Orange

Understand

Orange sprang up in the late 19th century as a major supplier in the Texas lumber industry, with some 17 sawmills at one time. During World War II, Consolidated Steel operated a shipyard in Orange that built destroyers for the U.S. Navy. Now it's heavily into chemical processing industry with what looks like chemical row along the Sabine River, when it's not being ravaged by hurricanes, that is. An impressive art museum is in the historic downtown area.

Orange Convention and Visitors Bureau, 812 N 16th St, ☏ +1 409-883-1011. M-F 8AM-noon, 1-5PM. (updated Jan 2022) 1 Texas Travel Information Center at Orange, IH-10 (I-10 Westbound), ☏ +1 409 883-9416. 8AM-5PM, daily. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day: 8AM-6PM. (updated Jan 2022)

See

1 Stark Museum of Art, 712 Green Ave, ☏ +1 409 886-2787. W-Sa 9AM-5PM. A rather incongruous but high quality museum of Western and Native American art here in this swampy corner of southeastern Texas. (updated Jan 2022) 2 W H Stark House, 610 Main Ave, ☏ +1 409 883-0871. A locally historic Queen Anne-style house open for tours and full of antiques, but remember no touch. (updated Jan 2022)

Do

1 Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, 2111 W Park Ave, ☏ +1 409 670-9113. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM. Boardwalks take you out over a swampy expanse here. Free, donations welcome. (updated Jan 2022) 2 Lutcher Theater-Performing Arts, 707 Main Ave, ☏ +1 409 886-5535. Here you can listen to bards and that sort of thing. (updated Jan 2022)

Sleep

The Best Price Motel & Suites, 2610 I-10, ☏ +1 409 883-0231. Breakfast provided. (updated Jan 2022) Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 2655 I-10 East, ☏ +1 409 882-9222. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Includes breakfast, and has an outdoor pool and laundromat. (updated Jan 2022)

Go next

Big Thicket National Preserve Beaumont Lake Charles