OFFICIAL VISITOR’S GUIDE

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813 North Kilgore Street, Kilgore, Texas 75662PHONE: 903.984.5022TOLL FREE: 866.984.0400

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Cover photo by Jamie Maldonado, Kilgore College Marketing

VisitKilgore.com | #VisitKilgore | #KilgoreTX 1

WelcomeWelcome

Come discover the birthplace of one of the greatest oil booms and where the first official dance drill team brought “show business” to the football gridiron. Located in the lush piney woods of East Texas, Kilgore is still a place where southern hospitality meets Texas energy.

From the steel oil-derrick replicas, to the historic downtown filled with performing arts, unique boutiques, fine dining, historical landmarks and art-deco architecture - you’ll GUSH over Kilgore! For more info visit www.visitkilgore.com

to the City of Stars!

Whether you’re here for business, pleasure, or some of both, we invite you to come to our events, eat like a local, and discover a few adventures while you’re in town.

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Jack Ryan’s Steak & Chop House

Mingle & Jingle

Historic Downtown ShoppingDe Rigueur

Oktoberfest

Rich HistoryLearn how Kilgore got it’s unique start.

Arts & CultureShakespeare? We’ve got that. Texas sized!

Outdoor AdventuresIf you’re looking for the best places to swim, run, play with the family.

Kilgore Map

Things to DoFrom museums to sights, there is a lot of fun and culture to discover here.

Places to Stay When you Explore Kilgore, you can be sure you’ll end each day in a comfortable spot.

Where to ShopName-brand stores to one-of-kind boutiques...

What to EatDiscover our local flavor!

Sports Facilities

Meeting Spots

Day TripsDiscover the flavors and scenes of the Piney Woods.


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Surrounded by the lush green pine forests and clear blue lakes of East Texas, Kilgore has a long and unusual history that sets the stage for today’s unique community.

Plantation owners settled the area before the Civil War. Kilgore itself was established in 1872 with the coming of the Great Northern Railroad. A quiet farming community of 500, Kilgore was thrust into the international spotlight in the 1930s with the discovery of one of the greatest oil fields of our time.

In just ten short days, the town’s population exploded as more than 10,000 fortune seekers swarmed Kilgore from all over the world. The city incorporated in February of 1931 and by 1939, a forest of nearly 1,200 oil derricks crowded together within the city limits-most concentrated within one square block that became known as the World’s Richest Acre. One well was actually drilled through the terrazzo floor of the Kilgore National Bank that once stood in the area. Kilgore quickly became known as the capital of the huge East Texas Oil Field.

By the beginning of the 1940s, Kilgore was developing into a modern small city with a thriving downtown. As downtown buildings were built, “contemporary” architecture was used. Education and culture were birthed as the boom matured with the creation of Kilgore College and the World-Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes.

Rich HistoryRich History

Photo by Jamie Maldonado, Kilgore College Marketing

The Back Porch903.984.8141

Bodacious Bar-B-Q903.983.1421

Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant903.331.5642

Burrito Shop903.988.9251

The Catch Kilgore903.218.0738

Charburger Stockade903-984-7646

Chili’s903.988.8104

Circle Café903.984.3928

What to EatWhat to Eat

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Arts & CultureArts & CultureHere are our top 5 picks to enjoy the local arts and entertainment scene:

Go out on the town for live music under the stars at Fridays After 5 in Historic Downtown Kilgore.

Experience one of the oldest instruments at its finest at the East Texas Pipe Organ Festival.

Celebrate the iconic Kilgore College Rangerettes as they perform a dance variety on center stage at Revels. Relive Shakespeare and other plays at East Texas’ only professional theatre, the Texas Shakespeare Festival.

Make it a movie weekend at the Historic Texan Theater watching newly released documentaries, short and feature films at the Reel East Texas Film Festival.

Found out more things to do in arts and entertainment at visitkilgore.com

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Texas Shakespeare Festival








Chili’s903.988.8104


Country Tavern Barbeque903.984.9954

Crazy Bob’s Bar-B-Q903.986.9000

Denny’s Restaurant903.984.7770

Downtown D’Lites and Café903.987.0737

Edgar’s Big Taco #2903.984.3800

El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant903.981.0010

Jack Ryan’s Steak & Chop House903.218.5670

Jalapeño Tree Mexican Restaurant903.984.1076

Kilgore Crawfish and Seafood903.984.4070

Johnny’s Ozark Fried Chicken903.984.7481

La Mexicana’s903.986.8703

Las Tejanitas 903.985.1103

Los Bravos Mexican Restaurant903.218.0720

Mazzio’s Pizza903.983.5555

McKay’s Ranch House 903.983.3020

Memi D’s Drive Thru

Pizza Hut Italian Bistro903.984.4026

The Pumphouse Bar & Grill

Raisin’ Smoke BBQ & Catering903.720.3181

Restaurante El Trebol903.984.2605

Val’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza903.218.0621

Wing Stop


Kilgore City Park • Amphitheatre• Skate Park• Lazy Splash Ranch• Pavilion

Harris St. Park

Martin Luther King Jr. Park

Kilgore Skate Park

Pentecost Park

Synergy Park

Rabbit Creek Offroad ATV Park

World’s Richest Acre Park

Trails Whether here for business or pleasure, you take a run or walk while enjoying the scenic views on our trails. While you’re at the Synergy Park Trail you can try to catch one of the hundreds of trout found in Elder Lake or feed the Instagramable ducks on the shore. #VisitKilgore

Creekside Trail

Synergy Park Trail

OutdoorAdventuresOutdoorAdventures

Getting Around120 miles East of Dallas 60 miles West of ShreveportThe East Texas Regional Airport is 8 miles from Kilgore and provides direct flights to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport via their regional partner, American Eagle. Other airports within easy driving distance are Tyler Pounds Field Regional Airport in Tyler, Texas (24 miles) and Shreveport Regional Airport in Shreveport, Louisiana (60 miles).

Elder Lake at Synergy Park

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Kilgore, TexasKilgore, Texas1. 4 Star Cinema2. Kilgore Bowling Center3. Kilgore Skateland 4. Lone Star Speedway5. Lazy Ranch Splash Park6. Meadowbrook Golf and Event

Center 7. Texas Shakespeare Festival

Center8. East Texas Oil Museum9. Rangerette Showcase &

Museum

10. Shakespeare Garden11. U.S. Veterans Monument of

Kilgore12. Kilgore Public Library13. Texas Broadcast Museum14. Crim Theater15. Dean-Keener-Crim Home16. Dodson Auditorium17. Old U.S. Post Office18. Texan Theater19. Van Cliburn Auditorium

20. Kilgore City Park 21. Harris St. Park22. Martin Luther King Jr. Park23. Pentecost Park24. Synergy Park

25. Rabbit Creek Offroad ATV Park

26. World’s Richest Acre27. Creekside Trail 28. Synergy Park Trail

29. Bodacious Bar-B-Q30. Brigitta’s Hungarian

Restaurant31. Burrito Shop32. Charburger Stockade33. Chili’s34. Circle Café35. Country Tavern Barbecue36. Crazy Bob’s Bar-B-Q37. Downtown D’Lites and Café38. El Sombrero Mexican

Restaurant39. The Fillin Station40. Memi D’s Drive Thru41. Jack Ryan’s Steak & Chop

House42. Jalapeño Tree Mexican

Restaurant

43. Kilgore Crawfish and Seafood

44. Johnny’s Ozark Fried Chicken45. McKay’s Ranch House

Restaurant46. Las Tejanitas 47. Raisin’ Smoke BBQ &

Catering48. The Catch Kilgore49. Restaurante El Trebol50. The Back Porch51. The Pump House Restaurant

& Bar52. Val’s Italian Restaurant &

Pizza53. Edgar’s Big Taco #254. La Mexicana’s 55. Los Bravos Mexican

Restaurant

Things To Do

Outdoor Adventures

Places to Eat

DiscoverMore! Located just 30 miles or less from Kilgore

Tyler State Park 789 Park Rd 16, Tyler, TX

(903) 597-5338

Martin Creek Lake State Park

9515 Co Rd 2181D, Tatum, TX (903) 836-4336

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East Texas Oil Museum903.983.8295easttexasoilmuseum.com

Rangerette Showcase & Museum903.983.8265rangerette.com

Shakespeare Garden903.984.8531texasshakespeare.com/events/shakespeare-garden

Texas Shakespeare Festival Center903.983.8119texasshakespeare.com

U.S. Veterans Monument of Kilgore903.984.5081welcometokilgore.com/category/history/kilgore-war-veterans-memorial

Kilgore Public Library903.984.1529cityofkilgore.com/library

Texas BroadcastMuseum 903.985.8115txmbc.org

Van Cliburn Auditorium kilgore.edu/campus-life/van-cliburn-auditorium

Danville Farms 903.520.8929danvillefarms.org

New London Museum and Café 903.895.4602nlsd.net/Museum.htm

Things to DoThings to Do

Historic DowntownHistoric Downtown

Family FavesFamily Faves4 Star Cinema903.983.3848foothillsentertainment.com/theaters.aspx?ID=1

Kilgore Bowling Center903.983.2233kilgorebowling.com

Kilgore Skateland 903.984.3729

Lazy Splash Ranch903.984.5081

Lone Star Speedway903.986.9731lonestarspeedway.com

Texan Theater

The Dean Keener Crim Homekilgorehistory.org/the-dean-keener-crim-home

World’s Richest Acre903.984.1333

Old U.S. Post Officekilgorehistory.org/the-old-u-s-post-office

East Texas Oil Museum

kilgoremainstreet.com

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Kilgore Public Library903.984.1529cityofkilgore.com/library

Texas BroadcastMuseum 903.985.8115txmbc.org

Van Cliburn Auditorium kilgore.edu/campus-life/van-cliburn-auditorium

Danville Farms 903.520.8929danvillefarms.org

New London Museum and Café 903.895.4602nlsd.net/Museum.htm

America’s Best Value Inn & Suites903.988.2800americasbestvalueinn.com

Best Western Inn of Kilgore903.986.1195bestwestern.com/innofkilgore

Comfort Suites903.984.2385choicehotels.com/texas/kilgore/comfort-suites-hotels

Sunriser Inn903.983.2975sunriserinn.com

Things to DoThings to Do

Where to ShopWhere to ShopHistoric DowntownHistoric Downtown

Places to StayPlaces to Stay

Family FavesFamily Faves4 Star Cinema903.983.3848foothillsentertainment.com/theaters.aspx?ID=1

Kilgore Bowling Center903.983.2233kilgorebowling.com

Kilgore Skateland 903.984.3729

Lazy Splash Ranch903.984.5081

Lone Star Speedway903.986.9731lonestarspeedway.com

• Calamity Jane’s• The Shops on Main• De Rigueur• Dixon Jewelers• Everything that Blings• The Coin Investor of

Kilgore/ J&Co.• Pat Anderson Furniture

World’s Richest Acre903.984.1333

Old U.S. Post Officekilgorehistory.org/the-old-u-s-post-office

Downtown Kilgore

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America’s Best Value Inn & Suites903.988.2800americasbestvalueinn.com

Best Western Inn of Kilgore903.986.1195bestwestern.com/innofkilgore

Comfort Suites903.984.2385choicehotels.com/texas/kilgore/comfort-suites-hotels

Sunriser Inn903.983.2975sunriserinn.com

Deluxe Inn903.984.5501

Executive Inn903.983.1599executiveinnkilgore.com

Hampton Inn903.983.3300hamptoninn.com

Holiday Inn Express & Suites903.986.3533hiexpress.com/kilgoretexas

Manor Inn903.983.3456







Chili’s903.988.8104


Where to ShopWhere to Shop

Places to StayPlaces to Stay What to EatWhat to Eat

• Calamity Jane’s• The Shops on Main• De Rigueur• Dixon Jewelers• Everything that Blings• The Coin Investor of

Kilgore/ J&Co.• Pat Anderson Furniture

• East Texas Hardware • Eclectic Culture

Furniture Store• The Bookstore in Kilgore

& The Coffee Cherry • My Brewing Solutions• East Texas Hardware• Iron Farm Meat Market

Downtown Kilgore

The Catch







Chili’s903.988.8104


Country Tavern Barbecue903.984.9954

Crazy Bob’s Bar-B-Q903.986.9000

Denny’s Restaurant903.984.7770

Downtown D’Lites and Café903.987.0737

Edgar’s Big Taco #2903.984.3800

El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant903.981.0010


Jalapeño Tree Mexican Restaurant903.984.1076

Kilgore Crawfish and Seafood903.984.4070

Johnny’s Ozark Fried Chicken903.984.7481

La Mexicana’s903.986.8703

Las Tejanitas 903.985.1103

Los Bravos Mexican Restaurant903.218.0720

Mazzio’s Pizza903.983.5555

McKay’s Ranch House 903.983.3020

Memi D’s Drive Thru

Pizza Hut Italian Bistro903.984.4026

Restaurante El Trebol903.984.2605

Schlotzsky’s903.218.0768

Val’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza903.218.0621

Wing Stop903.986.9464


VisitKilgore.com | #VisitKilgore | #KilgoreTX 11VisitKilgore.com | #VisitKilgore | #KilgoreTX 13

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BASEBALL, SOFTBALL & SOCCERDriller Park903.988-3900

Kilgore Youth Sports ComplexSoccer & Softball903.757.5321

Whataburger Sport Complex903.988.4137

KILGORE COLLEGE

Masters Gymnasium903.983.8218

Rangerette Gymnasium 903.834.6255

KILGORE ISD

Kilgore High School Gym903.988.3900

Kilgore High School Tennis Courts903.988.3900

Kilgore Middle School Gym903.988.3902

OTHER

State Tournament Horseshoe Pit at Kilgore City Park 903.984.5081

Kilgore City Swimming Pool903.988.4119

R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium903.988.3900

SportsFacilitiesSportsFacilities

Meadowbrook Golf & Events Center903.984.3155cityofkilgore.com/meadowbrook

Tempest Golf Club903.984.5335tempestgolfclub.com

GolfGolf

TEXAS

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Kilgore Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center903.984.5022

Kilgore Economic Development Corporation (KEDC) 903.983.3522

East Texas Council of Governments903.218.6400

HotelsComfort Suites903.984.2385

Hampton Inn903.983.3300

Holiday Inn Express & Suites903.986.3533

Kilgore College East Texas Oil Museum 903.983.8295

Devall Student Center & Ballroom 903.983.8219

Dodson Auditorium 903.983.8219

Religious FBC Kilgore 903.984.3531fbckilgore.org

St Luke’s United Methodist Church903.984.3576stlukeskilgore.com

Restaurants Bodacious Bar-B-Q903.983.1421bodaciousbarbqtx.com

Country Tavern 903.984.9954


Jalapeño Tree903.984.1076

Val’s Italian Restaurant903.218.0621

The Back Porch 903.984.8141thebackporchkilgore.com

Event Venues Cherokee Club 903.643.2631

Clements Creek Barn903.646.1860

Hidden Timbers Lakeside Venue903.387.6811thehiddentimbers.com

High Hill Farm903.834.3444highhillfarm.com

Kilgore Community House903.984.2958

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Building 903.643.7370

Meadowbrook Golf and Event Center 903.218.6971

Miss Mary’s Place903.918.6034missmarysplace.com

National Guard Armory903.984.5750

Old U.S. Post Office 903.738.6094

Studio 4 Event Center – Texas Broadcast Museum903.985.8115texasbroadcastmuseum.com/event-center/

Texan Theater 903.738.6094

The Landing Event Center903.812.0078thelandingeventcenter.com

Meeting SpotsMeeting Spots

Texan Theater

RV ParksRV ParksD & D RV Park & Catfish Farm903.984.1207dndrvpark.com

Harris Street RV Park903.984.5081cityofkilgore.com/parks- maintenance/harris-st-park

Fernbrook Park903.643.8888fernbrookpark.com

Shallow Creek RV Resort903.984.4513shallowcreek.com

Sun Acres Mobile Home & RV Park903.984.9692sunacresmobilehomepark.com

Day TripsDay Trips

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Gladewater - 14 miles gladewaterchamber.org

See & DoAntique Shopping – Historic Downtown GladewaterMrs. Lee’s Daffodil GardenThe Gladewater Museum

Jefferson - 50 milesvisitjeffersontexas.com

See & DoHistoric Ghost WalkHistoric Jefferson RailwayCaddo Lake State Park

Nacogdoches - 59 milesvisitnacogdoches.org

See & Do Nacogdoches Visitor Center Mize Azalea Garden Lanana Creek Trail

Tyler - 25 milesvisittyler.com

See & DoCaldwell Zoo Tyler State Park Tyler Rose Garden

Palestine - 70 milesvisitpalestine.com

See & DoDavy Dogwood ParkTexas State RailroadOld Town Palestine

Discover the flavors and scenes of the piney woods with these Kilgore road trip ideas!

Texas State Railroad

EST. 2017F I L M F E S T I VA L

EST. 2017F I L M F E S T I VA L

Nov. 14-17, 2019 Nov. 19-22, 2020

March H KilGogh Arts Festival H Avalon Faire Renaissance Festival

April H Fridays After 5 Concert SeriesH Kilgore College Rangerette Revels H Kilgore Spring Film Festival H “Avalon Faire Renaissance Festival” contd.

May H Fridays After 5 Concert SeriesH Kilgore Geekend

June H Fridays After 5 Concert SeriesH Stars & Scars Mud RunH Texas Shakespeare Festival H KidsGogh’s & ChalkFest Children’s Art Festival

JulyH Kilgore Fourth of July Extravaganza H Fridays After 5 Concert SeriesH Historic Downtown Patriotic Street PartyH “Texas Shakespeare Festival” contd.

August H Fridays After 5 Concert Series

September H SAFFE Day

October H Kilgore Fall Film Festival H Kilgore Oktoberfest H East Texas Oilmen’s Chili Cook-off

November H “Christmas Under The Stars” H East Texas Pipe Organ Festival H A Very Derrick Christmas H REEL East Texas Film Festival H Mingle & Jingle

December H “Christmas Under The Stars” contd.H Kilgore Christmas Parade (2019)H Kilgore Public Library Christmas Open HouseH Kilgore College Rangerettes Christmas ShowH Jingle All The WayH Texas Shakespeare Festival Live Radio PlayH Forest Home Baptist Church Drive-Through

Nativity Scene

Calendar of EventsCalendar of Events

Please see VisitKilgore.com for up-to-date information on these and other events.

OFFICIAL VISITOR’S GUIDE

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