This Quiet Texas City Is Hiding In Plain Sight
Sitting on the Louisiana border, not far from the Gulf Coast, Beaumont is a former Texas oil town turned nature-lovers paradise. Known as a birding hotspot, this busy port on the Neches River was founded in 1838 and has reinvented itself many times throughout the centuries, from a farming community to an industrial hub.
Often overlooked by tourists, visitors to Beaumont are surprised by its many attractions, which include scenic recreation areas, outdoor adventures, art and cultural centers, and historic sights. Throughout its long history, Beaumont has always been one of Texas’s hidden gems, an old-fashioned Southern town with warm hospitality and lots to explore.
A Brief History of Beaumont
In 1824, farming couple Noah and Nancy Tevis decided to settle on the fertile banks of the Neches River in northern Texas. A small community quickly sprang up around their farm and became known as Tevis Bluff. Seeing its potential, businessman Henry Millard bought a parcel of land from the Tevis in 1835 and began planning a town that took his wife’s maiden name, Beaumont.
Over the years, Beaumont grew from a cattle and farming town to a busy river port, growing its population through the years of the lumber boom, the expansion of the railroads, and the thriving oil industry. By 1964, the city was the sixth largest in Texas, and its population has remained fairly steady ever since. Today, around 114,000 people call Beaumont home, and its main industries are healthcare, retail, and construction.
Beaumont Tourist Attractions
You can see traces of Beaumont’s long history in the historic homes around town. These include the John Jay French Museum, built in 1845, and the oldest surviving home in the city. The Greek revival-style home is furnished in its original style and is now open to the public for tours.
Hear the fascinating stories of the lives and legacies behind Beaumont’s oil industry at the quirkily-named Spindletop Boomtown Museum on the Lamar University Campus. This fun, outdoor museum recreates the oil boom years with live demonstrations, guided tours, and a showstopping reenactment of a ‘gusher’ where water shoots 100ft into the air from an oil rig.
Beaumont also has a lively history and reputation as an arts hub. The Art Museum of Southeast Texas carries exhibits and galleries of artwork through the 19th and 20th centuries. Current exhibitions include a display on the museum’s history from the 1950s to the present day, while the permanent collection features nearly 1,700 objects representing over 430 artists.
Outdoor Activities
Beaumont’s beautiful scenery boasts a diverse mix of habitats, including wetlands, forests, swamps, desert, and prairie. See these unique ecosystems at the Big Thicket National Preserve, a 113,000-acre green space that features over 40 miles of hiking and biking trails. The park is also a prime spot for birding, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.
Nature lovers will also enjoy a leisurely wander along the newly constructed boardwalk and viewing platforms at the 900-acre Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands. The preserve, which includes the Hildebrandt Bayou and Willow Marsh Bayou, is a birdwatching paradise. Look out for pelicans, egrets, roseate spoonbills, ducks, ibis, doves, and red-winged blackbirds.
Take a ride on the Neches River, known as ‘the last wild river in East Texas’, to enjoy the pristine wilderness from the water and see Beaumont’s iconic Cypress sloughs, swampy areas where bald Cypress trees rise from the water. Neches River Adventures runs guided tours every Saturday morning from March to November.
Wildlife Watching in Beaumont
Beaumont is a birding hotspot thanks to its location and environment. Positioned at the center of the continent, Texas is a natural stopping point for migratory birds making the journey from Central and South America. The ecology of the Upper Texas Gulf Coast is a particularly inviting spot for these part-time residents who are looking for habitats that provide water, food, shelter, and safety.
Beaumont lies on two of the four major migratory corridors, and there are 28 Great Texas Coastal Birding Trails in the local area. Around 400 species are spotted in the Beaumont region every year. Peak times to see migratory birds are March to May and August to November. Best places for birdwatching include the Cattail Marsh Wetlands, Sabine Woods, and Tony Houseman State Park.
Birds aren’t the only famous animals in Beaumont. The city is also known for its large alligator population, and the best place to see them (and feed them!) is Gator Country, an alligator theme park southwest of the city center. The park has over 250 alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and other reptiles. Visitors can learn all about alligators, feed baby gators, and meet Big Tex and Big Al, two of the largest gators in captivity in the state. These massive local celebrities are around 14ft long and weigh 1,000lbs.
Making Memories in Beaumont
A port city with a wild side, Beaumont deserves to be at the top of your Texas travel list. Where else can you see the history of Texas’s oil boom come to life, spy hundreds of migrating birds soaring above the swamplands, feed baby gators, and browse one of the largest art collections in southeast Texas? Whether you’re enjoying a weekend away, taking the family for a long break, or just visiting for a day, it won't be long before you're planning a return trip.
