little late I found and excavated tons of bottles, blue Ball jars, champaign bottles, and fire king desert cups. My best friend was the youngest son of George P. Lillard…the hog farms across Bankhead highway from the terrace. David and I walked the Texas and Pacific railroad tracks behind the farm. The village creek bottom yeilded a lot of arrow heads.. especially on Mrs. Whites property. She had an indoor pool where she would let me and my sisters swim from time to time. The family business was the half acre of redwood greenhouses my dad and grandfather built to grow organic tomatoes for sale in the Dallas-Fott Worth area…J.C. Combs…even Mayor Tommy Vandegriff bought tomatoes from us. We built a hydroponics test house to grow hydroponic tomatoes..dad had written a paper in 1939 at Handley High School. I have annuals with him in them…the Greyhound…gotta go…many thanks…Jim.