Not every town gets to claim a railroad as part of its soul. Palestine, TX does, and you can feel it the moment you arrive.

Start with a ride on the Texas State Railroad, the official railroad of Texas, through 25 miles of East Texas Piney Woods between Palestine, TX and Rusk. There’s no better way to arrive at a place slowly, the way travel used to feel. The route winds through longleaf pine and hardwood forest, and the 4-hour round trip takes most of the day. That’s not a complaint. That’s exactly the point. When you get back, the rest of Palestine, TX is waiting.

Check into the Redlands Hotel, which has been welcoming guests since 1914, built in the heart of downtown to serve the passengers and commerce of the International & Great Northern Railroad. Then take your time with the downtown streets, the architecture, the more than 1,800 documented historic sites scattered across Anderson County, many of them tied directly to the railroad heritage that built this place. There’s enough here to fill a weekend without feeling like you’re rushing.

Late summer and early fall are a good time to come. The Piney Woods are still full but starting to turn with the changing of the seasons. The pace is unhurried, and the kind of traveler who appreciates a place with real history will find plenty to explore. Palestine, TX has a way of making you want to stay longer than you planned. The history runs deep, the welcome is genuine, and the Texas State Railroad is still making its run through the Piney Woods, just like it has for over a century.

Come see what a real railroad town feels like.

Plan your visit at VisitPalestine.com.