Exploring Tyler and All That Glitters Nearby
By P.A. Geddie
The glitter that permeates the air coming out of the Rose Capital of America falls ever so slightly upon small towns across the Upper East Side of Texas. But nowhere else in the region does the bling shine brighter than in Tyler.
Each fall at the Texas Rose Festival, deserving queens wear royal rhinestone-beaded gowns adorned with 16-foot-long trains. The Rose Kingdom keeps the pageantry going throughout the year at the Tyler Rose Museum with displays of the elaborate gowns and memorabilia and interactive exhibits. The museum is the gateway to the world-famous Rose Garden featuring fourteen acres with thousands of rose bushes.
Tyler has other rose gardens and a beautiful Azalea District that features a floral wonderland each spring with more than 10 miles of residential garden and historic home sites covered with azaleas, tulips, wisteria, and dogwood.
Foundry Coffee House, downtown Tyler. Courtesy photo
The Tyler Downtown Cultural District spans 400 acres with a thriving center of activity that includes concerts, car shows, arts, food, wine, brews, and about 30 local and national historic landmarks in a beautiful walkable setting. Anchored since 1954 by a Modern-styled courthouse building, downtown Tyler is getting a new courthouse set for completion in fall 2026. The old one is set for demolition to create more green space.
Walking around downtown Tyler, visitors find dozens of beautiful and creative murals and sculptures. A self-guided tour map is available and promises great photo opportunities.
Guests find restaurants with award-winning cuisine and tasteful indoor ambiance along with welcoming outdoor patio seating. There are popular coffee shops, wineries, and craft breweries, as well as shops specializing in baked goods, ice cream, and homemade tortillas.
Visitors dine outdoors on the patio at The Grove Kitchen and Gardens in Tyler, Texas.
Art Alley and several galleries display local works and traveling exhibits. Entertainment includes live music, plays, and a variety of shows at several venues and often in the open air at the center of the square. There are several museums and the Discovery Science Place for kids of all ages. Shoppers find apparel, jewelry, home decor, Western wear, flowers, candles, antiques, and vintage collections.
On the second Saturday of every month, an event called Hit the Bricks celebrates new and fun activities around the downtown square. Annual events in Tyler include the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, Texas Rose Festival, Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival, and East Texas State Fair.
Caldwell Zoo dweller, Photo by Paul Swen
Venturing out from there, visitors find a wealth of unique lodging, dining options, parks, and attractions in Tyler and surrounding neighbors in Smith County.
Some highlights in Tyler include The Earth and Space Science Center, Lake Tyler, Caldwell Zoo, Tyler Museum of Art, and Rose Rudman Recreational Trail. For award-winning barbecue and great live music, Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue is a favorite destination.
Performing arts and other entertainment take place in Tyler at the Tyler Civic Theatre Center, Caldwell Auditorium, and the Cowan Center at the University of Texas. The East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Tyler Civic Chorale, and other performers present shows in various other venues in town.
Local and touring performers at venues like the Cowan Center keep guests in Tyler entertained.
Built in 1878, the exquisite Victorian McClendon House features tours and special events throughout the year. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the family home of famous journalist Sarah McClendon. Born in Tyler on July 8, 1910, she was the longest-serving White House reporter, voraciously asking U.S. presidents tough questions at news conferences for six decades.
The bling continues north of Tyler in Lindale, with a heartbeat of sweets, scenic views, and the sound of music. Famous for its 75-year-old homemade candy factory, its more recent claim to fame is the revitalized downtown Cannery complex and inspiration from hometown girl and award-winning country music sensation Miranda Lambert. Guests enjoy The Pink Pistol, a Miranda memorabilia-filled lifestyle boutique with 6,000 square feet of glitter, gifts, souvenirs, and clothing. Visitors belly up to the bar in a tasting room featuring Miranda’s
Red 55 wine line or try homemade ice cream floats at the old-fashioned soda fountain.
Miranda’s impact on Lindale is also felt in her love for animals, making it an ideal destination for those traveling with pets. Near the Cannery complex, visitors find a leash-free dog park she designed.
Lindale is a registered Texas Music Friendly Community with live country music several days a week and throughout the year on multiple stages. Special events draw thousands celebrating the city’s love for Texas music, food, wine, and spirits.
The town is surrounded by natural beauty, and scenic views are incorporated into downtown areas like Darden Harvest Park. The 170-acre Faulkner Park is just four miles north, featuring nature at its best.
Plenty of overnight lodging is available just a few miles from downtown Lindale and on the Cannery grounds.
Lindale Candy Company, Photo by Craig D Blackmon, FAIA
To the east of Lindale is Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge, where visitors find tigers, lions, leopards, and other big cats. Other things to do near Lindale include Swan MX Raceway Park, the oldest continuously running motorcycle racetrack in Texas; Santa Land Christmas Wonderland; and Texas Rose Horse Park, a state-of-the-art horse show and multipurpose facility. Equestrian events are open to the public and other activities such as concerts and dog shows take place there throughout the year.
Tyler State Park is also close to Lindale, featuring a cool, 64-acre spring-fed lake, 100-foot-tall trees, and historic structures. A favorite getaway for many, activities include boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, geocaching, camping, birdwatching, and nature study.
Jellystone Park is also nearby, offering campsites, cabins, family and adult swimming pools, water zone, and an extensive list of activities for all ages.
To the northeast of Tyler is Stillwater RV Resort on 92 acres. It has 170 full hookup RV campsites, plus several RVs and a camp house to rent. On site are heated saltwater pools, a lazy river, an indoor lounge and bar, a dog park, game room, fitness center, general store, pickleball court, and playground.
Another popular getaway location in Smith County is High Hill Farm, near the tiny town of Arp. Visitors enjoy a cozy outdoor lounge overlooking a vineyard and swimming pool, private bungalows, and an on-site fine-dining restaurant. The chef serves fresh farm-to-table creations, with some ingredients coming from their own garden just steps away from the kitchen.
Bullard is a community 15 minutes south of Tyler. It has a charming historic downtown and two active parks. Near Bullard is the amazing Kiepersol, a Texas food, wine and spirits destination. A restaurant, tasting rooms and production facilities, vacation rentals, and an RV park are all set against a backdrop of beautiful vineyards.
Several other vineyards and wineries are in Smith County, including Briar Creek Vineyards, Rio Neches (formerly Pelle Legna), and M6 Winery. Local breweries are creating award-winning beers at several locations as well, including ETX Brewing and True Vine Brewing.
Destination dining experiences in the area include Culture ETX, The Potpourri House, The Grove Kitchen & Gardens, Villa Montez, and The Foundry Coffee House. Janie’s Cakes and Greenberg Turkeys are world-famous culinary favorites made in Tyler.
The Smith County Historical Society has a museum in a 1904 Carnegie Library building that exhibits information, photos, and memorabilia showcasing the history of the county.
One noted historic landmark in Tyler is Oakwood Cemetery, established in 1849. During the Civil War, 30,000 soldiers trained near Tyler. More than 200 of them died from measles, pneumonia, and other diseases, and are buried in the “Soldiers’ Plot” in Oakwood. Another section honors many people who were enslaved buried there with a monument.
Regarded as the grandmother of women’s suffrage in Tyler, Mary Louise McKeller Herndon is also buried there. In 1913, Herndon organized the Smith County Equal Suffrage League to initiate an amendment push. The Texas Legislature voted in 1918 to ratify what would become the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, making Texas the first Southern state to do so. Herndon died in 1919, having seen women vote in primaries, but not in general elections.
An annual event, Spirits of Oakwood Walking Tours, takes place each spring where visitors get to know area historic figures. The City of Tyler also provides a self-guided tour brochure.
Over at Rose Hill Cemetery, visitors find the unusual grave of Doctor Madge Ward, who lived a grand life full of music and often had a keyboard at her fingertips. Chronicles of her life say she taught piano in Tyler public schools and entertained throughout her life at hotels, resorts, dinner clubs, and cruise ships all over the world.
She also performed in and around East Texas, including a stint at Camp Fannin where she helped provide activities for the soldiers.
Born in Cherokee County on August 22, 1911, she received her master’s degree from Southern Methodist University, studied at Fontainebleau in Paris, France, and received a doctorate from Southern College of Fine Arts in St. Louis.
She wanted a grand piano mausoleum as her gravesite marker, and after some deliberation with city and cemetery officials, permission was granted.
She was buried underneath a granite piano after her death on May 4, 1995, at the age of 83. It is eight feet tall and weighs 25 tons, with another 12 tons of concrete in the foundation. Her casket lies under the piano legs.
The shimmering waters of Lake Palestine
Heading over to Lake Palestine takes drivers through Noonday, where farmers grow one of the sweetest onions in America. Certified Noonday Sweet Onions are grown within a 10-mile radius of Noonday, Texas, and are shipped all over the country. They are also popular at regional farmers’ markets and roadside stands.
Lake Palestine has a surface area of more than 23,000 acres in parts of Anderson, Cherokee, Henderson, and Smith counties. It has many marinas and camping areas, and several golf courses. The Villages Resort at Lake Palestine is a popular getaway destination with loads of water sports and other activities including scenic horseback trail rides, 18-hole mini-golf course, and a year-round indoor waterpark. Overnight accommodations are available. Nearby is the Lake O’ the Woods Resort at Lake Palestine, with quaint, rustic cabins tucked into the woods and activities that include fishing, boating, and hiking nature trails.
Tyler and the surrounding area is a great place to stop and smell the roses with plenty of sparkle in the air. Go to www.visittyler.com to plan a visit.
This article comes from the book, Upper East Side of Texas: Small Towns and Cultural Districts. The book contains more than 300 photographs and commentary on the history, scenery, art, and agriculture of the region. Go to www.SpeckledCrow.com to find it in shops or on Amazon.
