On the Road

Strike it rich with Kilgore's nostalgic charm and heaps of history

Oil derricks dot the skyline of historic downtown Kilgore.

Photo courtesy of Luis Guzman

Once upon a time, there stood the greatest concentration of oil wells in all the world and they called it the World’s Richest Acre.

These derricks, located in little more than a city block of downtown Kilgore, were discovered by chance in the 1930s and produced more than 2.5 million barrels of black gold during their heyday.

You can still see the 37 oil derricks that dot the sky as well as the historic town’s preserved Art Deco buildings, brick walkways, and more when you visit this tiny-but-mighty destination that’s two hours east of Dallas.

Here are 10 more reasons to have a summer weekend in Kilgore.

1. Jack Ryan’s
For an upscale dinner with drinks and a view, Jack Ryan’s has your order covered. Owners, executive chefs, and brothers Brad and Wes Ebey are both classically trained and have cut their culinary teeth at luxe spots like the Four Seasons, The Adolphus, and more.

Now, they serve up sophisticated takes on steak, chops, and seafood, adding their own unique and flavorful spin.

2. East Texas Oil Museum
This fascinating museum at Kilgore College recreates the oil rush of the early 1930s. Journey through a full-scale recreation of stores, people, animals, and machinery, all depicting the lively activity of "Boomtown."

3. Meadowbook Golf Course
Situated among the Piney Woods, this course is a picturesque yet challenging nine holes where you’ll also find a driving range, putting green, golf carts, and swimming pool.

4. BigHead Creek Mountain Bike Trail
Take your biking adventure to Kilgore and discover a scenic escape into the Piney Woods of East Texas. This shaded mountain bike trail is filled with thrills and stunning mature trees that are perfect for Instagram.

5. DeRigueur of Kilgore
Enjoy the ultimate shopping experience in Historic Downtown Kilgore at De Rigueur. This popular boutique features unique and stylish women’s apparel, shoes, and accessories. Owner and well-known Texas stylist Still Collum completes your curated shopping experience here.

6. Texas Broadcast Museum
Experience the evolution of broadcasting and communications through the 20th century at this Historic Downtown Kilgore museum, which showcases vintage equipment, broadcast studios, and lots of fun retro phones and radios.

7. Rangerette Showcase and Museum
The first group of its kind in the world, the Rangerettes brought "show business" to the football gridiron and first took to the field during the 1940 football season, pioneering the concept of dancing drill teams that are now seen across the nation.

The Rangerettes' storied history is celebrated at this museum, which features props, costumes, and thousands of photographs and newspaper clippings.

8. Country Tavern
The barbecue ribs here have been legendary for decades — they've been serving them since 1938. The special sauce gives the hickory-smoked meats a sweet East Texas edge, paired with sides that are just as delicious.

9. Kilgore Mercantile and Music
The real treat in this historic downtown shop is its ice cream parlor, where they scoop out 33 flavors along with old-fashioned fountain faves like shakes, malts, and splits.

10. Kilgore Cruise Night
On the last Saturday of every month, classic cars, trucks, bikes, and more all come out to play downtown. In addition to the cruising, you can enjoy music, food, contests, door prizes, and more.

Add more places to your list and plan your weekend at Visit Kilgore.

The Kilgore Rangerettes were the first dancing drill team in the world.

Photo courtesy of Kilgore College

The Kilgore Rangerettes were the first dancing drill team in the world.

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worth every mile

Texas Hill Country route beckons as most scenic road trip in the U.S.

Courtesy of Condé Nast Traveler/Getty Images

You can't do a road trip in the Hill Country without visiting Enchanted Rock outside Fredericksburg.

A new comprehensive guide on the best road trips in America has unveiled two scenic routes through the Lone Star State that should be on everyone's must-see list.

The new guide from luxury lifestyle magazine Condé Nast Traveler spotlighted 17 ultra-scenic road trip routes across the U.S. that are "worth every single mile."

Hill Country Route
The first Texas road trip on the list is the Hill Country Route, a 300-mile trek starting in Lampasas, with stops in Marble Falls, Fredericksburg, Austin, and New Braunfels, and ending in Brenham. Travelers can spend as few as three days traversing the Hill Country Route, visiting "award-winning vineyards and boutique lavender and olive tree farms," or they can linger for a week or more by making additional detours in other small Texas towns.

Condé Nast Traveler recommends Hill Country staples like Blue Bonnet Café in Marble Falls and Truth BBQ in Brenham as the two can't-miss good eats that road trippers have to try for themselves. As for lodging, the magazine makes three recommendations: Tyson’s Corners Retreat Cottage, a 35-acre horse ranch in Lampasas, glamping resort Onera Fredericksburg, and the newly opened Faust Hotel in New Braunfels.

Onera Fredericksburg offers modern lodging like The Diamond. Photo by Jeff Jones

Typical attractions like Enchanted Rock outside Fredericksburg obviously made the list of stops to make along the way, but the report also digs into other niche destinations.

"History buffs can walk the sprawling grounds of the Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch, rich with mighty live oaks and environmentalist Lady Bird Johnson’s wildflowers; pair it with a trip to his Presidential Library, which offers a glimpse of how the former president wanted to be seen by history," the report's author wrote. "And if you're road-trippin' in the summer, don't miss a visit to Krause Springs. It’s a beautiful campsite and also a natural swimming spot, with a lot of gorgeous springs to dive right in."

Route 66: St. Louis to Amarillo
A second ultra-scenic road trip that includes Texas is the portion of Route 66 from St. Louis, Missouri to Amarillo. Some travelers don't have time for the full 2,448-mile stretch from Chicago to Los Angeles, so Condé Nast Traveler says the St. Louis-Amarillo route is the "most underrated stretch" that can be completed in just two days.

No trip through Amarillo is complete without a stop at Cadillac Ranch. Cadillac Ranch/ Facebook

The 756-mile route cruises through the Lake of the Ozarks and Oklahoma City before ending in the Yellow Rose of Texas, giving road trippers ample opportunities to see the sights, enjoy a "classic American meal" at a roadside diner, or try some St. Louis-style barbecue.

At the end of the trip, the report recommends Amarillo's The Barfield, Autograph Collection for a "quiet luxe" hotel stay, or this rustic converted Silo Barn on Airbnb.

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