Advertisement
Published: February 8th 2020
Wesley Love owned much land North of Jacksonville Texas. In 1904 he planted a six hundred acre (640 acres is a square mile) peach orchard. Love died in 1925. In 1934 the City of Jacksonville purchased forty two acres of Love's land in two locations; one became Love's Lookout. After the purchase Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal spent much money developing the lookout including an access road to the lookout, a swimming pool, a dance hall, and an amphitheater for public events.
Most of the above is gone now except the two stone fences by the overlook main view, and the fire tower that was built later. The stone fence on the south side of the overlook has a stone gate and some steps that led to the old amphitheater. Cuz of the high hazard of a very serious fall from the steps, there was a chain link fence built there for safety purposes. About a hundred meters South of the overlook main view (with facilities) is a second view point.
Later over a million dollars was spent to improve the main overlook with modern facilities with drinking water and good restrooms, including regular custodial services. They also built a
Love's Lookout
fire tower
nice treevisitors center with free information handouts on the lookout, local locations, and local events of interest. The office has a neat full sized plastic Indian for visitors shooting "selfies".
From Jacksonville take US Hwy 69 about three miles North of the Jacksonville City limits and turn East at the exit for the rest stop. The view from Love's Lookout spans over thirty miles on a clear day, for a great experience.
While I was there I had a good chat with their hard working custodian, who was also a local East Texas historian.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.079s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 11; qc: 29; dbt: 0.0509s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
