The best outdoor entertainment value in East Texas just keeps on getting better!
Indoor or covered exhibits make for perfect entertainment year-round, rain or shine. With over 300,000 of aquaria, you'll have a chance to see practically every freshwater species of fish found in Texas!
This unique Texas Parks and Wildlife Department facility is a combination aquatic education center, native Texas fish aquarium and production fish hatchery. Visitors can view fish in simulated natural habitats, learn about the history of sport fishing, walk a wetlands trail or take a narrated tram tour of the production hatchery. Daily dive shows let visitors see fish hand-fed in a 26,000-gallon aquarium. Free fishing with all equipment provided and no license required is available in a stocked casting pond. Located East of Athens on FM 2495. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm, Sundays 1pm-4pm. Dive shows at 11am Monday-Friday, 11am and 2pm Saturday, and 2pm Sunday. For information or directions call 903.676.2277.
With up to 70' of underwater visibility, there's no telling what you'll see at the Athens Scuba Park! Novice and expert divers alike enjoy swimming in and around Ray Price's tour bus, Clint Eastwood's houseboat, and now a sunken Lockheed C-140 Jetstar airliner!
Are you making plans to dive in Cozumel, Hawaii, or any other exotic spot? Come to Athens for your certification! The Athens Scuba Park offers many instructional classes! 903.675.5762
Enjoy this living refuge of East Texas' natural beauty! The Arboretum spreads over one hundred acres - rising from marsh and swampland to pastureland, 80 feet higher in elevation.
Educational forums are planned throughout the year. Learn about flowers, herbs, greenery and other topics. Each year, the Arboretum hosts it's Annual Fair.
903.675-5630
Henderson County Fairgrounds
There's literally something happening at the fairgrounds nearly every weekend! Located 3 miles east of downtown Athens on Highway 31, the Complex sits on 68 acres and consists of the coliseum, multi-purpose building, three barns, and an outdoor arena.
The coliseum will seat 4,500 people. Concession stands and restrooms are located on both sides of the coliseum. The coliseum is approximately 370 x 200 feet with the arena floor being 250 x 120 feet. Ten bucking chutes and nine pens are located on one end of the arena floor, while roping boxes and five pens are located at the opposite end.
903.677.6354
This is the ideal location for business meetings, seminars, banquets, reunions and more. With 15,000 square feet of meeting space available, it can facilitate groups as large as 1,000. Cain Center also serves as Athens’ community fitness center, and sponsors a series of fun runs throughout the year, including its popular women’s-only triathlon! Guests at our local motels enjoy free access to the fitness facilities at Cain Center.
Cain Center has joined the nation's leading fitness program for older adults for FREE - The Silver Sneakers Fitness Program. To find out if your Medicare health plan offers the program, visit www.silversneakers.com or call your health plan's customer service department.
Coming Soon at Cain Center: United Way Kids' PACE Express program. This is a great fitness program for children. There will be a vertical and horizontal climbing wall, circuit training equipment for children, and and interactive video game room.
903.677.2001.
Henderson County Historical Museum
Vintage and antique memorabilia are displayed in the 1896 Faulk-Gauntt building. First floor exhibits emulate a turn-of-the-century dry goods store while the second floor is a recreation of an early law office, parlor, bedroom, bath, kitchen, and schoolroom.
The Museum is located at 217 N. Prairieville Street and is open Fridays and Saturdays, 10am until 3pm. 903.677.3611
Approximately five miles east of Athens, this 1,500-acre lake is a local and visitor favorite! While catfish, crappie, white bass and sunfish are found in Lake Athens, it is best known for black bass. Lake Athens Marina provides the only public access to the lake as well as camping for visitors. 903.677.7490
The Athens Country Club features a 72 par golf course with 18 challenging holes, as well as swimming, tennis, and dining facilities.
Close to Athens
NY-TX Zip
Line Adventures
Leave your fears behind as you experience the thrill of a
lifetime at New York, Texas ZipLine Adventures, 22 miles from Athens (off of
Highway 175 East). At ZipLine you will go on a guided adventure tour.
You will zip your way through the beautiful rolling hills and trees of
East Texas. You work your way through six different zip lines.
The last ZipLine is the longest ZipLine in Texas … over 900 feet long! For the adventure of a
lifetime… go Zipping. If you want to see what ZipLining is all about,
check
out the video.
Black Beauty Ranch
This 1,430-acre refuge is home to many hundreds of animals -- from chimpanzees to burros to elephants. Here, animals do not get harassed or harmed, but a helping hand and healthy food.
Founded by children's author, Cleveland Amory, the Black Beauty Ranch is a wonderful place to visit. The ranch is located just outside of Athens, off of FM 1803 north. They are open to the public 4 days a year on a reservation-only basis. They will be open October 14-15 during Fall 2006. 903.469.3811
Lake Athens
Athens Country Club
