A Postcard From Paris (Texas): Your Guide To An East Texas Gem

More than 160 kilometers northeast of Dallas is a small town with a certain something.

Paris, Texas has a lot more to offer than a seal of approval. There are antique shops, locally owned restaurants, and a sweet southern charm. People who live in the city of approximately 25,000 people in east Texas call it a close-knit community.

Looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway? KERA took a quick trip to Paris and made this list of things to see:

Spectators enjoy the backdrop of the many historic red brick buildings in downtown Paris.

Keren Carrion

The Grand, an abandoned cinema in downtown Paris, congratulates a local couple on their baby on August 14, 2021.

Start the day with a walking tour of the city center. If you ask the Parisians – that’s what they call themselves in Paris, Texas – what they love most about their hometown, they say it’s the community spirit. They refer to downtown Paris as the place where everyone smiles and waves while enjoying music performances, comedy shows, mini golf, and bluegrass jam sessions.

The Paris Texas Culbertson Fountain is a symbol of the rebuilding of Paris after a devastating fire in 1916.

Keren Carrion

The Culbertson Fountain, a marble fountain built to commemorate the 1916 fire in Paris, is the center of downtown Paris.

The iconic Culbertson Fountain is also in the heart of downtown. The fountain is a symbol of the rebuilding of Paris after a devastating fire in 1916. Around the fountain are historic buildings and architecture from 1916 to 1918. It is a unique focal point and a living reminder of how far the city is has come.

Explore antique shops. Paris has a hodgepodge of collectibles and antique shops. From vintage clothing and fancy jewelry to versatile knick-knacks, there seems to be something for everyone. Some local favorites are Priest’s Emporium, Monique’s Antiques, and Remember When Collectibles.

A view of a long hallway full of collectibles and vintage finds piled on the shelves of an antique shop.  Postcards featuring the Paris Eiffel Tower are sold in all antique stores in Paris, Texas.

Keren Carrion

Rows of collectible antiques line the interior of the Texas Antique Mall in Paris.

Be sure to visit the Eiffel Tower. Until 1999, Las Vegas was known as “the second largest Eiffel Tower in the second largest Paris”. Unveiled in 1996, the tower was built by 78 Parisian welders who spent approximately 1,000 hours building it. Today it is the main gathering point for both locals and tourists. During the holiday season, LED lights twinkle red and green, and many use the tower for wedding photos or baby showers.

It is located in the 2025 S. Collegiate Dr. next to the Love Civic Center and the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial.

Grab a bike and slide down the Trail de Paris. This green space extends a little more than 5 km east of the city into the green. The paved route follows a beautiful corridor with a shaded canopy and crosses bridges next to old train tracks. The Trail de Paris opens half an hour before sunrise and closes half an hour after sunset. It’s a great way to hike and take in the scenic views of the city, including downtown and the Eiffel Tower. It also provides access to a butterfly garden and other parks.

Location: S. Collegiate Dr. Paris, TX 75460

In a cemetery in Paris, Texas, there is a statue that some locals have coined the name of Jesus in cowboy boots.

Keren Carrion

On top of Willett Babcock’s 1828 gravestone is a statue of Jesus wearing cowboy boots in Evergreen Cemetery in Paris, Texas.

Look for “Jesus in Cowboy Boots” in the cemetery. At Evergreen Cemetery, where thousands of people are buried, one tomb stands out – a 4.5 meter high statue of a man named Willet Babcock. Many people say the figure with the long hair and flowing dress leaning against a cross looks like Jesus flaunting his cowboy boots. Babcock came to Paris from Indiana in 1859. He organized the first volunteer fire brigade in Paris and owned an opera house. It turned out that he also made furniture, much like Jesus himself.

Location: 560 Evergreen St, Paris, TX 75460

We will always have Paris, Texas!

Find out more about the other Paris:

Do you have a tip? Alejandra Martinez is a member of Report For America’s corps and writes for KERA News about the impact of COVID-19 on underserved communities. Email Alejandra at amartinez@kera.org. You can follow Alejandra on Twitter @alereports.

KERA News is made possible by the generosity of our members. If you find that reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thanks very much.

[ad_1]