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We love to visit Gladewater, just a quick drive north of Tyler on U.S. Highway 271, and only 13 miles west of Longview on U.S. 80 as shown on the map below.
It's a great place for exploring East Texas history, and is known for its large number of antique stores, antique malls, and festivals.
Area communities include Gilmer and Mt. Pleasant to the north, Hawkins, Big Sandy, Mineola and Grand Saline to the west, Kilgore and Henderson to the south, and Winona to the southwest.
During February and March each year, the area is treated to millions of blooming daffodils at Helen Lee's Daffodil Gardens ... we visited the gardens in March, 2010, and highly recommend a trip there. View the Lee Daffodil Gardens photo gallery.
Gladewater, about 105 miles east of Dallas, was founded by the Texas and Pacific (T&P) Railway Company in 1873. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the economy of the area was based mainly on timber and farming.
In late 1930, the first well drilled in the great East Texas Oil Field was completed, the Joiner Daisy Bradford No. 3 near Joinerville.
The discovery of oil near Gladewater in 1931 was the beginning of decades of economic growth based on the oil and gas industry.
During the 1970s, as oil resources began to be depleted, Gladewater transformed to a more diversified economy. Today, it is the Antique Capital of East Texas, a Texas Main Street and a National Main Street city.
Gladewater features a number of restaurants and bed and breakfast inns. Well known festivals include the East Texas Gusher Days in April, the Roundup Rodeo in June, and the Arts and Crafts Festival in September.
A visit to the Gladewater Museum is also recommended. Located just north of town is Lake Gladewater.
Gladewater is the home of McKaig Chevrolet Buick, which works with the Duck Commander and Deer Commander groups over in West Monroe, Louisiana. McKaig designs custom trucks seen on the Duck Commander DVDs, and the hit A&E Network TV series "Duck Dynasty".
For more information on Gladewater, we recommend visiting the web site of the Gladewater Chamber of Commerce.
Shown below are a few photos the TylerTexas staff shot in Gladewater in 2007 and 2010.
First Franchised Motor Bus Line in Texas
The W. E. Nunnelee Bus Lines began passenger service from Tyler
to Gladewater and Mt. Pleasant in March 1925
Later added buses from Tyler to Henderson and Nacogdoches
Snavely #1 - The Gladewater Discovery Oil Well
On April 7, 1931, this wildcat well drilled by Selby Oil and Gas Company
of Tulsa, OK, came-in. It was located in the Sabine River bottom
one mile south of Gladewater
It connected Gladewater to the vast East Texas oil field stretching from
Longview's Lathrop Well to Kilgore's Crim well
Historic oil drilling equipment, downtown Gladewater Texas, U.S. Highway 80
Historic oil derrick near Gladewater Texas Museum, U.S. Highway 80
U.S. Post Office, Gladewater Texas (March, 2010)
The Gladewater Museum, 166 West Pacific Street (March, 2010)
Helen Lee's Daffodil Gardens
West of Gladewater Texas off US 271... Photo taken March 14, 2010
Historic U.S. Highway 80, Gladewater, Texas
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