City Spotlight: Jasper
Situated among the Pineywoods in Deep East Texas, Jasper is an incredibly charming, small town of a little more than 7,000 folks whose homes are hidden beneath a beautiful canopy of pine trees. Needless to say, its moniker, the “Jewel of the Forest,” is well deserved.
A Somber Reputation
It’s hard to believe such a beautiful place was the site of such an awful hate crime in 1998. Though it occurred over 25 years ago, many remember the incident, murder investigation, and subsequent trial of the perpetrators that captured the entire nation’s attention (to the point that the tragedy and the town have been inextricably linked ever since).
And while no one denies this is an important piece of history, one that led to reinforced Texas and federal hate crime laws, it’s unfortunate this somber reputation often precedes what I found to be a truly wonderful town. And indeed, there’s so much more about Jasper worth knowing.
Go Deeper into the Jewel of the Forest
Jasper is the seat of Jasper County, one of the oldest counties in all of Texas. The Jasper County Historical Museum is a great resource for anyone looking to dig into the area’s history. In fact, they have a permanent exhibit that commemorates and tells the James Byrd Jr. story, which everyone should check out.
It’s a great place to learn about some of the oldest stories and greatest heroes in Texas lore, including the native Caddo people who settled in the area more than 1,000 years ago; Jasper’s place as one of the 23 original counties in the Republic of Texas in 1836; and the logging industry that became the heartbeat of East Texas through the 20th century.
The museum is one of the main attractions, but the town square has lots to offer, from boutiques to antique stores. No matter what you decide to do, carve out time to eat at The Jewel Bistro Cafe. It was opened in 2024 by husband-and-wife duo John and Soloria Davis, who are Jasper natives. (Fun fact: John played for a few years as a tight end in the NFL.) Their food is true Southern cooking, including shrimp and grits, omelets, and biscuits (all the good stuff) but is unlike anything you’ve had before. Don’t leave without a few of their specialty house beignets!
Another must-do item is to have dinner at the Cedar Tree restaurant. It’s been around for decades, serving what can only be described as the country buffet to end all country buffets. It’s like your Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, and local potluck all had a giant, delicious baby. Every night, there’s a huge selection of comfort food: chicken-fried steak, fried chicken, fried catfish, fried pork chops, chicken-fried pork loins, chicken pot pie … yeah, mostly amazing golden-brown options. I had their fried chicken every night I was in Jasper and didn’t regret it once.
Explore the Pineywoods
While in the area, you’ve got to check exploring the Pineywoods off your bucket list as Jasper is located in the heart of one of the most beautiful parts of this region. East Texas is so different from the rest of the state that you’ll feel far from home if you’re unfamiliar with the area.
About 14 miles west of Jasper is Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, which has miles and miles of fantastic, pine tree-covered paddling trails right on the Neches River. (Heads up, this is East Texas water: Watch out for gators.) About 17 miles north of Jasper is Sam Rayburn Reservoir, one of the largest and most scenic reservoirs in the country. It should be on any hiker’s bucket list, but it is also a hot spot for catching largemouth bass, catfish, and other big fish.
A little further west from Sam Rayburn is one of my favorite hikes in Texas, at a small park called the Boykin Springs Recreation Area inside Angelina National Forest. You can swim in the spring-fed lake here, but there’s also a nearly 3-mile hike that will take you to the old Aldridge Sawmill — one of the most picturesque places in Texas but also one of the creepiest. It’s a crumbling, concrete ruin covered in graffiti that, for some reason, people love to explore. I’ve been hiking there since I was a kid, and the Aldridge Sawmill still gives me the same heebie-jeebies it gave me back then.
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