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live it upFancy food, entertainment liven up the square

BuSineSS iS BoomingLocal economy flourishes

coming up rosesOne-third of the nation’s roses are processed here

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SponSored By tHe tyler area cHamBer of commerce

2012 | livaBility.com/tyler/tx

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LivabiLit y.COm/t yLer/tx 3

2012 edition | volume 7

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contents

Features

12 live it upFancy food, entertainment liven up the square

16 man, oH manGuys have many outdoor recreation options in Tyler

20 SHopping iS SweetLocally owned Tyler shops

offer fun and trendy finds

24 coming up roSeSOne-third of the nation’s roses are processed here

28 cHild’S playTyler brings families and fun together

32 fruitS of tHe vineKiepersol Enterprises entertains Tyler’s tourists, locals alike

36 tHe croSSroadS of medicineResearch and health care connect at UT’s Health Science Center at Tyler

38 BuSineSS iS BoomingLocal economy flourishes

12

28

www.tjc.edu

56

on tHe cover Chamblee’s Rose Nursery Photo by Antony Boshier

departments

8 almanac

42 Biz Briefs

44 chamber report

45 economic profile

46 image gallery

51 Health & wellness

52 arts & culture

54 Sports & recreation

56 local flavor

60 education

63 community profile

66 through the lens

2012 edition | volume 7

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all or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

pleaserecyclethismagazine

www.swanns.com


See more great photos of Tyler in our online photo galleries

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Cover Subhead

main coverline goes HereCover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead

live it upFancy food, entertainment liven up the square

BuSineSS iS BoomingLocal economy flourishes

coming up rosesOne-third of the nation’s roses are processed here

®

tyler, texaS

SponSored By tHe tyler area cHamBer of commerce

2012 | livaBility.com/tyler/tx

Facts Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more

living hereLearn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers

viDeoWatch quick videos of local attractions

What’sonlinelivability.com/tyler/tx


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editorial project manager miTCH KLiNE

content director LiSA BATTLES

proofreading manager RAvEN PETTy

content coordinator JESSiCA WALKER

Staff writer KEviN LiTWiN

copy editor JiLL WyATT

contriButing writerS CARy ESTES, mELANiE HiLL,

mELONEE HURT, JOE mORRiS, JESSiCA mOzO, CHRiS RUSSELL

Senior grapHic deSignerS LAURA GALLAGHER,

JANiNE mARyLANd, KRiS SExTON, viKKi WiLLiAmS

grapHic deSignerS RACHAEL GERRiNGER, TAyLOR NUNLEy

Senior pHotograpHerS JEFF AdKiNS, BRiAN mcCORd

Staff pHotograpHerS TOdd BENNETT, ANTONy BOSHiER

color imaging tecHnician ALiSON HUNTER

integrated media manager BRANdy mAddOx

ad production manager KATiE middENdORF

ad traffic aSSiStantS KRySTiN LEmmON, PATRiCiA mOiSAN

cHairman GREG THURmAN

preSident/puBliSHer BOB SCHWARTzmAN

executive vice preSident RAy LANGEN

Senior v.p./SaleS TOdd POTTER

Senior v.p./operationS CASEy HESTER

Senior v.p./client development JEFF HEEFNER

Senior v.p./BuSineSS development SCOTT TEmPLETON

Senior v.p./agriBuSineSS puBliSHing Kim HOLmBERG

v.p./BuSineSS development CHARLES FiTzGiBBON

v.p./external communicationS TEREE CARUTHERS

v.p./viSual content mARK FORESTER

v.p./content operationS NATASHA LORENS

v.p./travel puBliSHing SUSAN CHAPPELL

v.p./SaleS HERB HARPER, JAREK SWEKOSKy

controller CHRiS dUdLEy

Senior accountant LiSA OWENS

accountS payaBle coordinator mARiA mcFARLANd

accountS receivaBle coordinator diANA GUzmAN

SaleS Support coordinator ALEx mARKS

SaleS Support project manager SARA qUiNT

SyStem adminiStrator dANiEL CANTRELL

dataBaSe manager/it Support CHANdRA BRAdSHAW

weB creative director ALLiSON dAviS

weB content manager JOHN HOOd

weB project manager NOy FONGNALy

weB deSigner ii RiCHARd STEvENS

weB development lead yAmEL HALL

weB developer i NELS NOSEWORTHy

weB account manager LAUREN EUBANK

pHotograpHy director JEFFREy S. OTTO

creative ServiceS director CHRiSTiNA CARdEN

creative tecHnology analySt BECCA ARy

audience development director dEANNA NELSON

diStriBution director GARy SmiTH

executive Secretary KRiSTy dUNCAN

Human reSourceS manager PEGGy BLAKE

receptioniSt LiNdA BiSHOP

Images Tyler is published annually by Journal Communications inc. and is distributed through the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions

or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications inc. at (615) 771-0080

or by email at [email protected].

for more information, contact:Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

315 N. Broadway • Tyler, Tx 75702Phone: (903) 592-1661 • Fax: (903) 593-2746

tylertexas.com

viSit Images Tyler online at livaBility.com/tyler/tx

©Copyright 2012 Journal Communications inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

member The Association of magazine media

member Custom Content Council

member Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

mailto:[email protected]

www.southside.com


Have a TasteStanley’s Famous Bar-B-que Pit is a Tyler institution. One of the

city’s oldest restaurants, Stanley’s serves its famous barbecue with

a whole lot of local flavor. Family-owned and -operated for 50 years,

the pit changed hands in 2000 when new owners Nick and Jen

Pencis took over and revamped the place. The atmosphere now

resembles a cross between a ‘50s diner and rustic lodge, complete

with a new deck outside. But the quality of the food has remained

the same, with Stanley’s continuing to serve barbecue favorites like

brisket, sausage and classic pulled pork.

Welcome to Tyleran intrOduCtiOn tO the area’S peOpLe, pLaCeS and eventS

Almanac

Early BirdsTyler wasn’t named the first Certified

Retirement City in Texas for nothing.

Among the leading attractions: Tyler’s

appealing climate, ambiance and

convenient location. Also leading Tyler’s

top 10 is the favorable cost of living,

ranked 16th in the nation by Places Rated

Special millennium Edition. Seniors also

are looking for outstanding medical care,

and Tyler meets their needs unusually

well with three major hospitals. Housing

options range from independent living

to assisted living homes, and a variety

of shopping, dining and entertainment

choices are available.

Star Gazingnew on the city’s science

scene is the Center for earth and Space Science education. the Center was constructed in 2011 to replace hudnall planetarium, which originally opened in 1963, and offers the public educational and entertainment programming in hands-on exhibits and a 40-foot domed theater. What used to be the planetarium’s dome is now the exhibit hall, where guests can interact and explore. the new center is twice as big as the old one, complete with a classroom and outdoor courtyard. the center is open tuesday-Sunday.

8 t yLer


Hear Them Roar

Tyler is home to more than

your usual cats and dogs. more

than 40 big cats belong to the

Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge, a

sanctuary started in 1995 for

abused or neglected big cats.

Lions, tigers, leopards, bobcats

and pumas are among the

residents of the refuge, which

gained national recognition in

2002 from a television show

called Growing up Tiger. The

show played on Animal Planet

and documented two Tiger Creek

cubs’ first year. As its reputation

grew, so too did the refuge,

continuously adding more space

to accommodate more cats.

These spaces, referred to as

“living resorts,” provide the best

living environment attainable for

captive felines.

FastFactsn the Cotton belt railroad depot, built in 1905, now houses tyler transit and a railroad memorabilia museum.

n the city’s no. 1 tourist attraction is the tyler municipal rose Garden, with 38,000 rose bushes and more than 500 varieties.

n in 1985, the international adopt-a-highway movement originated in tyler. the first road adopted for cleanup purposes was a 2-mile stretch of u.S. highway 69.

n a historical marker designates the site of Camp Ford along u.S. highway 271. the camp was the largest Civil War prisoner of war compound west of the mississippi river.

n “the Singing Fisherman,” Johnny horton, one of the most influential honky tonk and rockabilly singers of all time, was raised in tyler.

n tyler has been named one of the country’s top 10 Golf Cities by Livability.com.

Outdoor delightAt the Rose Rudman Walking Trails, the 2.5-mile-long, 8-foot-wide paths are

great for running, biking and rollerblading. Trails constructed especially for hikers

and bikers run throughout the area, and picnic areas and pavilions along the trail

provide sporadic places to rest. The recreation area is also home to the Tyler

Cancer Bell, dedicated in 2002. Located in the northeast corner of the trail, the

bell was built to honor those affected by cancer, including patients, their family

members and health-care professionals. The City of Tyler donated the land for

the bell and pavilion, with additional donations provided by individuals.


www.texasbankandtrust.com


population (2010 eStimate)Smith County: 209,714

Tyler: 96,900

locationTyler is in northeast Texas, about 90 miles east

of dallas and 90 miles west of Shreveport, La.

BeginningSTyler, named after President John Tyler, was

officially incorporated in 1848. it is the county

seat of Smith County and has the distinction

of being the only city in America named for

the 10th U.S. president.

for more informationTyler Area Chamber

of Commerce

315 N. Broadway

Tyler, Tx 75702

Phone: (903) 592-1661

Fax: (903) 593-2746 www.tylertexas.com

tylerataglance

271

69

20

155

155

31

64

SMITH

New Chapel Hill

Tyler

Lindale

Whitehouse

Noonday

DALLAS

Bullard

Tyler

What’sonlineTake a virtual tour of Tyler, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at livability.com/tyler/tx.

TouchdownThe spotlight doesn’t seem to want to leave

Tyler’s famous football player Earl Campbell,

winner of the 43rd Heisman memorial Trophy

and 1991 inductee into the National Football

League Hall of Fame. The famous running back’s

other honors include a No. 1 draft pick by the

Houston Oilers and the titles of both Rookie of

the year and most valuable Player in his first

year. The accolades didn’t end with his football

career. years later Campbell found success in the

barbecue business, with his meats and sauces

distributed throughout Texas.

Room to FlyThe Tyler Pounds Regional

Airport is really taking off.

Served by two commercial

passenger carriers, American

Airlines and Continental Airlines,

the airport continues to grow. it

was announced last summer that

the airport would receive an $8

million grant for improvements

from the Federal Aviation

Administration, the largest single

grant Tyler has ever received from

the FAA. The funding is projected

to cover 95 percent of the cost of

lengthening and improving one of

the existing runways.

http://www.tylertexas.com

chinatown unplugged performs at rick’s on the Square.

12 t yLer LivabiLit y.COm/t yLer/tx 13

the City of Tyler, Texas, is so focused on enhancing its reputation as an entertaining and

cultured place to live and work, it bought and restored an old theater and turned it into the town’s hottest live music venue.

Part of the Tyler 21 Master Plan, which calls for downtown Tyler to become an arts and culture district directed at bolstering private investment and revitalization, the city partnered with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and major donor The Genecov Group to raise more than $1 million to fund the purchase and renovation of the space.

movies and theater and comedy – oh my!

The old Liberty Theater, a first-run movie theater dating back to the 1930s that had been shuttered for years, was purchased in 2008 and reopened in 2011. The space is booked with everything from comedy, to live music, movies and theater.

Reopened as Liberty Hall, the venue is joined in Tyler’s downtown square by numerous restaurants that offer a complementary variety of food, drink and entertainment.

Jake’s Tyler, another renovated building, boasts exposed brick, a curved bar and rooftop patio. Jake’s menu, which includes lobster tails,

HiStoric BuildingS, fancy food and live entertainment line tHe tyler Square

Live it upSTORy By melonee HurtPHOTOGRAPHy By antony BoSHier


Angus beef and fresh oysters, is topped off with an impressive wine list and an array of decadent desserts. The 125-year-old building that now houses Jake’s has been a gentlemen’s clothing store, a barbershop, a hotel, a mission, a theater and a jewelry store.

Rick’s on the Square is yet another option for an upscale dinner that won’t break the bank. Fresh seafood tops the menu at Rick’s but the options don’t stop there. The venue offers live music on the weekends and 20,000 square feet of rentable space for private parties.

options off the Square Tyler’s nightlife options

extend beyond the borders of the downtown square. Half Moon Grill and Saloon is an intimate, friendly bar with live music, a covered patio, above-average bar menu and a packed parking lot.

If you are looking outside the confines of a bar for live music, how about a grocery store? Fresh by Brookshire’s massive patio stays booked on weekends with a wide variety of live music.

“We wanted Fresh to be a hub for the community, and having live music was a natural extension of that,” says selling marketing manager Myste Snow. “We offer great food and offer great entertainment that is family-focused, casual and high quality.”

The Fresh live music lineup draws from the local pool of musicians in Tyler, but also from as far away as Austin and Dallas.

Another alternative to the bar scene is KE Cellars, the upscale wine store in Tyler’s French Quarter. The boutique winery has a tasting room, nightly music showcase and gift shop that sells wines from dozens of Texas wineries.

clockwise from top right: half moon Grill and Saloon’s patio; Live music at half moon Grill and Saloon; the old Liberty theater reopened in 2011 as Liberty hall, an entertainment venue.


16 t yLer

guyS Have many outdoor recreation optionS in tyler

man,oh man


STORy By Kevin litwin | PHOTOGRAPHy By antony BoSHier


it’s hard to deny Tyler’s rugged appeal. This Texas town offers many outdoor recreation options that men, and women, find hard to pass up.

Even President George W. Bush spent time in Tyler in 2011 specifically to enjoy outdoor activities. The 43rd U.S. President visited Tyler State Park to access the 13-mile mountain bike trail, considered among the best in the country.

“Tyler State Park is the No. 1 most utilized Texas Parks & Wildlife facility in the state, and President Bush had a great time there in 2011,” says Stephanie Rollings, director of the Tyler Parks & Recreation Department. “The park also has canoeing, kayaking and swimming opportunities that are amazing.”

The rustic park has campsites with screened

shelters, access to water, electricity and sewer services. A seasonal grocery store on-site is stocked with fishing supplies, and offers canoe and fishing boat rentals and a concrete launching ramp with courtesy dock.

wishing for fishingSpeaking of fishing, the city oversees a small lake

next to Glass Recreation Center in north Tyler, and another in Faulkner Park in south Tyler.

“Both are heavily stocked each year with trout,” Rollings says. “Lake Tyler, Lake Fork and Lake Palestine are also popular fishing lakes, although not in the city limits. All the lakes have several fishing guide services that are easy to find via the Internet.”

Back to mountain biking trails: Tyler has a long


trail at Faulkner Park and a hike-and-bike trail that starts at Rose Rudman Park and goes to Southside Park, then all the way to Grande Boulevard.

“The Tyler Bicycle Club has also come up with an idea called Four Pedals of the Rose, which is four strong mountain bike trails in the four corners of Tyler,” Rollings says. “One is at Tyler State Park, one is at UT Tyler, another at Faulkner Park and then one trail currently nearing construction completion at Lindsey Park. Those trails are open to anyone tough enough to tackle them.”

if golf is your BagFor guys who like to golf, Tyler has 23 public and

private courses within a short drive of the city limits. Among the nicest private facilities are The Cascades

Country Club, Emerald Bay Club, Hollytree Country Club, The Challenge at Eagle’s Bluff and Willow Brook Country Club. The list of good public courses includes Hilltop Country Club, Peach Tree Golf Club and Arrowhead Golf Club. Arrowhead is an especially challenging layout from the back tees for big hitters, measuring more than 7,200 yards.

tennis is a Hit“Tyler is also home to the Faulkner Tennis

Center, which has eight lighted courts and an affordable ‘pay-to-play’ policy,” Rollings says. “Yearly memberships are available for avid players, with prices at $125 for individuals and $250 for families. Many outdoor opportunities are available in Tyler – just get out there and enjoy them.”

from left: mountain biking at tyler State park; hollytree Country Club


Shopping is Sweet


Beyond the mall and big box stores there’s a vast collection of locally owned shops in Tyler that

retail connoisseurs couldn’t pass by.Among the sweetest shopping

spots in Tyler is the Sweet Gourmet, a charming gourmet food shop that draws customers in with a free sample of chocolate and keeps them coming back with exceptional customer service.

“We’re like an old-fashioned store from the ’50s, a time when you had to have great customer service to stay in business,” says Pam Gabriel, who quit her traveling sales job in 2005 and bought Sweet Gourmet. “We offer cooking classes and complimentary gift wrapping, and people always say they love the smell of the store with all the chocolate and fresh-roasted coffee beans.”

You never know what you’ll find here, but you can bet it will be a tasty treat.

“Our store is half chocolate and candy, half gourmet foods and kitchen niceties,” Gabriel says. “The chocolate we sell is imported direct from Belgium and France, and we have about 20 feet of fabulous chocolates made in the U.S. by chocolatiers who are running their grandparents’ businesses – everything from pecan turtles and truffles to orange creams.”

A fun retro candy section from the ’60s features hard-to-find

sweets, including 60 different flavors of Jelly Bellies.

“We carry a lot of products you see on the Food Network – sauces, marinades, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, cake and scone mixes, syrups, beautiful jams and jellies, and marmalades,” Gabriel says. “We have Sweet Gourmet signature products too, like our coffeecake, white queso and salsa. I love seeing people’s faces when they walk in and say the store reminds them of when they were kids.”

independent tyler Shops Other unusual shopping finds

in Tyler include Karen Horton and Co., a combined gift shop and spa; Cole and Co., known for its fine jewelry, china and crystal; High Cotton, a trendy men’s clothing store; and Mary V’s By Shelby, which carries women’s apparel and accessories.

When Tyler women and girls need a special-occasion dress, one of the first places they often look is Spinout, a family-run women’s clothing store that has been serving Tyler since 1986. Owner Diane Bunker started Spinout as a paint-your-own T-shirt store 25 years ago, and it has evolved over the years into a sassy boutique carrying such designer names as Vera Bradley, Juicy Couture and Tory Burch.

Bunker says the secret to her long-lasting success has been to

locally owned tyler SHopS offer fun and trendy findS

STORy By jeSSica mozo | PHOTOGRAPHy By antony BoSHier

Shopping is Sweet

mary v’s by Shelby owner helping a customer


ffbtx.com


change with the times.“You can’t stay stagnant – fads are always

changing,” says Bunker, who runs the store with the help of her two adult daughters, Sara Seeker and Donna Alfred. “I ask my customers what they drive to Dallas to find. We try to carry exclusive brands.”

Bunker always has an eye out for the latest fashion trends and does a lot of buying in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York. Many of Spinout’s customers began shopping there as teenagers, and now they are mothers bringing in their own children.

“Middle schoolers shop with us all the way up to fun, hip grandmas,” Bunker says. “We do a substantial amount of sales online now, so Tyler girls who go off to college can still browse what we have in and still have a link to Tyler.”

Bridgette’s and Harley’s of tylerBridgette’s is another Tyler store that caters to

fashionable women. It opened its doors in 1992 and is still going strong almost 20 years later.

“The shopping experience at Bridgette’s starts with our customers, most of whom are already friends,” says Bridgette Manziel Hooper, owner of Bridgette’s. “Our staff will hand-select merchandise especially for you that reflects your personality and style.”

Bridgette’s husband, Harley Dean Hooper, is also in the retail business. He owns Harley’s, the premier men’s clothing store in Tyler that has been thriving more than 30 years.

“Being raised in East Texas, I have never wanted to do business anywhere else,” Bridgette says. “I love the people here. I wouldn’t think of having a business anywhere but Tyler.”

from top: Spinout is a family-run women’s clothing store; Sweet Gourmet’s signature queso dip

tyler proceSSeS one-tHird of tHe nation’S roSeS

in Tyler, you might say business is blooming. Aptly named the Rose Capital of America, the city has enjoyed a highly successful rose industry since the 1920s, thanks to its sandy soil, year-round rainfall

and moderate climate.“At one time, Tyler was famous for growing peaches,

but around the turn of the century, a pest called the San Jose scale destroyed most of the county’s peach crop,” says Craig Reiland, rose garden supervisor for the City of Tyler. “Soon people realized they could grow roses really well here, and Tyler began growing more than 60 percent of commercially grown roses in the country. We had the lion’s share of the market for quite a while.”

tyler municipal rose gardenToday, visitors from around the world come to

explore Tyler’s fascinating rose history at the Tyler Rose Museum. More than 100,000 people also visit Tyler’s Municipal Rose Garden every year. The largest

municipally owned rose garden in the country, it spans 14 acres and has more than 32,000 rose bushes representing more than 600 varieties of roses.

“The garden peaks two times a year, at the end of April and again in mid-October,” Reiland says. “There are modern roses with beautiful blooms, miniatures, climbers and Earth-Kind roses. Many people use the city’s rose garden as a tool for learning to grow roses in their own yards.”

texas rose festivalEach October, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden

acts as the backdrop for the city’s annual Texas Rose Festival, a glittering tradition since 1933 that features the coronation of the Rose Queen, the popular Queen’s Tea, the Texas Rose Festival Show and the highly anticipated Rose Festival Parade. The four-day festival, laced with Southern hospitality and elegance, attracts more than 80,000 visitors.

In 2010, Tyler created the first annual Rose Season

STORy By jeSSica mozo | PHOTOGRAPHy By antony BoSHier

roSeSCOminG up

24 t yLer

mark chamblee at chamblee’s rose nursery has been selling roses since 1982.


in response to requests from residents and visitors for more activities surrounding the Texas Rose Festival. The Rose Season lasts nearly the whole month of October and includes abundant activities, including wine tastings, concerts, cooking classes, museum tours, a marathon, rose garden tours and more. Rose Season pumps an estimated $2 million into the local economy.

tyler rose growersAt least 10 rose growers and nurseries continue

to thrive in Tyler, shipping roses all over the country and beyond.

Chamblee’s Rose Nursery offers group tours, and has been in business since 1953. Chamblee’s grows more than 300 varieties of roses, which it sells both retail and wholesale.

“Both of my grandfathers grew roses, but I had planned a career in the medical field,” says Mark Chamblee, third-generation owner of Chamblee’s Rose Nursery. “While working my way through college, I changed career plans and decided to work in the rose business. I bought it from my dad in 1982.”

Chamblee’s roses are container-grown, although several commercial field growers still exist in East Texas.

“There are several large rose processing and production companies in the Tyler area – it is a very important part of our economy,” Chamblee says. “My favorite varieties are the disease-resistant ones such as Earth-Kind varieties. I love being around friends and

associates I have met over the years while growing beautiful roses.”

Keep tyler rosey campaignTo ensure Tyler’s rosy reputation lasts for

generations to come, the City of Tyler and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce launched a new initiative called Keep Tyler Rosey in August 2011. The initiative encourages local businesses to creatively showcase the rose in any manner they prefer, whether it’s planting roses in landscaping, decorating with rose arrangements, using roses on printed materials or displaying photos of local rose gardens.

“Today, roses are not grown in the quantities they were at one time, but about one-third of the nation’s roses are still processed in Tyler,” says Kim Morris, marketing and communications specialist for the Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Roses are a key element to Tyler’s history and culture. They are what really put this East Texas town on the map. Keep Tyler Rosey is an effort to encourage the community to remember the flower that brings floods of tourists to Tyler every year and embrace that image within their business.”

Morris enjoys living and working in Tyler because of its supportive community and courteous, helpful people.

“We have great attractions and plenty of shopping,” she adds. “Not to mention the beauty surrounding Tyler. There are beautiful parks everywhere. Tyler is a community to be desired.”

Bythenumbers

1920sWhen Tyler’s successful rose industry began

600+Varieties of roses represented at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden

80,000+Number of people a year who visit the Texas Rose Festival

$2millionAmount of money generated from Rose Season

Bythenumbers

left: morgan elizabeth rippy, queen of the 2011 rose Festival


Tyler, Texas, is a place where the family can have some serious fun, with literally dozens of entertainment

options. Here’s a look at three of the best places for kids.

caldwell zooAt Caldwell Zoo, families can

check out 85 acres of wilderness where 2,000 animals from the Americas and Africa roam in multispecies environments carefully constructed to resemble their own natural habitats. Several educational opportunities, such as scavenger hunts and day camps, are designed to further teach youngsters about various animals and their environments. Not the least of those programs is the zoo’s Scouts FunShops program for Boy and Girl Scouts.

“Each of the FunShops allows the Cub Scout or Girl Scout to work on a specific badge or achievement that is related to the wildlife here at the zoo,” says Linda

Kunze, education curator. “We offer some Girl Scout badges related to plants, also. We thoroughly enjoy having the scouts come to the zoo, and they in turn have a great time learning more about animals or plants with the real thing close by.”

Caldwell Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 1 through Labor Day. From Labor Day until February, hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The zoo is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

discovery Science placeThe Discovery Science Place

gets kids’ minds going through entertaining, hands-on exercises and exhibits.

“We have so many great attractions at Discovery Science Place. Our Discovery Landing gallery features Discovery Mountain, where kids can journey inside a cave to find fossils, an ‘earthquake,’ and much more,” says Emily Keane, education

tyler BringS familieS and fun togetHer

Child’s Play

STORy By cHriS ruSSell | PHOTOGRAPHy By antony BoSHier


manager for DSP.That’s just the beginning.

The brand-new robotics exhibit lets kids practice manipulating a robotic arm, and learn how robotics are used in the field of medicine. If they are feeling adventurous, they can head over to Discovery Zone to design, build and test out their own structure, car or aircraft.

Toddlers have their own play area, the Little Ones Lagoon. DSP also hosts traveling exhibits throughout the year. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Discovery Science Place is closed on all major holidays and Mondays from September through February.

the water park @ the villages

At The Water Park @ The Villages, fun on the water has been taken to a new level.

Located at Silverleaf ’s The Villages Resort on Lake Palestine, this 25,000-square-foot indoor water park opened in 2008. It features a lazy river and whirlpool for tubes, four three-story water slides and a Forest Ranger children’s playscape that contains a 10,000-gallon bucket dump and three smaller body slides for kids.

Fun is the biggest feature at The Water Park @ The Villages, but it’s not the only one. The park also offers lounge areas, casual dining options and changing areas for men and women with lockers, showers and restrooms.

The Water Park @ The Villages is open for spring break and summer daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. From September to May, hours are Wednesday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

clockwise from top left: Children watch golf balls spin around a motion disk at the discovery Science place; elephants at Caldwell Zoo; a slide at the Water park @ the villages


LivabiLit y.COm/t yLer/tx 33 32 t yLer


when Pierre de Wet and his family relocated to Tyler in 1985, he did what his family in South Africa had been doing for generations: He farmed.

That was successful, but when he added grape vines into the mix a few years later, he created some buzz.

Most everybody thought his success would be limited, but flash forward a few years and take a look at what a few acres of grapes have become. The vineyard is now part of Kiepersol Enterprises, a multi-acre complex that includes a winery, restaurant, bed-and-breakfast, events center, recording studio and more. And if de Wet has anything to say about it, that expansion is going to keep right on going.

“We are a farming family in today’s environment, so we have to be totally integrated in what we do to make a living,” de Wet says. “We started with the vineyard, and when the fruit began to be ready we got the permit for the winery. Then we thought people might want to stay and eat, so we built the B&B and the restaurant. Now we have more, so we can bring more people here.”

Bushman’s winery and celebration centerKiepersol’s growth has included such out-of-the-box

thinking as building KE Bushman’s Winery and Celebration Center, which is used for concerts,

STORy By joe morriSPHOTOGRAPHy By antony BoSHier

above: a technician at Kiepersol enterprises inspects a glass of wine.

Fruitsof thevine

KieperSol enterpriSeS entertainS tyler’S touriStS, localS aliKe


sherwin-williams.com/preferred


receptions, business retreats and more, and Studio 333, a state-of-the-art digital recording studio that de Wet says offers just as much expertise as anything to be found in Nashville or other major recording centers.

On the food and beverage front, Kiepersol Estates Winery anchors a 60-acre estate producing red and white wines. The estate’s vintages have helped put Texas wines on the map, and can be sampled at Kiepersol Estates Restaurant, a choice steakhouse that gets rave reviews, and also purchased through KE Cellars, with two locations in Tyler where these Texas-made wines are available by the bottle.

Ke Bed & Breakfast, Bushman’s camp rv park

Guests who wish to stay overnight can hunker down at the Kiepersol Estates Bed & Breakfast, or pitch their own tent at KE Bushman’s Camp RV Park. And if they want to stay longer, the estate is branching out

into real estate development: The Vines are garden homes tucked into the vineyards, while Katima is a neighborhood being developed near Bullard.

It’s a lot of growth in a relatively short time, and de Wet credits Tyler itself for helping his family succeed in its many business ventures. In fact, he says, the two mirror each other.

“Tyler has grown, but also has kept its identity; we have done the same,” he says. “It’s a wonderful environment to live in. Now we are just going to keep bringing in wonderful musicians and events, produce good wine and see how we can grow and change with all of that going on. Our wines can compete with the best of the world, and Tyler can compete the same way as a destination for people to visit, or a community where they want to come and live. We are all Texas proud.”

red and white wines are produced on a 60-acre estate.

from community clinics to cutting-edge research, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has it all. The only academic medical institution and health

science center in East Texas, UTHSCT operates more than 20 outpatient clinics, a 109-bed hospital and an emergency care center. UTHSCT also provides research, residency and graduate programs, and nursing and medical education.

“With insights gained from our innovative biomedical research and comprehensive medical education programs, we have a unique perspective that enables us to provide excellent patient care,” says UTHSCT president Kirk A. Calhoun, M.D.

Health care with HistoryLong before 614 acres in northeast Texas became

UT’s Health Science Center, the site was home to Camp Fannin, a World War II training base for more than 100,000 infantrymen. A prisoner-of-war camp and a 1,074-bed camp hospital also forged Camp Fannin’s legacy. The property later housed the East Texas Tuberculosis Sanatorium, and in 1971 it became the East Texas Chest Hospital. In 1977 the institution joined the University of Texas System and today welcomes some 164,000 patient visits and 2,400 inpatient admissions each year.

the Science Behind utHSctThe UT Health Science Center at Tyler offers

education and treatment for multiple areas of specialty care. Its commitment to pulmonary and heart disease, however, has earned the center national recognition. HealthGrades recently ranked UTHSCT among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation for pulmonary care. And in 2010, UTHSCT received HealthGrade’s Pulmonary Care Excellence Award and a five-star rating for treatment of pneumonia and chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease.“A number of important research findings have

come from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, including new treatments for the flu and for scarred lungs, as well as new approaches to prevent wheezing and asthma,” says UTHSCT vice president for research Steven Idell, M.D. “In addition, new therapies for very severe diseases that attack the lungs were developed here.”

By the numbersIn fiscal year 2010, UTHSCT scientists were awarded

$14.2 million in research funds to investigate lung disease, cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes and aging. Nearly half the funds awarded were from the National Institutes of Health, the premier U.S. funding agency for biomedical research. The center employs 800 faculty and staff, maintains an annual operating budget of $125 million, and boasts a major economic impact of more than $287 million on the northeast Texas region.

growth at utHSctIn 2011, UT’s Health Science Center opened

Phase 1 of its state-of-the-art Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center, integrating cancer care with teaching and research.

“The Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center is a patient-centered, state-of-the-art facility that offers both chemotherapy and radiation treatment in one location, within a short walk of each other,” Calhoun says.

The cancer center is located within UTHSCT’s new Academic Center, attached to the main complex. Once complete, the 85,000-square-foot, three-story Academic Center will include classrooms to support medical residencies, continuing education and future undergraduate and graduate degree programs; a spacious auditorium with theater seating; and a new Watson W. Wise Medical Library.

reSearcH and HealtH care connect at ut’S HealtH Science center at tyler

The Crossroads

STORy By melanie Hill | PHOTOGRAPHy By antony BoSHier

of medicine


38 t yLer

Tyler, Texas, has concocted the perfect recipe for the ultimate business climate. This quiet, yet booming, community between

Dallas and Shreveport has had equal parts low unemployment, interstate access, Internet services, low costs of living and a solid existing business base.

Mix those with an active economic development council that works on behalf of businesses looking to establish roots or relocate to Tyler, a chamber of commerce that bolsters existing business and recruits new business from Mexico, and a regional airport with multiple daily flights to neighboring cities, and one would be hard-pressed to find a reason not to set up shop in Tyler.

Size mattersTom Mullins, president and CEO of

the Tyler Economic Development Council, says the city’s size is probably one of Tyler’s biggest selling points. With a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) of about 220,000, the area is big enough, but not too big.

“It’s just a nice-sized city,” Mullins says. “We have a lot of variety. The cost of living

is lower than the national average, we have a four-seasons climate and we have some older, beautifully kept neighborhoods. Tyler has a Southern charm to it and people are attracted to that.”

Rea Boudreaux, an engineer with Brannon Corp., was born and raised in Tyler and says it’s a great place to do business because it’s such a great place to live.

“My company does business all over the U.S., so we could live anywhere,” he says. “But we want to be in Tyler because that’s where we want to live. I don’t want to deal with cold, hurricanes or earthquakes. Here, I like the school systems and the property tax is low. The city feels like a small city, but has advantages of living in Houston or Dallas – without the daily commutes.”

follow the leadersA number of large companies including

Target Corp. and Brookshire Grocery Company have brought regional distribution hubs to the area, employing thousands of locals.

Price Arredondo, director of the Tyler

tyler BoaStS Surviving economy, puBlic and private partnerSHipS

Business is Booming

STORy By melonee HurtPHOTOGRAPHy By antony BoSHier

Business

What’sonline

Learn more about Tyler’s business climate

at livability.com/tyler/tx.

(right to left) bryan Ziegler, rea boudreaux and Kirk bynum inspect plans for a runway at brannon Corp., a civil engineering firm based out of tyler.


Tyler’s Largest Convention HotelOur Hotel Offers:• 183 finely appointed guest rooms and suites• Two concierge levels for VIP guests• Outdoor saltwater pool, sun deck• Exercise room with nautilus equipment• Over 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space• Full-service restaurant and lounge with nightly entertainment• On-site guest laundry facilities• Complimentary high-speed Internet• Business center and ATM in lobby

Our Rooms Offer:• Clean, crisp comfortable bedding with choice of pillows• Large work desk with ergonomic chair• 32” flat-screen TVs with premium movie channels• In-room iron/board and hair dryers, coffee makers• Upgraded bathroom amenities• Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet

5701 South Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75703

(903) 561-5800Fax: (903) 561-9916

Please contact our Sales Department for more information or group rates.

For reservation, please call (800) HOLIDAYor visit us online atwww.holidayinn.com/tylertx

http://www.holidayinn.com/tylertx

www.grayshfg.com


Area Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Business Service Office, says his group also actively recruits new business from Mexico.

“We have seen a lot of influx of investment and individuals who want to expand their business to Texas or purchase a business here,” he says. “We established a Sister Cities program and work with the governor’s office in Mexico City.”

Mullins says the area is supported by a strong regional economy that includes a plentiful higher education sector and a medical sector. It is becoming known as a technology center, with companies like Suddenlink, an Internet service provider that employs more than 1,200 people.

extra incentives can’t HurtOver the last 20 years, TEDC has

worked on 67 projects that helped retain or expand primary jobs and/or investment in Tyler and Smith counties. These projects have created 4,232 new jobs, retained 9,770 jobs and created $388 million in new investment.

By creating incentives such as tax abatements, low-interest loans and land

incentives, TEDC is able to sweeten Tyler as a top-tier place to do business for new businesses and keep it sweet for established ones. Swann’s Furniture, for example, has been doing business in Tyler since 1895. The family business has outgrown spaces and relocated within Tyler multiple times, leaving the downtown area only because it lacked warehousing space.

Another company deeply rooted in Tyler is John Soules Foods, a nationally recognized food processing and marketing company that opened here in 1975 in a 2,000-square-foot facility. Today, the company has expanded to 250,000 square feet.

Mullins says many states offer either a high cost of doing business with some added incentives and others may have a lower cost of business with no incentives.

“In Texas we do both, and it has worked to our advantage,” he says. “We also have one of the lowest city tax rates in our population for the entire state. Tyler has been investing millions every year in upgrading infrastructure – and it shows.”

“tyler has

a Southern

charm to

it and

people are

attracted

to that.”


scorecardBuSineSS at

a glance

$2.7billionannual retail Sales

$27,778retail Sales

per capita

$274millionannual Hotel

and food Sales

11,048total number

of firms

source: U.s. Census QuickFacts

Business

Biz BriefsbuSineSSeS – bOth LarGe and SmaLL – that heLp deFine tyLer’S

eCOnOmiC CLimate

Sweet gourmetBiz: Candy and specialty food boutiqueBuzz: Sweet Gourmet features gourmet chocolates, roasted coffee beans and food items from all over the world, including jams, jellies, sauces, marinades and more. An experienced and well-trained staff is available to answer questions, and events such as cooking lessons are also offered at the shop.www.sweetgourmetonline.com

http://www.sweetgourmetonline.com


Swann’S furnitureBiz: Furniture gallery and storeBuzz: In 1895, T.E. Swann founded Swann’s Furniture in Tyler. Since then, the business has remained in the Swann family, and has continued to grow. Furniture for each room in the home is available, as well as rugs, upholstery and other accessories. Swann’s Furniture also provides a design staff to assist with décor, f loor plan layouts and budget preparation.www.swanns.com

mentoring mindSBiz: Educational resource providerBuzz: Created by former Douglas Elementary School administrator Michael L. Lujan, M.Ed., and his wife Lisa, Mentoring Minds offers educational materials, such as classroom management tools and critical thinking strategy guides.The Lujans were named Texas Small Business Persons of the Year in 2011 by the Small Business Administration.www.mentoringminds.com

Henry & peterS p.c.Biz: Public accounting firmBuzz: Henry & Peters P.C. has been providing tax, audit and advisory services since 1929. The firm specializes in industry-specific consulting, accounting services, estate planning and more. Henry & Peters P.C. also gives back to the community by supporting local organizations, and was named the Large Business of the Year by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.www.henrypeters.com

downtown coffee loungeBiz: Coffee shopBuzz: Tyler’s Downtown Coffee Lounge offers a variety of warm and chilled beverages, including cappuccinos, espresso drinks, lattes and smoothies, as well as breakfast and lunch foods. Customers can enjoy menu items such as seafood gumbo, chicken casserole, fresh salads and other dishes. Cookies, cobblers, cakes and other desserts and pastries are also available.www.downtowncoffeelounge.com

Pastor:Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin

WorshipSun. 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Church SchoolSun. 9:30 a.m.

Contemplative CommunionWed. 5:30 p.m.

230 W. Rusk St.Tyler, Texas 75701

In the heart of Tyler’s Azalea, Brick Streets

and Charnwood Historic Districts

Voice: (903) 597-6317 www.fpctyler.com

[email protected]

Rooted in a compassionate faith

First Presbyterian Church

http://www.swanns.com

http://www.mentoringminds.com

http://www.henrypeters.com

http://www.downtowncoffeelounge.com

http://www.fpctyler.com

mailto:[email protected]

www.austinbank.com


Business

chamberreportChamber rebrandS City FOr marKetinG purpOSeS

f lower nurseries in Tyler

produce 33 percent of all

commercial rose bushes sold in

the nation, which is why the city

has long been known as the Rose

Capital of the United States.

But to further market itself to

attract a diversity of industries, the

Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

recently embarked on a rebranding

campaign and came up with

a new slogan: A Natural Beauty.

“i’ve been here more than 20

years and it’s the third rebranding

the chamber has been through,

to update ourselves and adjust

to the times,” says Henry Bell,

chamber chief operating officer.

“We changed our logo a bit this

time but still kept the rose icon,

since commercial roses have been

– and still are – a vital component

of our local economy.”

Bell says branding Tyler as a

natural beauty can have a broad

meaning, and the slogan could be

attractive to a variety of industries

and businesses looking to locate in

a city that has a good quality of life.

“it’s a different marketing world

out there, and this is one of many

efforts the chamber has in place

to help our community grow,” Bell

says. “People in Tyler didn’t want

to give up the rose as our identity,

so the chamber modified and

tweaked the rose for our style

guides and other publications. We

feel that the upgraded logo and

‘A Natural Beauty’ make us look

more up-to-date and professional.”

fax macHine to faceBooK

Bell adds that the chamber has

also made an effort to embrace

social media, to the point of hiring

a communications specialist to

develop that program. The

chamber is using Twitter and

youTube and posts a weekly

newsletter every Friday at 10 a.m.

“We also have a Facebook

page that has more than 1,650

likes,” he says. “When i first

started at the Tyler Area chamber,

we were happy when we bought a

fax machine – and nobody on our

staff had a computer. Now we’re a

friend to Facebook. Times change

fast, and we’re trying to keep up.”

– Kevin Litwin

6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1 3/22/10 11:40:09 AM


education

9%associate degree

19.4%bachelor’s degree

9.6%Graduate degree

economic reSourceS

tyler economic

development Council

315 N. Broadway Ave.

Tyler, Tx 75701

(903) 593-2004

www.tedc.org

tyler area Chamber

of Commerce

315 N. Broadway Ave.

Tyler, Tx 75702

(903) 592-1661

(800) 235-5712

www.tylertexas.com

texas engineering

extension Service

301 Tarrow

College Station, Tx 77840

(979) 458-6800

(877) 833-9638

www.teex.org

induStrial SiteS

tyler industrial/business park

www.tedc.org

east texas medical Center

3,725 employees

brookshire Grocery Company

2,524 employees

tyler independent

School district

2,464 employees

Wal-mart

1,711 employees

the trane Co.

1,575 employees

Suddenlink

1,197 employees

ut health Center at tyler

849 employees

tyler Junior College

786 employees

Smith County

775 employees

City of tyler

761 employees

tranSportation

tyler transit System

www.cityoftyler.org/Admin/

Tabs/tabid/104/default.aspx

Service hours are Monday

through Friday 6:00 a.m. to

8:15 p.m. and Saturday 9:00

a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Night service

is available with advanced

scheduling. Tyler’s fixed route

buses are also equipped with

racks for bicycle transport.

tyler pounds regional airport

700 Skyway Blvd.

Tyler, Tx 75704

(903) 531-2343

www.cityoftyler.org/?Tabid=78

union pacific railroad

(281) 350-7302

www.up.com

economic overviewTyler is considered the advanced manufacturing, health care,

educational and retail center of East Texas. Tyler offers companies

a quality, centrally located, middle-market location with many of

the advantages of a major market. Tyler is part of the Tyler mSA,

which includes all of Smith County, Texas.

economic profile

taxeS

The city of Tyler has the lowest property tax rate of all mid-size cities in Texas.

Residents pay $0.2089 per $100 of assessed value.

8.25%Sales tax

income

$25,233per Capita income

$48,199average annual household income

worKforce

92.2%employment rate

49,871total Workforce

major employerS

trinity mother Frances

3,884 employees

http://www.tedc.org


http://www.teex.org

http://www.tedc.org

http://www.cityoftyler.org/Admin/

http://www.cityoftyler.org/?TabId=78

http://www.up.com

Lake Tyler State Park

Photo by Antony Boshier

See The City

46 t yLer

The Cascades

Photo by Antony Boshier


Tyler Rose Museum

Photo by Todd Bennett

See The City

48 t yLer

www.tylertexas.com

www.tedc.org

www.cityoftyler.org

50 t yLer

www.SeniorCareTX.org

www.hospiceofeasttexas.org

tyler is home to two full-service

facilities that are also the top

employers in the area, East Texas

medical Center and Trinity mother

Frances Hospital, as well as

smaller health-care providers. As

a result, East Texas residents can

enjoy quality care close to home.

easttexasmedicalcenter

ETmC has 454 beds and a

Level i trauma center. The hospital

has institutes dedicated to cancer,

cardiovascular, neurological,

orthopedic and urology, as well

as a kidney transplant program

and a behavioral health center.

in the 1980s, ETmC began

developing formal referring

relationships with hospitals in other

East Texas communities. ETmC

now has 11 affiliate hospitals outside

of Tyler. All told, the ETmC Regional

Health Care System sees more than

300,000 patients a year.

trinitymotherFranceshospital

Trinity’s origins in Tyler date to

1937, when the Sisters of The Holy

Family of Nazareth worked with

city leaders and area physicians to

bring a hospital to the community.

The facility opened one day

ahead of schedule when an

explosion, that killed nearly

300 people and injured hundreds

more, pressed the hospital into

immediate action.

Trinity currently has 404 beds

and is a Level ii trauma center.

in addition to centers focusing on

cancer, heart disease and

neurological disorders, Trinity

offers a variety of specialized

services, from sports medicine

and reconstructive surgery to

long-term care for the acutely ill.

universityoFtexashealthsciencecenterattyler

The University of Texas Health

Science Center at Tyler is a

smaller facility (109 beds) with

specialties in such areas as cystic

fibrosis, sleep disorders, infectious

diseases and rheumatology. Since

1977, the facility has been a

component of the University

of Texas System.

aleaderinspinesurgery

Tyler has one of the best

hospitals in the nation when it

comes to spine surgery. The Texas

Spine and Joint Hospital ranked in

the top 5 percent nationally in

spine surgery from 2006 to 2009,

according to the HealthGrades

ahostofhealthyoptionstyLer COnvenientLy meetS eaSt texaS’ heaLth-Care needS

Health & Wellness

404Number of beds at

Trinity Mother Frances Hospital

300,000Number of patients

seen by ETMC Regional Health Care System a year

1977Year the University of Texas

Health Science Center at Tyler became a component of the University of Texas System

1Ranking of Texas Spine and

Joint Hospital for spine surgery in the state

from left: east texas medical Center; trinity mother Frances hospital

Hospital quality in America study,

and was ranked No. 1 in the state

of Texas. The physician-owned

hospital provides services focused

on disease and injury affecting

the spine and joints.

– Cary Estes

TO

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52 t yLer

flowers may be the crown

jewel in Tyler’s culture scene,

but cultural opportunities extend

far beyond the garden gates.

The premier event for a city

that touts itself as America’s Rose

Capital is the Texas Rose Festival.

The rose industry has long been

an important part of Tyler’s

economy (more than half of

all rose bushes currently sold in

the United States are grown or

packaged in the area). Even

during the Great depression,

the city was known for its

robust rose production.

So in 1933, the Tyler Garden

Club helped organize a festival

to showcase the East Texas town

where they said, “Everything is

coming up roses.” it was originally

known as the Tyler Rose Festival,

but as its popularity expanded

and attracted visitors from

throughout the state and beyond,

the name was changed to the

Texas Rose Festival.

Thousands of people attend

the four-day event, which includes

art shows, floral displays and a

flamboyant rose parade featuring

the Rose queen and her court.

There is also a queen’s Tea, held

in an elaborate rose garden.

FloWertrailsandrosegardens

A more subdued – but just

as colorful – floral festival is the

Azalea and Spring Flowers Trail,

which has been held in Tyler every

year since 1960. The two trails

traverse through 8 miles of

residential gardens and historic

homes, attracting more than

100,000 visitors during the annual

two-week run.

Rounding out the flower power

is the city’s year-round attraction,

the Tyler municipal Rose Garden.

The 14-acre garden is the largest

of its kind in the United States and

contains numerous varieties of

roses, some dating back to the

mid-1800s.

museumsandmoreBut there is much more to do

in Tyler than just stop and smell

the flowers. discovery Science

Place is a hands-on science

museum geared toward children

and teens. Ballet Tyler holds

dance performances and helps

provide scholarship assistance to

aspiring dancers. The East Texas

Symphony Orchestra has been

performing regularly since the

1950s and plays a series of

morethanFlowerpowerFLOWerS, muSeumS and mOre maKe tyLer a CuLturaL deStinatiOn

Arts & Culture

What’sonlineRead more about Tyler’s, arts and culture scene at livability.com/tyler/tx.

ballet tyler; right: bonner-Whitaker-mcClendon house

52 t yLer

popular park concerts each year.

The city has eight different

museums, including the Historic

Aviation memorial museum, the

Tyler museum of Art and the

Goodman-LeGrand House and

museum, which was built in 1859

and was the first property in

Tyler to be listed on the National

Register of Historic Places.

Additionally, the Bonner-Whitaker-

mcClendon House was designated

a Tyler Historic Landmark in 1984,

followed by a place on the National

Register of Historic Places.

And for something slightly

different, there is Texas True, a

furniture and memorabilia store

that sells only products made in

Texas. it’s the perfect place to

find that cowboy-theme dog bed.

Feeling artsy? Stop by the

main Street Gallery, an art gallery

downtown that features a batch

of local talent.

– Cary Estes

TO

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www.tylerisd.org

in Tyler it’s easy to have fun

outside. The city offers 26

parks, special events, dozens of

playing fields, water recreation

options and summer camps to

keep residents in touch with the

area’s natural beauty.

The organization SPORTyler

ensures there are plenty of

activities taking place at those

fields and parks. SPORTyler was

developed in 1990 to attract

amateur sporting events to

Tyler and promote recreation

within the city.

Under the direction of

SPORTyler, the city has played

host to national junior college

sports championships in baseball,

softball, basketball, soccer, golf

and tennis. Tyler has held events

such as the Texas State Open golf

tournament, Texas Elite Baseball

Tournament, NJCAA men’s Tennis

Championship and many more.

The organization also sponsors

luncheons to celebrate the start

of each sport’s season.

tylerstateparkFor those who like their outdoor

activities a bit more secluded,

there is Tyler State Park, spread

across nearly 1,000 acres just

north of the city. The park has a

64-acre lake with a concrete boat-

launch ramp, a 13-mile mountain

bike trail, an amphitheater, a dining

hall with full kitchen and premium

campsites.

parks,lakesandmore

But one does not have to find a

major state park to have outdoor

fun in Tyler. That’s because the

city has 26 smaller parks that

comprise more than 1,000 acres

of land, and feature playgrounds,

adventureawaitstyLer’S reCreatiOn OptiOnS COnneCt reSidentS tO the OutdOOrS

Sports & Recreation

AN

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3303 Troup Hwy. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 595-5188

www.residenceinntyler.com

Room to relax …

Room to breathe …

A place to call …

HomeAway From Home!

athletic fields, walking trails and

tennis courts. Frisbee golf courses

are available at Lindsey Park and

The University of Texas at Tyler.

There also is an amphitheater in

Bergfeld Park, which is the site of

the annual Tyler Azalea Trail and

the Texas Rose Festival arts and

craft shows.

And the list goes on. Lake Tyler

is a popular fishing spot, while the

Faulkner Park Nature Trail offers a

1.25-mile walk through oak and

pine forests. in the summer,

Faulkner Park and Tyler Fun

Forest Park Pool also offer splash

parks for those who want to cool

off and play with water guns and

sprayers.

Golf courses are available for

adults and a skateboard park for

children and teens. in fact, if there

is something to do outdoors,

there is a good chance you can

do it in Tyler.

summercampsTyler has numerous summer

camps to help keep children

active during their mid-year break

from school. All Saints Episcopal

School, offers more than 35

camps with programs ranging

from traditional sports activities

to “Princess for a Week” for

young girls who like to dress up.

Other popular summer camps

in Tyler include Pine Cove

Christian Camp, Sky Ranch and

the Rockin’ C Ranch, which is set

on a real working Texas ranch.

A different type of camp

can be found at Elite Gymnastics.

Created by a former competitive

gymnast, Elite Gymnastics

attempts to improve self-

confidence and self-esteem

in children while they learn

new skills.

– Cary Estes

rockin’ c ranch


http://www.residenceinntyler.com


when you think about

typical Texas fare, the

things that usually come to mind

are steaks and barbecue and Tex-

mex. Such traditional Lone Star

State food is readily available in

Tyler but the city also ventures

well beyond the state line with

restaurants that specialize in

French, italian, mediterranean

and Latin cuisine.

rick’sonthesquareSince 1992, one of the most

popular restaurants in town has

been Rick’s On The Square. As the

name suggests, Rick’s is located

in the heart of downtown Tyler.

And it has found a place in the

hearts of city residents by

offering something for everybody

in terms of food and atmosphere.

On the plate, Rick’s specializes

in steaks (the chipotle rib eye is a

local fave), seafood, wine and

house-made desserts. menu items

range from the basic burger to

the exotic barbecued smoked-

shark tacos.

As for the atmosphere, Rick’s is

upscale enough to resemble a

fine-dining experience, yet still

casual enough for live music on

the patio. Sports fans will enjoy

watching the game on one of the

patio’s three 46-inch flat-screen

Tvs, while those with the late-

night munchies can order off the

full menu until closing.

kiepersolestatesWineryandB&B

One of the city’s true food

destinations is Kiepersol Estates,

which is a combination restaurant,

winery, and bed and breakfast.

The business-casual restaurant

features high-quality steaks and

seafood. Tours of the winery and

vineyard are available, and include

a visit to the tasting room.

atruetexasBBqJoint

Of course, it wouldn’t be Texas

without a good local barbecue

joint, and Tyler’s is Stanley’s

Famous Pit Bar-B-q. Texas Monthly magazine has proclaimed

Stanley’s to be one of the 50 best

barbecue restaurants in the state.

Stanley’s has been family-

stepuptotheplatemenu itemS inCLude traditiOnaL diSheS, eurOpean CuiSine

Local Flavor

villa montez serves Latin menu items such as camarones a la cazuela (top left) and shrimp enchiladas (bottom left). P

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What’sonlineRead more about Tyler’s food scene at livability.com/tyler/tx. Click “Food” under “Things To Do.”

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FRESHbyBrookshires.com

brookshires.com


owned and operated since the

1950s. in addition to the standard

pulled pork sandwich, the

restaurant offers some interesting

combinations such as the Brother-

in-Law (grilled hot link, chopped

beef and cheese) and the Big

Swimmer (tilapia on a jalapeño-

cheese sourdough bun, topped

with guacamole).

mediterraneanandmexican

For those who want to think

outside the Texas box, Bernard

mediterranean Restaurant brings

tastes of italy and France to Tyler.

This cozy eatery has such

traditional Europeans dishes as

escargot and lasagna Bolognese,

as well as a selection of steaks to

appease the local palate.

French pastries can be found at

Chez Bazan, which specializes in

cakes, pies, cookies and breads.

The restaurant also creates some

extravagant wedding cakes.

don Juan’s mexican Restaurant

and Cantina has long been a Tyler

staple. The dishes have more of a

traditional mexican flavor rather

than the Americanized version of

mexican food. The tacos are

particularly popular, especially on

Wednesdays when they are sold

for a dollar a piece.

villa montez is a casual family

dining restaurant that brings the

best of “Cocina Latina” Latin

kitchen. The menu features the

freshest ingredients and the

sauces are made daily in house,

and there are more than 100

entrees, appetizers, sandwiches

and wraps to choose from.

Other Tyler favorites include

The Potpourri House and its

chicken crepes, villa montez for

Latin food and Breakers for

seafood.

– Cary Estes

Chez bazan serves Chicken Florentine crepes (top) as well as an assortment of baked goods (bottom). P

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60 t yLer

tyler has some sizable choices

when it comes to education.

Educational opportunities include

several options from the largest

junior or community college in

the state to the largest public

school district in northeast Texas.

puBlicandprivateschools

On the public school level, the

Tyler independent School district

is the largest district in northeast

Texas, encompassing 193 square

miles with a total of 28 schools

and an enrollment of

approximately 18,000 students.

in 2008, TiSd began using the

5E model of teaching: engage,

explore, explain, elaborate and

evaluate. The goal is for students

to have more interaction during

the learning process, rather than

simply writing down information

and repeating it at test time.

There is also the Oak Hill

montessori School, Stepping

Stone Pre-School and Elementary,

C. Brown middle School and

several church-affiliated and

private schools in Tyler. They

include All Saints Episcopal,

Bishop Thomas K. Gorman

Regional Catholic, Brook Hill

School, Cumberland Academy,

East Texas Christian Academy,

Grace Community School,

Good Shepherd Christian,

King’s Academy and St. Gregory

Cathedral School.

uttylerThe state’s most expansive

educational component is the

University of Texas System, and

the city of Tyler has been part of

it since 1979 when Texas Eastern

University became the University

of Texas at Tyler. Known locally

as UT Tyler, the college has

approximately 6,200 students

and a 210-acre wooded campus

located on Harvey Lake just

southeast of downtown.

UT Tyler offers more than

90 graduate and undergraduate

degrees, with a specialty in

nursing that includes a Ph.d.

program. Other majors that

attract a high level of interest

include education, management,

psychology and accounting. UT

Tyler is also the home of the Texas

Allergy, indoor Environment and

Energy institute research center.

The university opened a

knowledgeisintyLer OFFerS SOLid eduCatiOnaL OptiOnS FOr SeriOuS LearnerS

Education

Jenkins hall at tyler Junior College; right: university of texas at tyler

todd Bennett

60 t yLer

38,000-square-foot, three-story

University Center in 2009,

complete with restaurants,

meeting rooms, a ballroom,

an entertainment area and a

convenience store. The school’s

R. don Cowan Fine and

Performing Arts Center

attracts more than 26,000

visitors annually for a variety

of shows and performances.

texasJuniorcollegeSince its inception in 1926,

Texas Junior College has grown

from having fewer than 200

students to today’s enrollment

of approximately 10,000, with

another 15,000 taking continuing

education courses at the school.

TJC has approximately 230 full-

time faculty members, keeping

the average class size close to

20 students. The school has more

than 50 degree options, with a

focus on pre-professional

offerings in allied health. TJC

also offers advanced training

in information systems, with

concentrations in networking,

programming and Web mastering.

historictexascollege

The city’s oldest school

is Texas College, which was

established in 1894 by a group

of Christian methodist Episcopal

Church ministers who wanted

to provide higher education

to African-Americans. Texas

College remains affiliated with

the CmE Church. Among the

offerings at Texas College are

16 baccalaureate degree

programs and two associate

of arts degrees. There is also

a special program for working

adults that provides a bachelor

of science degree in business

administration.

– Cary Estes antony BoSHier

www.all-saints.org

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.

Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

Living greenstarts from the ground up.


http://www.epa.gov/radon

www.ETSO.org

www.TSJH.org


climate

Tyler’s climate is hot during

the summer and cold during

the winter. Rainfall is

fairly evenly distributed

throughout the year. The

wettest month of the year

is October, with an average

rainfall of 5.14 inches.

94°FJuly average high

38°FJanuary average Low

45”

annual rain Fall (vs. national average annual rain Fall of 37”)

time zone

Central

Size in Square mileS

49.4

coSt of living

$48,199median household income

$88,547median home price

$694median rent for a two-bedroom apartment

tranSportation

18minutesmedian travel time to Work

HouSeHold information

aGe:

34median resident age

25%age 19 and under

44%age 20-54

31%age 55 and Over

maritaL StatuS:

51%married

49%Single

ethniCity:

51%White

25%black

21%hispanic

3%Other

numBerS to Know

Driver’s License:

texas department

of public Safety

4700 University Blvd.

Tyler, Tx 75713

(903) 939-6014

www.txdps.state.tx.us

Vehicle Registration:

County of Smith:

auto registration

1517 W. Front St.

Tyler, Tx 75702

(903) 590-2900

www.smith-county.com/

government/electedofficials/

taxassessor/vehicleReg.aspx

Utilities:

tyler Water utilities

P.O. Box 2039

Tyler, Tx 75710

(903) 531-1234

www.cityoftyler.org/

default.aspx?tabid=331

community overviewTyler’s charming brick streets lead visitors to an array of family

attractions, quaint antique shops and unique specialty stores.

Special events throughout the year include the Texas Rose

Festival, Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, Festival on the Square

and movies Under the Stars in Bergfeld Park.

community profile

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us

http://www.smith-county.com/

http://www.cityoftyler.org/


10 GardensWhere Inspiration Grows

Introducing the Livability.com Top 10 Lists New lists every month | Not your average lists | Not your average website

Tylermade the list.10 Gardens to InspireSee more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.

CHEYENNE BOTANIC GARDENSCheyenne, WY

JAPANESE GARDENS AT LAKE SACAJAWEA

Longview, WA

WATER GARDENFort Worth, TX

TYLER MUNICIPAL ROSE GARDENTyler, TX

CINNAMON CREEK TROPICAL BUTTERFLY GARDEN

Boerne, TX

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SANTA CRUZ ARBORETUM

Santa Cruz, CA

SWAN LAKE IRIS GARDENSSumter, SC

WICHITA GARDENS-BOTANICAWichita, KS

DANIEL STOWE BOTANICAL GARDENGastonia, NC

CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDENFayetteville, NC


visit ouradvertisersAll Saints Episcopal Schoolwww.all-saints.org

Altra Federal Credit Unionwww.altra.org

Austin Bank www.austinbank.com

Brookshire’s Grocery Companywww.brookshires.com

East Texas Symphony Orchestrawww.etso.org

Express Employment Professionalswww.expresspros.com

First Federal Bank Texaswww.ffbtx.com

First Presbyterian Church – Tylerwww.fpctyler.com

Gray’s Home Fashion Gallerywww.grayshfg.com

Holiday Innwww.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/tyrsb

Kiepersol Enterpriseswww.kiepersol.com

Residence Inn Marriottwww.residenceinntyler.com

Scott & White Health Planwww.swhp.org

Sherwin-Williamswww.sherwin-williams.com

Southside Bankwww.southside.com

Swann’s Furniture Gallerywww.swanns.com

Texas Bank & Trustwww.texasbankandtrust.com

Texas Spine & Joint Hospitalwww.tsjh.com

The Hospice of East Texas www.hospiceofeasttexas.org

The University of Texas Health Science Centerwww.uthct.edu

Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals & Clinicswww.tmfhc.org

Tyler Area Chamber of Commercewww.tylertexas.com

Tyler Independent School Districtwww.tylerisd.org

Tyler Junior Collegewww.tjc.edu

Voter Registration:

Smith County

Courthouse annex

200 E. Ferguson

Ste. 500

Tyler, Tx 75702

(903) 590-4777

www.smith-county.com/

Government/departments/

Elections/Registration.aspx

Recycling:

tyler recycling

Collection Center

418 N. Bois d’ Arc

(903) 531-1388

www.cityoftyler.org/Admin/

Tabs/tabid/100/default.aspx

tyler Solid Waste department

414 N. Bois d’ Arc Ave.

Tyler, Texas 75702

(903) 531-1388

test.cityoftyler.org/

?Tabid=100

The City of Tyler Solid

Waste department offers

subscription-based curbside

recycling to residential

customers. Residents can sign

up for this optional program

and receive two curbside

recycling pickups per month

for $2.50 plus tax per month.

Telephone & Internet:

at&t

(800) 464-7928

Suddenlink

(903) 595-4321

Cable:

Suddenlink

(903) 595-4321

northland Cable television

(Flint area) (903) 894-8200

Library:

tyler public Library

201 S. College Ave.

Tyler, Tx 75702

(903) 593-7323

www.cityoftyler.org/

Library/Library/tabid/542/

default.aspx

visit ouradvertisersAll Saints Episcopal Schoolwww.all-saints.org

Altra Federal Credit Unionwww.altra.org

Austin Bank www.austinbank.com

Brookshire’s Grocery Companywww.brookshires.com

East Texas Symphony Orchestrawww.etso.org

Express Employment Professionalswww.expresspros.com

First Federal Bank Texaswww.ffbtx.com

First Presbyterian Church – Tylerwww.fpctyler.com

Gray’s Home Fashion Gallerywww.grayshfg.com

Holiday Innwww.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/tyrsb

Kiepersol Enterpriseswww.kiepersol.com

Residence Inn Marriottwww.residenceinntyler.com

Scott & White Health Planwww.swhp.org

Sherwin-Williamswww.sherwin-williams.com

Southside Bankwww.southside.com

Swann’s Furniture Gallerywww.swanns.com

Texas Bank & Trustwww.texasbankandtrust.com

Texas Spine & Joint Hospitalwww.tsjh.com

The Hospice of East Texas www.hospiceofeasttexas.org

The University of Texas Health Science Centerwww.uthct.edu

Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals & Clinicswww.tmfhc.org

Tyler Area Chamber of Commercewww.tylertexas.com

Tyler Independent School Districtwww.tylerisd.org

Tyler Junior Collegewww.tjc.edu

http://www.all-saints.org

http://www.altra.org

http://www.austinbank.com

http://www.brookshires.com

http://www.etso.org

http://www.expresspros.com

http://www.ffbtx.com

http://www.fpctyler.com

http://www.grayshfg.com

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/

http://www.kiepersol.com

http://www.residenceinntyler.com

http://www.swhp.org

http://www.sherwin-williams.com

http://www.southside.com

http://www.swanns.com

http://www.texasbankandtrust.com

http://www.tsjh.com

http://www.hospiceofeasttexas.org

http://www.uthct.edu

http://www.tmfhc.org


http://www.tylerisd.org

http://www.tjc.edu

http://www.smith-county.com/

http://www.cityoftyler.org/Admin/

http://www.cityoftyler.org/

Through the Lens

While i was shooting for

Images Tyler i stopped in at

the chamber of commerce.

The building that houses

the Tyler, Texas, chamber of

commerce is a great example

of art deco architecture. in front

of the elevators is a wonderfully

crafted wrought-iron bench; it

is decidedly not art deco but

somehow seems right at home

in its surroundings. This bench is

typical of the rugged functional

art that is found throughout Texas.

FromourphotoBlog:tyler

POSTEd By ANTONy BOSHiER

moreonlineSee more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.

Now that you’ve experienced Tyler through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

getthestoryBehindthephoto

66 t yLer

Ad Index 61 AllSAintS EpiScopAlSchool

c3 AltrAFEdErAl crEditUnion

43 AUStinBAnk

58 BrookShirE’S GrocErycompAny

62 EASttExAS SymphonyorchEStrA

65 ExprESS EmploymEnt proFESSionAlS

22 FirStFEdErAl BAnktExAS

43 FirStprESBytEriAn chUrch–tylEr

40 GrAy’ShomE

FAShionGAllEry

40 holidAyinn

c4 kiEpErSolEntErpriSES

55 rESidEncEinnmArriott

50 Scott&WhitE

hEAlthplAn

34 ShErWin-WilliAmS

7 SoUthSidEBAnk

5 SWAnn’SFUrnitUrEGAllEry

10 tExASBAnk&trUSt

62 tExASSpinE&

JointhoSpitAl

Ad Index (cont.) 50 thEhoSpicE oFEASttExAS

2 thEUnivErSityoFtExAS hEAlthSciEncEcEntEr

c2,1 trinitymothErFrAncES hoSpitAlS&clinicS

49 tylErArEAchAmBEr oFcommErcE

53 tylErindEpEndEnt SchooldiStrict

4 tylErJUniorcollEGE

cancer.org

www.altra.org

kiepersol.com

images tyler, tx: 2012

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