 |
 |
Gladewater Texas
 Welcome to Gladewater ... Treasuring the past while embracing the future |
We love to visit Gladewater, just a quick drive north of Tyler on U.S. Highway 271, and only 13 miles west of Longview on Historic U.S. Highway 80 as shown on the map below. It is located in Gregg and Upshur counties.
Gladewater was established in 1873, and is celebrating its Sesquicentennial all year long in 2023.
It's a great place for exploring East Texas history, and is known for its large number of antique stores, antique malls, and festivals.
The population of Gladewater is 6,134 residents according to the 2020 Federal Census. It is assigned telephone Area Code 903, and the Gladewater Post Office uses Zip Code 75647.
The City of Gladewater is served by the Gladewater Independent School District.
Today, it is the Antique Capital of East Texas, and a Texas Main Street and a National Main Street city.
For more information, visit the website of the City of Gladewater.
Communities Around Gladewater
Area communities include Gilmer and Mount Pleasant to the north, Hawkins, Big Sandy, Mineola and Grand Saline to the west, Kilgore and Henderson to the south, and Winona to the southwest.
Map of U.S. Highway 80 from the Texas-Louisiana state line near Waskom to Dallas showing the location of Gladewater |
 |
Gladewater Events and Attractions
Gladewater hosts a number of well known festivals including the following:
- East Texas Gusher Days scheduled in April
- Gladewater Roundup Rodeo in June
- Gladewater Arts and Crafts Festival in September
Other popular attractions include the Gladewater Veterans Memorial and the Gladewater Opry.
And antique shopping is always a popular activity for visitors and residents alike!
Gladewater Museum
 Gladewater Museum in East Texas |
The Gladewater Historical Society was chartered as a non-profit educational association in 1987 to preserve and interpret the history of the Gladewater area.
Today, the Gladewater Museum is located in the building known as the Ellen Bauman Community Building. It was built in 1939 during the Art Deco Period. Doc Shepperd was the Gregg County Commissioner at the time of the building’s completion. The building was used for county offices and a library downstairs. The second floor was used by various community organizations for meetings and social gatherings. The library moved to a new home in 1973. Since that time, the building has been used by various community groups.
The museum is located at 116 West Pacific Street in downtown Gladewater. For more information, phone 903.845.7608, or visit the Gladewater Museum website or the Gladewater Museum on Facebook.
Lake Gladewater
Lake Gladewater was constructed in 1952 to provide the citizens of Gladewater with an ample supply of water for future generations. Today, this pristine 6,950 acre-foot spring-fed lake is surrounded by beautiful homes and is also enjoyed by fishermen and boaters. The lake is located northwest of downtown.
Garland P. Ferguson Park sits on the western shoreline, offering picnic areas, playground, tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, pavilion, swimming area, boat dock and a lighted fishing pier. The Lake Store has fishing supplies, live bait, snacks and cold drinks.
The July 4th Boat Parade is held here and a fishing tournaments as well.
Read more about the Lake Gladewater at Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Lake Gladewater in East Texas |
|
Gladewater War Veterans MemorialThe Memorial is located on East Pacific, about a block east of South Main Street, honoring all have served in our armed forces from the Gladewater Area. Listed are local veterans from the Revolutionary War to Gulf War. |
 |
The Opry HouseThe Opry House operated on South Main Street in Gladewater for decades before closing in 2021. It was home to a two-hour country music show each Saturday night, along with other special events, where a number of well-known singers performed over the years. It has since been purchased, and the new owner plans to offer Elvis shows, as well as mainstream musicals, plays, bluegrass and blues festivals. The building dates to the 1930s, when it was originally the Ritz Theater, and later The Cozy.
|
Gladewater: Antique Capital of East Texas
Long famous as "The Antique Capital of East Texas", today Gladewater continues to offer a variety of popular antique stores and malls, all within easy walking distance! Some are shown below ...
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Walker ManorBuilt in the late 1880s, the Walker Manor Bed & Breakfast is a Texas historic landmark at 214 East Commerce Street in downtown Gladewater. The Inn features three lavish turn-of-the-century style guest suites each with their own private bathroom, a expansive gardens, porch, a Tea Room, and wedding and special event spaces. Guests enjoy gourmet breakfasts and high tea. For more information, visit the website of the Walker Manor B&B.
|
Helen Lee's Daffodil Gardens
 Peak color at the Helen Lee Daffodil Gardens |
During February and March each year, the area is treated to millions of blooming daffodils at Helen Lee's Daffodil Gardens ... we have visited the gardens on multiple occasions, and highly recommend a trip there. It is physically located at 21600 CR 3103 outside of Gladewater.
The garden opens, depending on the weather, in mid-February and remains open through March or until the daffodils are no longer in bloom.
The garden is open during this time seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no charge for admission, but donations are accepted; we highly recommended making a donation to help insure this incredible garden continues for years to come.
The road through the gardens is dirt/gravel, and one-way, but an easy drive. One large parking lot is available in an area with massive areas of daffodils and ideal for walks and photography. A second parking area is located at the historic log cabin at Lake Josephine.
For road conditions in the gardens and predicted blooming schedule, contact the Mrs. Lee's Daffodil Gardens at 903.845.5780 or visit their website. The road through the gardens is dirt/gravel, and one-way, but an easy drive.
One large parking lot is available in an area with massive areas of daffodils and ideal for walks and photography.
 |
 |
|
Gladewater Municipal AirportGladewater Municipal Airport (FAA 07F) is owned by the City of Gladewater and is a public-use general aviation airport located in Gregg County, Texas. The airport operates two asphalt runways: Runway 14/32, 3,299 feet in length and 75 feet in width; and Runway 17/35, 2,298 feet in length and 50 feet in width. The airport is located just southwest of Gladewater on U.S. Highway 271.
|
RVing in GladewaterMany visitors coming to Gladewater for its festivals and antique stores choose to stay in their RV in a nearby park. Among the RV parks in the area ... Boom Town RV Park |
 |
Gladewater Texas History
 |
Gladewater, about 105 miles east of Dallas, was founded by the Texas and Pacific (T&P) Railway Company in 1873. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the economy of the area was based mainly on timber and farming.
In late 1930, the first well drilled in the great East Texas Oil Field was completed, the Joiner Daisy Bradford No. 3 near Joinerville.
The discovery of oil near Gladewater in 1931 was the beginning of decades of economic growth based on the oil and gas industry.
During the 1970s, as oil resources began to be depleted, Gladewater transformed to a more diversified economy.
Vintage Views of Gladewater in Historic Postcards
Motel Glade in Gladewater, Texas |
Hall Lumber and Material in Gladewater |
Gladewater Tourist Court, Junction US 80 & State Highway 31, South Side of Gladewater, Texas |
|
More Information about Gladewater
For more information on Gladewater, we recommend visiting these web sites ...
Map of Gladewater Texas
Map of Upper East Texas showing the location of Gladewater
Gladewater Texas Photographs
First Franchised Motor Bus Line in Texas The W. E. Nunnelee Bus Lines began passenger service from Tyler to Gladewater and Mt. Pleasant in March 1925. Later added buses from Tyler to Henderson and Nacogdoches |
|
Snavely #1 - The Gladewater Discovery Oil Well On April 7, 1931, this wildcat well drilled by Selby Oil and Gas Company of Tulsa, OK, came-in. It was located in the Sabine River bottom one mile south of Gladewater. It connected Gladewater to the vast East Texas oil field stretching from Longview's Lathrop Well to Kilgore's Crim well |
|
Historic oil drilling equipment, downtown Gladewater Texas
(staff photo) |
|
U.S. Post Office, Gladewater Texas
