Things to Do in Troup, Texas

Troup's downtown reflects its long history as a railroad town that rebuilt after the great fire of 1880. Today it's home to local restaurants and cafes, coffee shops, and small businesses — a pleasant place to browse and grab a bite. The town's strong sense of tradition shows in its community events and its fierce loyalty to the Troup Tigers, whose school sports draw crowds and championship banners.

It's the kind of small Texas town where the historic downtown feel, the local shops, and Friday-night football still anchor community life. For visitors, a walk through downtown offers a genuine slice of historic East Texas.

North of Tyler, the Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary is a popular regional attraction — a rescue home for big cats, chiefly tigers, where visitors can see these magnificent animals up close. It's an easy and memorable outing from Troup.

The surrounding countryside offers the outdoors close at hand, with the lakes of the Tyler and Jacksonville areas — including Lake Jacksonville to the southwest and Lake Tyler to the north — within a short drive for fishing and boating. The rolling Piney Woods hills around Troup are good for scenic drives and country exploring.

Troup's central location makes it a fine base for the region's best day trips. To the northeast, Kilgore is home to the East Texas Oil Museum, telling the story of the boom that once made Troup an important rail town. Farther north and east, historic Jefferson offers antiques, historic home tours and museums, and nearby Caddo Lake, while Gladewater bills itself as the antique capital of East Texas.

Nearby, the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site preserves the remains of an ancient Caddo Indian village, and Tyler — just up the road — adds its rose gardens, zoo, and museums. Between its own historic downtown and the attractions within easy reach, Troup offers far more to explore than its size suggests.