Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
But oil is not the only kind of drilling Kilgore is famous for; the town also claims brag-
ging rights as home to the world's oldest women's precision drill teams, the Kilgore
Rangerettes. These ladies - in their nifty red shirts, blue skirts and white hats and boots -
have performed at several presidential inaugurations and every Cotton Bowl since 1950.
Don't skip the film at the
Rangerette Showcase & Museum
(
www.rangerettes.com
; 1100 Broadway; admis-
sion free; 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat)
, it's your chance to see the Rockette-like, high-kick-
ing action. Every April the Rangerette's showcase their more diverse dance talents at a
variety showcase, called the Revels.
Before you leave, make sure to take a turn around the art deco downtown (corner of
Kilgore & E Main Sts), where several boutique western-wear shops sport names like
Calamity Jane's and Crystal Spur. You'll find a cafe or two there, but we recommend get-
ting out of town. The
Country Tavern
( 903-984-9954;
www.countrytavern.com
; 1526 FM 2767; dishes
$8-25; 11am-9pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri & Sat)
, 5 miles west on Hwy 31, is known statewide
for its mind-blowingly tender barbecued ribs and other smoked meats. In town, the super
casual, Texas-rustic Back Porch does a good job on buffalo burgers, chicken-fried steak
and fried green tomatoes. Live country music on the patio Wednesday, Friday and
Saturday evening.
Kilgore is just the kind of small town where we'd like to slow down and stay a spell.
Pity that the lodging is limited to nice-enough, but characterless chains such as Holiday
Inn Express. For more town information, contact the
Kilgore Chamber of Commerce & Visitor
Bureau.
(
903-984-5022;
www.kilgorechamber.com
;
813 N Kilgore St;
9am-5pm Mon-Fri).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Jefferson
POP 2110
With gracious architecture, a perfectly preserved old town, charismatic locals and a superb
natural setting, Jefferson is the kind of town tourist boards dream about. Once the largest
inland river port in the USA, pre-Civil War Jefferson was a mini New Orleans: the stomp-
ing grounds of a wild bunch of gamblers, riverboat men and madams. Since then, Jeffer-
son has calmed down considerably. (What else can you say about a place that boasts it's
the B&B capital of Texas?) But it still has a few ghosts in the closet, maybe literally.
The town is relatively small, but don't even think of stopping for just an afternoon. The
old streets beg to be strolled, with a requisite stop at one of the soda fountains, of course.
