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Lufkin is a city of about 35,000 people and the seat of Angelina County, in the heart of the East Texas Piney Woods. Founded in 1882 as a stop on the Houston, East and West Texas Railway, it became a center of the timber and paper industry, and later of oilfield equipment, earning the nickname of the Forestry Capital of Texas.
That heritage is on show at the Texas Forestry Museum, with logging tools, a sawmill worker's house and a fire lookout tower. Downtown Lufkin keeps a brick main street with the restored Pines Theater, local shops and the Museum of East Texas, which focuses on regional art and history. The Naranjo Museum of Natural History displays fossils and minerals, and families enjoy the Ellen Trout Zoo, known for its collection of animals from around the world.
The city is a gateway to the outdoors: the Angelina National Forest and the huge Sam Rayburn Reservoir lie just to the east, with fishing, boating and camping. Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas, is about 20 miles north.
A museum about the East Texas timber industry, with logging tools, a sawmill worker's house, a steam locomotive, a fire lookout tower and exhibits on forests and paper making. Admission is free, and outdoor displays are spread across the grounds, so wear comfortable shoes.
A downtown art and history museum, partly housed in a former church, with changing exhibitions of regional and national art, photography and East Texas history. It runs classes and family programs. Admission is usually free or low cost; check the website for current shows.
A natural history museum with fossils, dinosaur casts, minerals and archaeology, built around a private collection and opened to the public in Lufkin. It is a good rainy-day stop for curious children and adults alike. Hours are limited, so check before visiting.
A city zoo in Ellen Trout Park with hundreds of animals, including giraffes, hippos, big cats, primates and reptiles, plus a small train ride around the grounds. It is compact and easy to see in two to three hours. Visit in the morning, when animals are most active and the heat is lower.
A historic downtown movie house with a classic marquee, restored and reopened as a venue for live music, films and community events. It anchors Lufkin's main street. Check the event schedule, and combine a show with dinner at one of the nearby downtown restaurants.
Lufkin's historic downtown, with early 20th century brick buildings, the courthouse square, murals, boutiques, antique shops, coffee houses and restaurants. It hosts seasonal festivals and holiday events. Park once and walk, and look for the historic markers that explain the buildings.
The seat of Angelina County government in downtown Lufkin, a substantial modern building on the courthouse square surrounded by historic markers and memorials. It is a working courthouse. View the exterior and grounds during a downtown walk rather than planning a visit inside.
A national forest of more than 150,000 acres of longleaf and loblolly pine just east of Lufkin, with hiking trails, campgrounds, boat ramps and quiet back roads. Boykin Springs is a pleasant recreation area. Bring a map, since phone signal is weak in places.
The largest lake entirely within Texas, east of Lufkin, famous for largemouth bass fishing tournaments, with marinas, campgrounds, beaches and boat ramps along its long shoreline. Rent a boat or book a fishing guide, and check water levels in late summer before planning a trip.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Renelibrary, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: 25or6to4, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: 25or6to4, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Renelibrary, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: William L. Farr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Forest Service Photography, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Forest Service Photography, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Forest Service Photography, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Forest Service Photography, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Ricraider, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
