Pine-scented highways, vivid fall colors, and crispy fried catfish make this region a favorite with motorcyclists year-round. Festivals, rodeos, and live music abound all year here. In fall, don’t miss the strut, cluck, and crow contest at the East Texas Poultry Fest in Center, and Gilmer’s Yam Fest (the state’s oldest festival)—both held in October—as well as Henderson’s Syrup Festival, in early November. There are also plenty of great cafés as well as historic sites along the way, including the London Museum, dedicated to the famous New London School explosion in 1937, and the Daisy Bradford No. 3 Discovery Well, the first producer in the largest oil field in the world. Don’t miss the Arnold Outhouse in Henderson—the only outhouse with a historical marker.
Along the Way
CENTER
CENTER ANTIQUES & SANDWICH SHOP
109 Shelbyville St.
936-590-4337
centerantiquesand
sandwichshop.com
KOUNTRY STORE
CAFÉ & GRILL
1752 TX Hwy. 7 E.
936-591-9700
GARRISON
HAPPY GENERAL
STORE & CAFÉ
17333 U.S. Hwy. 59 N.
936-462-1121
GILMER
DOC’S HOT LINKS
208 S. Wood St.
903-843-2025
DUBYA’S SMOKEHOUSE
102 Old Coffeeville Rd.
903-797-0070
HAWKINS
CIRCLE M CRAWFISH
501 TX Hwy. 155 S.
903-360-8946
circlemcrawfish.com
HOLLY LAKE RANCH
210 Golf Dr.
903-769-2138
HENDERSON
ARNOLD OUTHOUSE
514 N. High St.,
Depot Museum
depotmuseum.com
COTTON PATCH CAFE
420 U.S. Hwy. 79 S.
903-657-1414
cottonpatch.com
FORK AND CORK
127 E. Main St.
903-392-2215
PINE MILLS
PINE MILLS CATFISH
FM 14 & FM 49
903-857-2021
pinemillscatfish.com
WINONA
THE BACK PORCH RESTAURANT
407 S. Main St.
903-877-2225
On The Road
Pit Stops
1. EXXON
303 S. Main St., Winona
903-877-0472
2. PHILLIPS 66
1203 W. Tyler St., Gilmer
903-843-6364
Grab A Bite
1. LA FINCA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
200 Warren St., Gilmer
903-843-5355
lafincamexicanrestaurant.net
2. WALKER’S ON
THE SQUARE
130 Nacogdoches St., Center
936-598-3463
walkdersonthesquare.com
Stay The Night
1. GILMER INN
1018 U.S. Hwy. 271 S., Gilmer
903-843-3003
2. LAVENDER MERMAID B&B
975 County Rd. 1332, Pittsburgh
903-855-1923
lavendermermaid.com
Diversions
1. DAISY BRADFORD #3
DISCOVERY WELL
855-650-5529, Henderson
visithendersontx.com/
attractions
2. GASTON MUSEUM: LIFE IN THE EAST TEXAS OIL FIELD
6562 TX Hwy. 64 W., Joinerville
903-812-1794
gastonmuseum.org
Only In Texas
1. EAST TEXAS YAMBOREE
Various locations, Gilmer
October 19-22
Yamboree.com
