Community Activities & Attractions
As you discover more about Lufkin and Angelina County, you'll find an area that offers a superb array of recreational opportunities—from top-notch golfing to superior bass fishing.
The County boasts three 18-hole golf courses, including Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin, which is consistently selected as the #1 or #2 golf course in the state, as ranked by the Dallas Morning News. In addition, there's the Lufkin Country Club and the Neches Pines Golf Club in Diboll, just 10 minutes south of Lufkin.
Lake Sam Rayburn, the largest reservoir completely within the State of Texas, offers more than 750 miles of shoreline and 114,500 acres of natural beauty in the heart of the East Texas Pineywoods. Considered one of the best fishing lakes in the southern United States, Rayburn offers excellent year-round fishing for largemouth and other bass varieties, crappie and catfish.
Toledo Bend Reservoir, which straddles the Texas-Louisiana border, provides anglers with additional opportunities for excellent fishing and is an easy hour-plus drive from Lufkin. Lake Livingston, an hour south of Lufkin, also is a favorite "fishing hole".
Lufkin also is conveniently located between two national forests—Angelina National Forest and Davy Crockett National Forest—which provide excellent opportunities for boating, camping and hiking.
With over 15 public parks, several with jogging trails, modern playground facilities, and shady picnic areas, Lufkin has something for anyone seeking outdoor recreational activities.
Lufkin is a hub for regional medical care with two recognized hospitals, a VA Clinic, and more than 150 physicians providing services in a vast array of fields.
Memorial Health System of East Texas (MHSET) is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Lufkin and serves a 14-county area. Founded in 1949 by the local business community, MHSET is one of the most complete healthcare providers in Deep East Texas. Memorial's flagship hospital, located in Lufkin, is currently licensed for 233 beds, offers a comprehensive medical and surgical facility, and serves as a regional referral center for the system's service area.
Affiliated with The DeBakey Heart Center of Methodist Hospital in Houston, the Cardiac Cath Labs of MHSET participate in national studies and protocols, meaning patients have access to leading-edge treatments and technologies. A 22-bed pre-procedure Day Surgery Unit and post-procedure recovery unit gives patients one-stop care, enabling them to come directly to the catheterization lab, have their procedure and be discharged from the same area during out patient procedures.
Under the umbrella of MHSET are the Arthur Temple Sr. Regional Cancer Center; the Horace C. Polk Regional Diabetes Center; the W. Temple Webber Resonance Imaging Center; the Henderson Kidney Center (for dialysis); and the Wilson McKewen Rehabilitation Center.
Established in 1918, Woodland Heights Medical Center (WHMC) was Lufkin's first hospital. Now, almost ten decades later, Woodland Heights is recognized throughout Texas Forest Country as the leading provider of high quality, innovative health care services. With cardiovascular outcomes among the top 5% in the nation and pulmonary outcomes among the top 10% in the nation, Woodland Heights is the preferred provider for critical and intensive care services in the market.
Accommodating a wide range of clinical specialties, Woodland Heights has achieved excellence in other key medical and surgical areas including neurology, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine/rehabilitation, vascular surgery and obstetrics and gynecology. Woodland Heights also offers a full range of outpatient diagnostic services including advanced imaging, laboratory, outpatient surgery and emergency services. Through its Rehabilitation Center, Woodland Heights offers cardiac rehabilitation, stroke recovery and physical and occupational rehabilitation. Combining modern facilities, leading technology, an exceptional staff and a commitment to the communities it serves, Woodland Heights Medical Center remains at the forefront of quality health care in Deep East Texas. By consistently ranking in the top 5% of cardiology programs in the nation and in the top 10% of pulmonary programs in the United States, Woodland Heights has gained recognition for its excellence in Cardiac and Pulmonary Services by HealthGrades, Inc., the nation's leading health care quality company.
Texas Forestry Museum offers a historic and contemporary look at the industry that shaped Lufkin’s history. Visitors will find early equipment and a forest lookout tower and will get a view of life in a sawmill town. The Museum is located at 1905 Atkinson Drive and is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 pm on Sunday. Admission is free.
The Museum of East Texas showcases local, regional and international art and history through exhibits, lectures, performances, classes and publications. The Museum's 
22,500 square feet of space features five galleries of rotating exhibits. Located at 503 North Second Street, the Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. Admission is free.
The History Center is a Diboll-based public history and archive center dedicated to East Texas history, with emphasis on the Temple family and the lumber company they founded. The Center contains an impressive collection of archives, including 70,000 photos of local people and events, company log books and family documents dating back to the 1840's.
Ellen Trout Zoo is one of Lufkin's crown jewels. With more than 500 animals in naturalistic settings, the Zoo provides an adventure for young and old. The adjacent park provides beautifully-wooded picnic settings and a miniature pre-Civil War train replica which visitors can ride around the lake. Open daily.
Angelina Arts Alliance offers a wide variety of world-class performing artists at the Temple Theater on the campus of Angelina College. Tickets for the Arts Alliance are available as a subscription series or individually. Recent artists have included Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Jerry Jeff Walker and A Tuna Christmas.
Kurth Memorial Library features more than 70,000 volumes in a beautiful new facility that opened its doors in 2001. The Library houses an extensive genealogical collection that draws visitors from throughout the southern United States. A volunteer organization supports the Library by raising funds and providing tours. Open Monday through Saturday, the Library is located at 706 South Raguet.
First Street Arts Center is located in downtown Lufkin and features the works of East Texas artists. Mediums on display at include oil, pastel, photography, print and fabric art. The Center has frequent events and offers classes to the public. Admission is free.
Located six miles south of Lufkin on U.S. Highway 59, the Angelina County Airport was named Texas Department of Transportation's Airport of the Year in 1997. The Airport offers a courtesy van, and rental cars are available for hire. An airport café is located in the terminal.
Angelina College is an accredited public community college offering college-credit, continuing education and community service classes on its 140-acre campus in Lufkin. Opened in 1968, the College serves a 12-county area and offers Associates Degree programs in Arts, Science and Applied Science. In addition, the College is committed to lifelong learning with more than 125 courses offered in the College's Community Services Division. A Small Business Development Center is also housed on the College's campus.
Stephen F. Austin State University is located in Nacogdoches, 25 miles north of Lufkin. The University provides degree programs on the undergraduate and graduate levels in a variety of fields.
With a population approaching 40,000 people, it's not surprising that Lufkin serves as a regional hub for retail shopping and banking.
Within the last five years, Lufkin has seen an explosive growth in its retail offerings. A number of regional and national chains have opened stores and restaurants in Lufkin, drawing shoppers and diners from a multi-county area. Downtown Lufkin, a Texas Main Street City, is the site of several unique retail shops, antique dealers and restaurants, and offers a walking tour that provides insights into Lufkin's history.
Lufkin is home to a large locally-owned bank holding company as well as a number of national, statewide and local banks that can service a range of customers from individuals to publicly-traded companies.