%b%crPalestine Community Forest %b%c* and other Palestine, TX Off The Beaten Path Tips

Driving up through either Texas Hwy 19 (to Athens) or US 287 (to Corsicana) will take you through the Palestine Community Forest. There is around 700 acres of pines and hardwoods and taking Hwy19 especially is quite pretty. The drives will leave you to four different lakes which provide boating and finishing. During autumn there is added colour with the sweetgums, Yaupons and Sumacs adding their colour.

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This park is operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. There are antique steam engines and cars which operate from March through to October on a 25.5 mile route to Rusk (and return). The trip is through dense East Texas woodlands and hardwood creek bottoms and is especially lovely during Spring when the Dogwood trees are blooming and in Autumn when the turning of the trees.

Location: East on U.S. 84 (to Rusk)

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There is a huge locomotive 610 on display which was restored to pull the Bicentennial Freedom Train in 1976. There is also an 1899 wooden T&P business car and old baggage car.

Texas State Railroad

Location: East on U.S. 84 (to Rusk)

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The Texas State Railroad is acknowledged as one of the country’s largest and most distinctive steam train operations and is also one of the only steam railroads in the U.S. that operates two steam trains at the same time every day that its in operation. You can either take one train from the Rusk Depot to Palestine or take the route from the Palestine Depot to Rusk. They both pass midpoint of the run.

Texas State Railroad

Location: East on U.S. 84 (to Rusk)

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The train crews operate and maintain 4 steam engines, four antique diesel locomotives and a complete steam-engine restoration shop as well as the track crew taking care of the 25 miles of track and 24 bridges enroute.

Reservations are advisable. In Texas call toll-free 1-800-442-8951 or 903/683-2561.

Texas State Railroad

Location : East on U.S. 84 (to Rusk)

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This plaque commemorates 36 marked and approximately 23 unmarked graves in Swanston cemetery. Many of those whose labour built Anderson County and Houston County are buried here. One of the areas first Brickmakers, Samuel M. Warden died while working on Main's Estate on Christmas eve in 1847 and was the first to be buried here with only bricks of his own manufacture marking his grave. The slaves and former slaves of Henry Clay Swanson (former member of the Alabama State Legislature who moved with his brother and families to this area and operated a mercantile store in town) were also buried here. A young girl was among the last interred in the 1940's.

Location: Texas State Railroad Park, Hwy 84.

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The NSB is located on 400 acres, 5 miles west of Palestine and is a NASA facility which is managed by the Physical Science Lab of New Mexico State University. This was the first permanent facility which was devoted exclusively to scientific ballooning. In addition to scientific experiments, many flights designed to add advancements to balloon technology have been made. The facility is open, within practical limits, to all scientists with balloon-borne experiments to fly.

Balloons are launched between June and August, when the westwardly direction of the winds are best to ensure the balloons are directed away from populated areas. Guided tours of the facility can be arranged in advance.

Location: 1510 E. FM 3224 (5 miles west of Palestine)

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Website: http://www.nsbf.nasa.gov/contact.html

This lake covers 44,752-acres of the Chambers and Richland Creeks. Located just off of Interstate 45 when you are driving from Corsicana through to Palestine. The reservoir was built in the late 1980s and is the 3rd Largest Inland Lake. There are public boat ramps, marinas, and a lakeside campground. The lake is deep enough for sailing and for skiers. Fishing is good for the native largemouth and Florida-strain bass, sand bass, crappie, coppernose bluegill, and catfish.

Location: Hwy 287 from Corsicana to Palestine

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