Some small towns have one thing going for them. Mineola has several, and they’re all within a few minutes of each other: a downtown built around the railroad, a movie theater that’s been running since 1920, and a huge nature preserve on the Sabine River. It makes for an easy, unhurried weekend in East Texas.
Getting your bearings
Mineola is in Wood County, about 25 miles north of Tyler and roughly an hour and a half east of downtown Dallas. U.S. 69 runs right through town, and the historic downtown sits along the railroad tracks that gave Mineola its start.
The city’s own website describes downtown as walkable and full of one-of-a-kind shops and local places to eat, and that’s a fair summary. Park once, then spend a morning browsing antiques and boutiques before lunch.
A railroad town, then and now
Mineola grew up as a railroad town, and the trains still stop here. The depot at U.S. 69 and Front Street is a working Amtrak stop on the Texas Eagle route, with free lighted parking. That opens up a fun option for Dallas-area folks: ride the train in for the weekend. Trains don’t run every day, so check the schedule and book ahead through Amtrak.
The depot area also has a small railroad museum, and the Mineola Historical Museum, housed in the town’s 1930s former post office, tells the wider story of the community. Call the city at (903) 569-6183 for current museum hours before you plan around them.
Each fall the Mineola Chamber of Commerce throws the Iron Horse Heritage Festival downtown to celebrate the town’s rail history, with vendors, live music and old-fashioned contests. The 2025 festival was held in late September, so keep an eye out for next year’s date.
The Select Theater: a night out, small-town style
The Historic Select Theater at 114 N. Johnson St. opened as a movie house in 1920 and calls itself the longest continuously running theater in Texas. Since 1993 it’s been owned by Lake Country Playhouse, a nonprofit that keeps the lights on with a busy mix of first-run movies, live plays, concerts and holiday shows.
A few things on the fall 2026 calendar, per the playhouse website:
- Steel Magnolias on stage Oct. 16–18 and Oct. 23–25, with evening and Sunday matinee performances. Tickets are listed at $12 for adults and $10 for kids.
- Terrific Tuesdays, classic films for 50 cents. October’s lineup leans toward old-fashioned ghost comedies.
- Lake Country Symphonic Band concerts on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, planned for the last weekend of November and first weekend of December.
Showtimes change week to week, so check the website or call (903) 569-2300 before you go.
The Mineola Nature Preserve
Just outside town, the Mineola Nature Preserve covers 2,911 acres along the Sabine River. It’s a big, varied place: forest, wetlands, open fields and river bottomland.
Here’s some of what you’ll find:
- Walking, hiking, biking and birding trails, including a flat trail along an old 1880s railroad bed
- More than 20 miles of equestrian trails
- Fishing ponds, a playground and picnic pavilions
- An 18-hole disc golf course and an archery range
- A beehive you can watch through safety glass
- Buffalo and longhorn cattle, plus more than 190 bird species
The main entrance for hiking and biking is at 1860 CR 2724. If you’re bringing a horse trailer or RV, use the Derby entrance at 4429 SE Loop 564. Primitive camping is available by reservation. Texas Highways has listed the preserve as open daily from 7:30 a.m. to sunset, but confirm with the city before an early start.
Making a weekend of it
Mineola works well as a two-day trip. Spend Saturday morning on the preserve trails while it’s cool, browse downtown in the afternoon and catch a show or movie at the Select that night. Sunday is good for a slow breakfast and one more walk, or a short drive down to Tyler.
Fall and spring are the most comfortable seasons for the preserve. Summer is doable if you hit the trails early and bring plenty of water.
Good to Know
- Where: Mineola, Wood County, about 25 miles north of Tyler and about 1.5 hours east of Dallas.
- Select Theater: 114 N. Johnson St., (903) 569-2300.
- Nature Preserve: Main entrance 1860 CR 2724; city phone (903) 569-6183.
- By train: Amtrak’s Texas Eagle stops at the downtown depot on select days. Reservations required.
- Bring: Good walking shoes, bug spray and water for the preserve.
Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the official website before you head out.
Mineola doesn’t try to be anything it’s not, and that’s the charm. Come for a movie in a century-old theater and a walk along the Sabine, and y’all may find yourselves planning the next trip before you leave.
Featured photo: Michael Barera via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
