Things to Do & See
Delta County offers our visitors a full slate of interesting attractions for families, history buffs and those who enjoy the outdoors. Listed below are overviews and links to some of these venues.
4 Lane Highway 24 in Delta County Ribbon Cutting and dedication November 6, 2009
Cooper Lake State Park has something for everyone. The Park consisting of 3,026 acres is situated 3 miles south of downtown Cooper and it offers a 19,300-acre lake and two state park units. Web Site for US Army Corps of Engineers Cooper Lake---http;//www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/cooper web site for US Army Crops of Engineers Cooper Lake
South Sulphur Unit, located on the south side of Cooper Lake, offers 14 fully furnished lakeside cabins, 21 screened shelters, 89 water and electric campsites, 20 equestrian campsites and a 10.5 mile equestrian trail. The park also has fishing piers, two boat ramps and a large group pavilion.
Patterson Memorial Museum located at 700 W.
Dallas Avenue in Cooper features countless displays of Delta County history and
artifacts. The museum is open April through October on Saturdays from 10 am to
3 pm. For tours or further information call 903-395-4392.
(Also go to www.benfranklintx.faithsite.com for additional information).
The McKinney Home is a restoration of gracious living with decor that exemplifies the early twentieth century. The McKinney Home is open for special tours or to host your special event that your guests will remember forever. For tours and information call 903-395-2249.
The Delta County Public Library has an
excellent collection of local family histories and other resources that attract
visitors who have an interest in genealogical studies. (Also go to
www.benfranklintx.faithsite.com
for additional information). For library hours call 903-395-4575.
Cooper Lake
Wildlife Management Area, 14,480 acres adjacent to Cooper Lake, offers
recreational activities including hiking, hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing.
COOPER LAKE CENTER
From the earliest days of recorded history, Northeast Texas has had a
colorful mixture of people, cultures and fascinating stories. This history will
now be preserved for your enjoyment in the Northeast Texas Cultural Center to be
built on a 122 acre site on Cooper Lake. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on
September 27, 2003 and construction is well under way.
The center now has a lighted parking lot, utilities and a waste water treatment facility built last year. According to Karl Kerr, president of the association, the base of the stage, several tiers of seating and steps and sidewalks will be completed soon. He stated that the stage will be basic, but will serve as a starting point for several phases of construction. The first phase has made way for small events in the fall of 2005, Gene Watson and Wade White concert in 2006 and as construction continues, more technically demanding events can booked. Construction on the Amphitheatre seating is beginning and more concerts are in the making. Keep viewing our web site for more breaking news taking place at the COOPER LAKE CENTER.
CABIN FROM 1854 FINDS NEW HOME AT
COOPER LAKE CENTER
Using broadaxes and other tools from the mid 19th. century, three men and a boy are toiling in the July heat to give new life to a cabin where voters once filled out their ballots to elect Sam Houston governor of Texas. The cabin was rebuild over more than a year in Commerce, where it had been originally erected in 1854. Recently, it was disassembled and trucked to its new home at the Cooper Lake Cultural Center, a gift from the Rhodes and Wilkins families, with an assist from Texas A&M University-Commerce and Dr. Rick Selvaggi of Commerce. When it is completed, perhaps around Labor Day, the cabin, originally built by Hunt County pioneer Jefferson Maynard for his bride, will become a permanent exhibit at the Center. The Houston Election in which it served as a polling place was in 1857. "It is a place full of history", said Karl Kerr, president of the South Sulphur Regional Development Association, sponsors of the Cultural Center. " We want to take care of it, but we also want to give the public a chance to get to know it better."Directions: The Center is on County Road 4777, 2.4 miles north of FM 71 and west of State Hwys 19/154.
BLUEGRASS AND JAM FESTIVAL at COOPER LAKE CENTER
Bluegrass Festival held August 6-7, 2010 at the Cooper Lake
Center
(For more information go to www.cooperlakecenter.com or view the Newsletter Page)
CLARA FOSTER SLOUGH MUSEUM AT ENLOE, TEXAS
The museum is open on Friday and
Saturday 10am to 3pm and Sunday 1pm to 3pm. For information
call 903-395-0539 or 903-784-8114.
Annual Delta County Chamber of Commerce sponsored events:
The Annual Delta County Fair and BBQ Cookoff
will be held in April each year at the Cooper City Park
Come to Delta County and enjoy a weekend of fun for all ages.
Delta County Chiggerfest and 5K Run/Walk
sponsored by the Delta County Chamber of Commerce are very
successful annual
events. Plan to come help run the CHIGGERS out of Delta County for the season
in October each year.
The Annual Trunk or Treat Halloween on the
Cooper Square on October 31st each year.
A costume contest, pumpkin carving contest and a decorate your trunk
contest and a lot of
spooks fill the Cooper square. Be ready to make Cooper the Spookiest Town
in Texas.
Delta County Christmas Parade first Saturday in December
each year. Decorated floats, cars, four wheelers,
horses
and a lot of spectators help start the Christmas season. Everyone welcome to participate with
entries
in any category.
*************************************************************