Things to Do in Hooks, Texas
Hooks is a small Bowie County town with a friendly, working-town character, big-lake recreation a short drive away, and the attractions of Texarkana close at hand. Between the water, Friday-night football, and the city next door, there's a well-rounded menu of things to do.
Here's what to do in and around Hooks.
Wright Patman Lake and the Outdoors
The area's standout attraction is Wright Patman Lake, a nearly 19,000-acre reservoir on the Sulphur River south of Texarkana, an easy drive from Hooks. Managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, it's a hub for fishing, boating, swimming, and camping.
Anglers reel in white bass, crappie, channel and blue catfish, flathead, and largemouth bass, and the lake's Corps parks offer boat ramps, picnic spots, and hiking trails. Closer to home, the woods and creek bottoms of Bowie County make for good hunting and quiet country drives — the everyday outdoors of the Ark-La-Tex right at the doorstep.
Hometown Life and Hornet Football
Like many East Texas towns, much of Hooks's community life centers on its schools. The Hooks ISD Hornets give the town a Friday-night gathering point each fall, and school sports, events, and fundraisers knit the community together. The town's most famous son, Heisman Trophy winner and Detroit Lions great Billy Sims, gives Hooks an outsized claim to football fame for its size.
Day to day, Hooks offers the simple pleasures of a close-knit small town — local eateries, churches, ballfields, and friendly faces — with the depot workforce and longtime families giving it a steady, working-town feel.
Texarkana and the Region
Hooks's location keeps a full-size city minutes away: Texarkana, only about thirteen miles east on Interstate 30. The twin-state city adds shopping, restaurants, museums, the historic Perot Theatre, the famous State Line Post Office and Federal Building that straddles Texas and Arkansas, and the events of a regional hub.
The broader Ark-La-Tex region — where Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma meet — offers still more lakes, history, and attractions within a reasonable drive. Between Wright Patman Lake, hometown Hornet football, and Texarkana right next door, Hooks offers plenty to do for a small community.
Concerts & Shows Near Hooks
Listings from Ticketmaster, updated October 18, 2026. Tickets are sold by Ticketmaster; we don't check these dates ourselves, so confirm on the ticket page.
- Tue, Oct 27 · 7:00 PM Crowder LIVE! · First Baptist Church Texarkana, Texarkana · 12 mi · Rock
FAQ: Things to Do in Hooks
Hooks offers big-lake recreation at Wright Patman Lake a short drive away — fishing, boating, and camping — plus hometown Hooks Hornets football, small-town community life, and easy access to Texarkana's shopping, restaurants, and attractions about thirteen miles east.
Wright Patman Lake is a nearly 19,000-acre Army Corps reservoir on the Sulphur River south of Texarkana, an easy drive from Hooks. It's great for fishing white bass, crappie, and catfish, with about a dozen parks offering boat access, swimming, camping, and hiking trails.
Yes. Texarkana is only about thirteen miles east of Hooks on Interstate 30. The twin-state city adds shopping, dining, museums, the Perot Theatre, and the famous post office that straddles the Texas-Arkansas state line, all minutes from town.
Hooks is known as the hometown of Billy Sims, the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner and Detroit Lions running back, and for the Red River Army Depot just south of town. Wright Patman Lake nearby and the Hooks Hornets round out its appeal.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Hooks in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →East Texas Festivals and Annual Events
Season-by-season guide to East Texas festivals and events — Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas Rose Festival, the Yamboree, Wonderland of Lights and more, checked against each host's own site.
Read Guide →Best Day Trips from Tyler and East Texas
Drive-time guide to day trips from Tyler: state parks, small towns, museums, and lakes within about 30 minutes, an hour, and up to three hours.
Read Guide →Best Lakes in East Texas
A fact-checked guide to 17 East Texas lakes, from Lake Fork's trophy bass and Caddo Lake to Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake Tawakoni. Sizes, species, access and rules come from TPWD.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
Want Your Business Featured in Hooks?
People are searching for businesses like yours in Hooks. Get listed in our city guide and local directory so they can find you.