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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
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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
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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
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
What to EatWhat to Eat
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
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
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
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
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
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
Restaurante El Trebol903.984.2605
Schlotzsky’s903.218.0768
Val’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza903.218.0621
Wing Stop903.986.9464
What to EatWhat to Eat
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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
Jack Ryan’s Steak & Chop House903.218.5670
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.