Things to Do in Paris, Texas

The must-see photo op is the Eiffel Tower. Paris built a 65-foot welded replica of the famous Paris, France landmark in 1993, and in 1998 the city topped it with a giant red cowboy hat — reportedly its answer to a rival tower in Paris, Tennessee. It stands near the Love Civic Center and is the city's unofficial mascot, drawing road-trippers and photographers who can't resist the gloriously Texan mash-up.

It's free, quick, and exactly the kind of roadside Americana that makes a stop in Paris worthwhile. Pair it with a stroll through the rest of town and you've got the makings of a fun day trip.

Paris's most famous oddity is in Evergreen Cemetery, where the grave of Willet Babcock is marked by a life-size statue of a Christ-like figure leaning on a cross — wearing cowboy boots. The 'Jesus in cowboy boots' statue has become a genuine tourist draw and a beloved piece of local lore.

The cemetery itself, with more than 50,000 interments, is a walkable outdoor history museum. It holds the graves of Confederate general and U.S. Senator Sam Bell Maxey,banker and philanthropist William J. McDonald (namesake of the McDonald Observatory), and cotton magnate John J. Culbertson, among other figures who shaped the region. It's a surprisingly rewarding stop for history buffs.

For a deeper look at the city's past, the Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site preserves the elegant 1868 home of a Confederate general and U.S. Senator, kept with original furnishings and offering guided tours. The Lamar County Historical Museum covers the broader story of Paris and the Red River Valley.

Downtown Paris, largely rebuilt after the 1916 fire, centers on the historic Culbertson Fountain and a square of early-20th-century brick buildings now filled with shops and restaurants. It's a pleasant district to walk, and a reminder of the city's cotton-and-railroad heyday. A quirky footnote: Paris Junior College is home to the Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, one of the few jewelry and gemology schools of its kind in the country.

When it's time to get outside, Pat Mayse Lake, north of the city toward the Oklahoma line, is the area's main reservoir — a Corps of Engineers lake popular for bass and crappie fishing, boating, and camping. Lake Crook is a smaller spot closer to town.

Paris also sits on the Northeast Texas Trail, a 130-mile rail-to-trail path (one of the longest in the state) that runs across the region; the local Trail de Paris segment is a popular spot for walking and biking. For a longer outing, the Kiamichi Country of Southeast Oklahoma and Beavers Bend State Park are within easy reach to the northeast. Between the lake, the trail, and the quirky sights, Paris fills a day with ease.