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Lufkin Texas

Located about 80 miles south of Tyler on U. S. Highway 69 at its intersection with Highway 59 is the City of Lufkin, the county seat of Angelina County. It is about 90 miles northeast of Houston, and north of Diboll.

Welcome to Lufkin, Texas
Welcome to Lufkin, Texas

The population of Lufkin is about 34,000 residents. Elevation is 312 feet above sea level.

The town was founded in 1882 and named for Abraham P. Lufkin, a cotton merchant and Galveston city councilman.

Today, Lufkin is the regional hub in East Texas, which includes 12 surrounding counties and is known for its forests that stretch for miles. Visitors enjoy beautiful parks and open spaces, cultural arts, and a broad range of recreational activities.

Lufkin is also the location of the main campus of Angelina College.

Nearby communities include Rusk, Nacogdoches, Jacksonville, Palestine, Henderson, Bullard, and San Augustine.

Lufkin Hotels and Accommodations 

Lufkin has several motels, hotels and other accommodations.

Find the best deal, compare prices, make reservations and read what other travelers have to say about hotels in Lufkin at TripAdvisor

Click to find the best deal, compare prices, make reservations and read traveler reviews about hotels in Lufkin, Texas

Click to find the best deal, compare prices, make reservations and read traveler reviews about hotels in Lufkin, Texas

Courtyard by Marriott Lufkin

Hampton Inn & Suites Lufkin

Comfort Suites Lufkin

Best Western Plus Crown Colony Inn & Suites

Holiday Inn Express Lufkin South

Sleep Inn Lufkin

 

Lufkin Texas Tourism and Attractions

Downtown Lufkin features numerous unique retail and antique shops, eating establishments, professional businesses, and also includes a historic walking tour describing the history of Lufkin.

The First Street Arts Center promotes East Texas artists whose work ideally captures the Piney Woods experience. Through the Center, area artists, writers, poets, and musicians share their talents with the community in a newly-revitalized downtown Lufkin. And don't miss the mural in Cotton Square Heritage Park.

 

Texas Forestry Museum

Exterior of the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin

The mission of the Texas Forestry Museum is to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret objects, papers, and photographs which pertain to the natural and cultural history of the people, places, and products and benefits associated with the forest, forestry, and related professions, and the forest-related industries in the state of Texas.

One of the largest museums of its kind in the United States, the Texas Forestry Museum is a fun place for the whole family to look at the past, present and future of trees - How we grow trees, harvest trees, transport trees, process trees, and use trees in our daily lives. Featured exhibits include Sawmill Town, Paper Mill, Money Trees, logging train, fire tower, and Urban Wildscape Trail.

The Museum is located at 1905 Atkinson Drive in Lufkin. Phone 936.632.9535

website of the Texas Forestry Museum and Forestry Museum on Facebook

 

Scenes at the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin
Steam locomotive on display at the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin Indoor exhibit area at the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin

Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin

Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin

The Ellen Trout Zoo is owned and operated by the City of Lufkin which is responsible for its daily operation.

The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and houses over 800 mammals, birds and reptiles from around the world. The Zoo has now been accredited since September of 1983 and was the fifth zoo in Texas to receive accreditation.

Call 936.633.0399 for more information.

website of the Ellen Trout Zoo

 


Ellen Trout Zoo
Traveler reviews and photos at TripAdvisor

Museum of East Texas

Interior exhibit area at the  Museum of East Texas in Lufkin

In 1972 seven women had a dream—a dream to transform the burned out shell of the former St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church into an arts and historical center for the children and families of East Texas. Since its inception in 1976, the Museum of East Texas has grown to become a dynamic cultural center.

Originally in a historic 1906 church, the Museum contains an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures produced by East Texas artists as well as American, Latin American and European masters.

​The Museum offers a variety of public programs throughout the year and its commitment to visual arts education and cultural enrichment is the driving force behind all of its programs. Exhibitions, lectures, workshops, children’s events and fundraisers cover a wide range of interests and topics and are sure to appeal to everyone.

The Museum is located at 503 N. Second Street in Lufkin. Phone 936.639.4434

website of the Museum of East Texas and Museum of East Texas on Facebook

 

Welcome to Lufkin and the Museum of East Texas
Exterior view of the Museum of East Texas in Lufkin

 

Angelina Arts Alliance

The vision of the Angelina Arts Alliance is for Lufkin to be a cultural beacon in East Texas as a destination for the enjoyment of the arts as well as a catalyst for advancing the arts. It mission is to enrich, entertain and educate by presenting and promoting the arts in East Texas.

The Pines Theater in Lufkin, Texas

The Angelina Arts Alliance strives to present a wide variety of high quality performing arts and educational programs. In fact, education is at the core of its mission and serves approximately 10,000 students each year through various school time and outreach programs.

The Alliance operates two venues:

  • Temple Theater on the Angelina College Campus, 3500 S. First Street, located in the Angelina Center for the Arts on the Angelina College Campus. It is an 891-seat state-of-the-art theater. It serves as the performing arts space for Angelina College music and drama events, as well as touring professional music, dance, and theatre artists/events brought to Lufkin by Angelina Arts Alliance.
  • Pines Theater, downtown Lufkin, 113 S. First Street, is a 431-seat, multi-use venue operated by the City of Lufkin in the heart of the historic downtown district. In partnership with the city, we are proud to offer a wide variety of programming to entertain patrons of all ages.

The box office is located at 108 South First Street in Lufkin. Phone 936.633.5454

website of the Angelina Arts Alliance

 

Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas
Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas

Lufkin Parks

Lufkin is the perfect escape for outdoor recreational activities. From sports to spray play pads, from fishing to nature trails, Lufkin has outdoor activities to suit all ages.

Lufkin has over 15 parks complete with new jogging trails, modern playground facilities, and grassy, green picnic areas, and Cassels-Boykin County Park on Lake Sam Rayburn has a pavilion that can accommodate up to 400 people, making it a popular venue for weddings and large events.

Annual Events in Lufkin

Lufkin is busy year-round! Among the annual events ...

  • Angelina Benefit Rodeo
  • Zoo Brew
  • Texas State Forest Festival
  • Angelina County Air Fest
  • Heritage Festival
  • Festival of Trees
  • Christmas in the Pines

Sam Rayburn Reservoir

overhead view of the Lake Rayburn dam in East Texas

Sam Rayburn Reservoir is located on the Angelina River, east of Lufkin. The lake has a surface area of 114,500 acres, and a maximum depth of 80 feet. The lake was impounded in 1965.

The most popular game fish at Sam Rayburn Reservoir is the largemouth bass; an excellent year-round fishery exists. Habitat in Sam Rayburn Reservoir consists of submerged aquatic vegetation, standing timber, and flooded terrestrial vegetation.

Shown to the right is an overhead view of the Lake Rayburn dam (photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers).

Sam Rayburn Reservoir

 


Lufkin Convention and Meeting Facilities

The Pitser Garrison Convention Center provides a meeting place for a variety of gatherings with 54,000 square feet of exhibit space, offering meeting planners with a wide selection of set-up options. Several over venues around the city are available for conventions, conferences, workshops, weddings, seminars, retreats and other special events.

It is located at 601 North 2nd Street in Lufkin. The Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau is geared to assisting planners in bringing a variety of special events to Lufkin.

 

More Lufkin Information and Resources

Map of Deep East Texas Showing Location of Lufkin

Map of Deep East Texas Showing Location of Lufkin

Interactive Map of Lufkin Texas (courtesy of Google)


Vintage Images of Lufkin

Historic postcard of the U. S. Post Office in Lufkin

Historic postcard of Lufkin Senior High School
Historic postcard of the Dun Wandrin Motel in Lufkin


Other Things to See Near Lufkin Texas

While visiting the Lufkin area, you may want to take other interesting day trips in several directions:

    • Longview - Gregg County Fair & Exposition, Longview Museum of Fine Arts, R.G. LeTourneau Museum, Great Texas Balloon Race, historic buildings, shopping, restaurants
    • Marshall - Michelson Museum of Art, Starr Family home State Historic Park, Harrison County Historical Museum, Ginocchio Hotel, T&P Railroad Museum, Christmas Wonderland of Lights
    • Henderson - Heritage Syrup Festival, Howard Dickinson House Museum, Depot Museum, antique shopping, Historic Downtown Square
    • Nacogdoches - Spring azalea trails, Ruby Mize Azalea Garden, Mast Arboretum
    • Rusk - Texas State Railroad, Cherokee Civic Theatre, Grapeland Drive Thru Safari
    • Jacksonville - Tomato Fest, Tops in Texas Rodeo
    • Love's Lookout - beautiful 30-mile vista to the East
    • Tyler - Municipal Rose Garden, TJC Planetarium, Caldwell Zoo, Tyler Museum of Art, Lake Tyler, Rose Rudman Recreational Trail, Cotton Belt Depot, Goodman-LeGrand House
    • Lake Tyler - swimming, boating, fishing, skiing close-in to Tyler