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Kirbyville, Texas

Established in 1895 in east central Jasper County, Kirbyville is on the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad, and the terminus of the Jasper and Eastern Railroad. Kirbyville was named for John Henry Kirby, who, along with R.P. Allen, laid out the townsite. Kirby was known as "Prince of the Pines," at one time producing more Southern Pine lumber than any man in the world.

Today, lumber is still king, but agribusiness and tourism play an important role in the economy. Kirbyville is minutes away from three popular lakes - Toledo Bend Reservoir, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and B.A. Steinhagen Lake. It's right in the middle of national and state forests, as well as the Big Thicket National Preserve. Because of the abundance of trees, birding is a popular activity here. Residents salute the forests with the popular Magnolia Festival each April.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Calaboose Museum

Under the direction of the Kirbyville Area Heritage Society, the museum contains artifacts, information, and history of local significance. Housed in old jail house built in 1910

Kirbyville, TX Museums

Exotic Cat Refuge & Wildlife Orphanage

Non-profit reserve offers refuge and rehabilitation to endangered exotic cats and other wildlife. It's a state and federally licensed orphanage for lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, bears, and wolves, to name a few. From U.S. 96, head east on Main St. one block to Elizabeth St.;

Kirbyville, TX Wildlife Refuges

Things to do near Kirbyville, TX

Caddo Lake State Park

480 acres beside Caddo Lake; an area once occupied by Caddo Indians, a tribe quite advanced in civilization. Camping areas, t...

Kirby State Forest

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Shelby County Museum

Shelby County, one of the original counties in the Republic of Texas, is rich in history. The museum, a three-building comple...

East Texas Oil Museum

Every aspect of the oil boom days of the 1930s is re-created through dioramas, films, sound effects and mementos of the oil f...

Killough Monument

Native stone monument commemorates victims of East Texas' worst Indian depredation, erected on spot where massacre took place...