Big Thicket
Around Big Thicket
Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · Texas · 74k people
Big Thicket
“The Thicket”
Where the pines whisper and the cypress stand tall.
Deep pine greenEarthy brown
Welcome to the Big Thicket, where the piney woods meet the cypress swamps. Come for the fishing and hunting, stay for the friendly small-town charm. We're glad you're here.
Clubs for Big Thicket
No clubs for Big Thicket yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Big Thicket. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Big Thicket. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Big Thicket National Preserve Vast wilderness with diverse ecosystems and trails.
- Lake Livingston State Park Camping, fishing, and swimming on the lake.
- Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation Home of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, hosts annual pow wow.
- Heritage Village Museum Historic log cabins and artifacts in Woodville.
- Tyler County Courthouse Historic 1900s courthouse in Woodville.
- Polk County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Livingston.
- Outdoors Hike the Kirby Nature Trail in the Big Thicket
- Outdoors Fish for bass on Lake Livingston
- With kids Visit the Alabama-Coushatta Pow Wow
- With kids Tour the Heritage Village Museum
- Evenings Listen to live country music at a local honky-tonk
- Evenings Attend a Friday night high school football game
- Locals love Hunting camps
- Locals love Fishing spots
Through the year
- Alabama-Coushatta Pow Wow June Annual gathering with dancing, crafts, and food.
- Tyler County Dogwood Festival April Celebrates spring with parade, arts and crafts, and dogwood blooms.
- Polk County Fair October Livestock shows, carnival rides, and local food.
- Livingston Rodeo July Bull riding, barrel racing, and community fun.
Humid subtropical with hot, muggy summers and mild winters; rain is common year-round. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be out, with mild temps and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “the Thicket”
- The Big Thicket National Preserve
- “piney woods”
- The forested area of East Texas
Getaways
- Huntsville Visit Sam Houston State University and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.
- Lufkin Ellen Trout Zoo and the Texas Forestry Museum.
- Crockett Historic downtown and the Davy Crockett National Forest.
- Deep East Texas Toledo Bend Reservoir for boating and fishing.
Local flavour
Rooting for Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Texas A&M Aggies, UT Longhorns, Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Eat and drink
- Catfish and hushpuppies Fresh from the lakes and rivers, often fried with cornmeal.
- East Texas barbecue Slow-smoked brisket, ribs, and sausage with a tangy sauce.
- Chicken fried steak A Texas staple, served with cream gravy.
- Pecan pie Pecans are a regional crop, making this a beloved dessert.
- Sweet tea The classic Southern drink, served over ice.
Where people go
- Big Thicket National Preserve A mosaic of forests, swamps, and waterways, known for its biodiversity.
- Piney woods Vast stands of longleaf and loblolly pines that define the landscape.
- Cypress swamps Slow, tannin-stained waters lined with cypress knees and draped in Spanish moss.
- Lake Livingston A major reservoir for fishing, boating, and lakeside living.
- Hunting camps Seasonal camps for deer, turkey, and other game, a deep tradition.
- Fishing spots Creeks, rivers, and lakes known for bass, crappie, and catfish.
- Small-town main streets Quaint downtowns with local shops, diners, and a slower pace.
- Barbecue joints Casual, family-run spots serving slow-smoked meats and sides.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaHuntsvilleTexasWhere Texas history meets the piney woodsLufkinTexasWhere the pines meet the waterCrockettTexasPiney woods, river bottoms, and good people.Deep East TexasTexasWhere the pines meet the waterNacogdochesTexasWhere Texas history meets the Piney WoodsNavasotaTexasWhere the blues meet the pinesHoustonTexasFrom bayous to space, Houston's got heart.Beaumont–Port ArthurTexasWhere Cajun spice meets Texas pride.
Polk and Tyler counties, TX. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.