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Things to See & Do
There is so much to see and do in Lufkin. For more information on the various attractions and activities Lufkin offers, go to www.visitlufkin.com. You can also call the Lufkin Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-409-5659.
We have included some of the most popular attractions below:
Ellen Trout Park & Zoo - (936)633-0399
Ellen Trout Park & Zoo is one of Lufkin's main tourist attractions and has over 500 animals, one fourth are endangered species. The zoo has received numerous state and national awards and is considered one of the top zoos in cities with Lufkin's population. At the park, you can ride a miniature pre-Civil War train replica around the lake and through the beautiful pine trees - which fully represent Lufkin.
Museums
- Texas Forestry Museum - (936)632-9535
Learn about the history and culture of Lufkin/Angelina County as impacted by our forest region and resources, forestry, and forestry related industries. See exhibits, steam locomotive, depot, and walking trail. Open seven days a week, free admission.
- The Museum of East Texas - (936) 639-4434
This museum offers changing exhibitions of art and history, public programming, lectures and gallery talks by artists and scholars, workshops and classes for children and adults, summer Art Camp, Super Saturdays, Traveling Trunk exhibits, and docent guided tours, by appointment. Open seven days a week, free admission.
Shopping in Lufkin
Lufkin is a Main Street City with many shopping opportunities, including a number of antique shops and specialty stores throughout the downtown area. Downtown saw many improvements in 2006, including the completion of a construction project to enhance parking, sidewalks and streets. Construction also began on a new transit terminal and parking facility for downtown Lufkin.
Other popular shopping areas in Lufkin include stores located at the Angelina Village, Chestnut Village, Gaslight Square, Old Texas Plaza, Towne Square, and the Palms Shopping Center. We saw Rue 21, Tractor Supply, and Tuesday Morning join the ranks of an already established retail sector. With the opening of PetSmart, Marble Slab and Starplex Cinemas 12, Lufkin continues to maintain its status as a regional shopping and entertainment area. Lufkin Mall also brought new retail businesses to town, as we saw the addition of Hot Topic, Didough Pretzel Company, Kay Jewelers, and Great American Cookie Company, as well as the expansion of Lufkin Mall 9 cinema.
Our Shopping Areas Include:
- Downtown Lufkin
- Lufkin Mall
- Angelina Village
- Brentwood Crossing
- Chestnut Village
- Gaslight Square
- Old Texas Plaza
- South Loop Crossing
- Towne Square
- Palms Shopping Center
- Garden District Shopping Village
Birding
Lufkin, Texas is a Tree City USA and contains choice habitat for many species of birds. Lufkin also contains several parks which have small lakes and marsh areas that add significantly to the birding appeal. Listed below are several excellent areas for bird watching with lists of the species you are likely to observe. A good field checklist, Birds of the Pineywoods of Eastern Texas, is available at U.S. Forest Service office in Lufkin.
Choice Lufkin areas for bird watching include:
Directions: In Lufkin, enter at Grace Dunn Richardson Park, off Loop 287 in south Lufkin, or from Kiwanis Park on Timberland Drive.
Description: Hiking trail 1.5 miles one way. Riparian area supporting abundance of forest species
Owner: City of Lufkin
Notable species: Barred Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested and Scissor-tailed flycatchers, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Swainson's Warbler, Nesting birds: White-eyed, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo's Northern Parula, Yellow-throated, Pine, Black-and-White and Hooded Warblers, Common Yellowthroat and Summer Tanager, Great area for Spring and Fall migrants, Winter Sparrows: Chipping, Lincoln's and White-Throated.
Season: All
Special Notes: Excellent urban hiking area.
ELLEN TROUT ZOO & LAKE
Directions: In north Lufkin, beside Loop 287 near Angelina County Exposition Center.
Description: Walking trail loops around the 31-acre lake and through a mixed pine-hardwood forest.
Owner: City of Lufkin
Notable species: Great area for spring and fall migrants, winter ducks including: Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Ruddy Duck.
Season: Winter, spring, fall.
Special Notes: Area includes one of Texas' best small-city zoos. Picnic areas.
ANGELINA COLLEGE FOREST FITNESS TRAIL
Directions: Located on northwest corner of campus of Angelina College, east of US 59 in south Lufkin.
Description: One mile trail meanders through a 20 acre mixed pine-hardwood forest.
Owner: Angelina College
Notable Species: Red-shouldered Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Barred Owl, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, Nesting birds: Acadian Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, White-eyed Vireo, Yellowed-throated Vireo, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated, Pine, and Swainson's Warblers and Summer tanager.
Season: All
Special Notes: Bird checklists available at trail head.
TEXAS FORESTRY MUSEUM'S URBAN WILDSCAPE TRAIL, LUFKIN
Directions: From Loop 287 north, turn east on TX 103 (Atkinson Drive) and follow to the Texas Forestry Museum.
Description: Trail is directly behind the Museum. Approximately 0.70 miles of trail winds through 3.5 acres of mixed pine-hardwood forest.
Owner: Texas Forestry Museum.
Notable Species: Variety of birds usually found in East Texas forests, including Brown-headed Nuthatch, American Robin, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Blue Jay, Brown-Headed Cowbird, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Chimney Swift, Chipping Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, red-Bellied Woodpecker Tufted Titmouse, and Mourning Dove.
Season: All
Special Notes: Barrier-free portion of trail is .12 miles
