Texas Builder, May/June 2016

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Area Spotlight
A Tour Through East Texas
18 Texas Association of Builders
FEATURED ASSOCIATIONS
Tyler Area BA
East Texas BA
HBA of Texarkana
Deep East Texas
Association of Builders
At 790 by 660 miles, Texas is a GIANT piece
of land, and the concerns of a home builder
in one area can greatly differ from those of
another builder across the state. That’s why,
in this issue of Texas Builder, we’re taking a
closer look at just one section: East Texas.
Come see the beautiful homes on parade
behind the pine curtain in the Big Thicket
and in towns like Tyler, Longview, Lufkin, and
Texarkana. In this area’s midsize and rural
communities, the housing industry is strong,
and innovative builders like Erin Wright of
Wright-Built, LLC are thriving. Some of the
state’s most stunning properties can be found
on Lake Cherokee and other lakes in the region.
The tourism industry is also doing well in
East Texas, with plenty of natural beauty and
interesting attractions and events pulling
travelers from all over the state and country.
The Piney Woods region is particularly gorgeous,
and the Deep South roots here give East Texas
its own distinct cultural identity from the rest
of the state. Overall, the East Texas area is a
wonderful place to live, visit, and build.
Read on for a closer look…
P ush apart the pines—the Longleaf,
the Shortleaf, and the Loblolly—
and you’ll find yourself in East
Texas, home to several of Texas’
best tourism destinations. Spend the
summer in Longview for the Great Texas
Balloon Race or take a trip to Tyler in
October to celebrate the rose-growing
industry during the Texas Rose Festival.
Visit the Texarkana Wine Festival on the
first weekend in May or catch up on your
music history in Carthage at the Texas
Country Music Hall of Fame. These are
just a few of the events and attractions that
make East Texas a great place to visit.
July provides East Texas visitors with a
celebration and display of one of the earliest
forms of human-flight—the hot air balloon.
During the Great Texas Balloon Race,
competitive pilots from around the world
convene for races over Longview and the
East Texas Regional Airport. Other events,
like the Balloon Glow and the Ring Toss
competition, highlight the rest of the air-
bound festivities. On the ground you’ll find
music, food vendors, and more. The races
begin July 22nd and last through the 24th.
October is the month of the rose in Texas
and has been ever since the first rose festival
in 1933. All month long, visitors to Tyler are
invited to celebrate all things rose-related,
but the main event takes place mid-month.
From garden tours to arts and crafts events,
and from parades to luncheons, the Texas
Rose Festival is filled with events perfect
for a weekend-long family trip. For the
more creatively-inclined, a photo contest is
held to see who can best capture the beauty
of Rose Season. The festival takes place
October 13th through the 15th this year.
A new tourism stop in East Texas is the
Twice as Fine Texarkana Wine Festival.
Taking place on May 7th, the event is a
one-of-a-kind wine, art, music, and food
festival for the Four States Area. Wineries
By Alex Kocina