Trace the town's boom – and bust – at the evocative East Texas Oil Museum, with vivid exhibits that do an admirable job re-creating the pre-oil discovery town. The World's Richest Acre Park has 36 re-created, light-topped oil derricks to commemorate the wells that gave this site its name. This patch of real estate yielded 2.5 million barrels of oil during a 30-year run. At the height of the boom, the number of oil wells in town numbered 1200.
East Texas Oil Museum
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.62 MILES
Romantics, be prepared to swoon: home to the country’s biggest domestic supply of roses, Tyler is also home to this 14-acre garden with 38,000 plants in…
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Camp Ford was the largest prisoner of war (POW) camp run by the Confederacy west of the Mississippi. Opened in 1863, it held over 5000 Union prisoners;…
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25.05 MILES
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0.78 MILES
Once home in the 1930s to the world's densest collection of oil derricks, this downtown park now has one of the originals plus 36 replicas.
Nearby attractions
1. Rangerette Showcase & Museum
0.08 MILES
Oil is not the only kind of drilling Kilgore is famous for; the town also claims bragging rights as home to the world's oldest women's precision drill…
0.78 MILES
Once home in the 1930s to the world's densest collection of oil derricks, this downtown park now has one of the originals plus 36 replicas.
23.29 MILES
Camp Ford was the largest prisoner of war (POW) camp run by the Confederacy west of the Mississippi. Opened in 1863, it held over 5000 Union prisoners;…
4. Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge
25.05 MILES
This refuge, 13 miles north of downtown Tyler, is home to over 50 big cats that have been rescued from non-zoo captivity across the country. Tour the…
25.98 MILES
The wine industry is literally growing in east Texas; several vineyards lie within an hour's drive of Jefferson. Locals favor Enoch's Stomp for its…
6. Tyler Municipal Rose Garden
26.62 MILES
Romantics, be prepared to swoon: home to the country’s biggest domestic supply of roses, Tyler is also home to this 14-acre garden with 38,000 plants in…
28.81 MILES
Walk the mile-long vineyard trail, have a taste or take a tour (confirm schedule in advance); located 15 miles southeast of downtown. The winery produces…