Discover Ennis Fall 2023

DISCOVER Ennis FALL 2023

A Downtown Reborn.

Festivals, Events, & Fun.

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WELCOMETOENNIS! Welcome to Ennis, Texas where the bluebonnet spirit

pervades all year long! Whether you are visiting us for a short period of time or are a lifelong resident, you know what it means to truly feel welcome when you are in our town.

Fall is a special time in Ennis. As the leaves begin to change, downtown Ennis comes to life with an incredible, professionally designed pumpkin patch featuring over 15k pumpkins and a massive hay maze that is open the month of October. This is the place to be for fall fun and photos!

This year we are adding a seating area, extending the hours of the Shed (snack bar) and will have pumpkins for sale.

The main fall event, Ennis Autumn Daze, takes place October 27-29th. We have coined the term “biggest little fall festival in Texas” because this event maintains the charm of a small-town festival but features big city excitement including live music, 100-ton corn corral, carnival and award-winning professional pumpkin carvers flown in from around the country!

After Autumn Daze preparations begin to transform downtown Ennis into a scene from a Hallmark Christmas movie complete with snow, décor, and photo ops throughout. The season kicks off with the Lights of Ennis Parade and Block Party and Christmas Bluebonnet Market on November 30th followed by a month full of events to

make your holiday memories right here in Ennis. The magic incudes carriage rides, holiday roller skating, snow hill tubing, Lucky’s CC Car Show/Toy Drive, Elf Seek & Find game, and cookies with Mrs. Claus.

Ashley Colunga In addition to our festive Marketing and Communications Director events there are also numerous City of Ennis year-round attractions in Ennis.

Watch your favorite movie under the stars at the popular 7 screen drive-in theatre, the Galaxy Drive-in Theatre. Catch a live play at the Ennis Public Theatre or at Theatre Rocks. Check out an actionpacked drag car race at the Texas Motorplex or enjoy watching a race at the Big O Speedway, an oval dirt track. If you are traveling with your furry friend, stop by the new Puppy Patch dog park and dog wash located at 302 N. Dallas St. Download our free mobile app, Ennis Y’all, and visit us at www.VisitEnnisTexas.com for all the fun things Ennis has to offer. Follow us at Downtown Ennis TX and Visit Ennis Texas on Facebook and Instagram for additional details on downtown events.

Welcome to Ennis Y’all!

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October 27-29, 2023

Special thanks to the City of Ennis, Ennis Welcome Center, Ennis Main Street, Ennis Chamber of Commerce, and Ennis Independent School District. Cover images and additional photos courtesy of City of Ennis.

Discover Fall 2023 is a publication of The Ennis News. Features by Mark Warde and Randy Bigham. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. For more copies or advertising infomation, contact us at The Ennis News or go online to www.ennisdailynews.com.

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ENNISREADIESFORFALL A utumns in Ennis are chocked full of seasonal color and family fun. It starts in October with the Hay Maze and Pumpkin Patch, a month-long, family favorite. In recent years, it has expanded like some of the giant orange gourds that are painted or carved for décor. Add a carnival for more fun are even greater with the summer heat having retired for the fall.

The seven-month season of Saturdays at the Bluebonnet Market (farmers market), comes to a great finish at N. Dallas Street on Oct. 28. It will resume in April 6, 2024.

Ben Vyers, a local artist, adds splash and dash to autumn colors, though his main gig is painting business windows and walls. His work is vivid at the Hay Maze, which is primetime for photo ops and perfect for shutterbugs or selfies. Flowers and wreaths are liberally placed and lighting extends the venue into the evening hours through Oct. 31.

The Texas Motorplex, located just four miles northwest of downtown, draws thousands of revved up race fans who express their need for speed. LIVE from ENNIS, TEXAS... the annual NHRA Fall Nationals, held each October, is televised across the country.

The close of October is ushered in on the first Sunday of November when clocks fall-back one-hour at 2 a.m. localtime, on Nov. 5, 2023. Sunrise time will not change again until March 10, 2024, or five months later.

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Residents often decorate their homes in harvest hues and seasonal motifs during October and November, while others take advantage of the cooler temps by stringing up Christmas lights.

Rare for most cities is an attraction of the arts. Yet in downtown Ennis, there are two live theatre groups within blocks of each other. Both feature local talent and highquality drama in six outstanding plays per season by both groups. Ennis Public Theatre and Theatre Rocks! continue with show-busters, including Broadway classics, performed live in an intimate, black box setting.

Visitors and area citizens can learn about the overall history of the Bluebonnet City by stopping by the Ennis Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum.

Known for its hand full of festivals and carnivals, another huge event that grows each year is the Nov. 30th Lights of Ennis, which starts at 7pm. It has been held over 20 straight years and shows no signs of letting up! The highlight is a parade downtown with vehicles, horses, fire-trucks, and the E-Pride Marching Band, who have been joined by the Italy HS Band - all illuminated. Cast in the setting of LED-lit buildings and Princeton American Elm trees wearing lights, it is a can’t miss classic.

A community that offers so much to its residents that you, too, might utter the phrase, I love this town!

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THEATRELIVESHERE Ennis is home to a pair of local theater organizations.

Both present six productions a year and offer other entertainment on their respective stages. Ennis residents and those in the area are provided some great shows at Ennis Public Theatre and Theatre Rocks! Plus, they can even audition for a chance to be part of a production.

Ennis Public Theatre, an Ennis Treasure

Theatre Rocks! Under Rhotens’ leadership

Founded in 2013, Theatre Rocks! Is a very popular venue for live plays. An intimate atmosphere with seating for approximately 75, the talent you’ll find is big and productions are unique and well-performed featuring local amateurs working alongside well-trained actors.

Theatre Rocks has produced a number of well-known hits, from “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ” by Tennessee Williams to Sam Shepard’s “True West” and “12 Angry Men.” Bill Rhoten, artistic director, and Suzanne Rhoten, executive director, have teamed together in Dallas area performing arts for well over 30 years and have been active in both producing and directing in Ennis since 2002.

Located just three blocks north of downtown at 505 NW Main Street, visit TheatreRocks.com or their Facebook page or call 972-878-5126 for additional info.

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An extraordinary find in Ellis County is the live drama productions available year-round as delivered by the Ennis Public Theatre. With over a decade of plays under their belt, EPT produces superb live entertainment at a reasonable cost.

Part of the Main Street revitalization program in Ennis, EPT is located in their downtown digs at 113 N. Dallas St., where the atmosphere and amenities are outstanding.

The theatre delights audiences of all ages with laughout-loud comedies, heart-warming dramas, lively musicals and a fantastic Young Artists Program.

A married tandem, Julie Mitchell and Markus Baldwin, serve as overall artistic directors. Dakota Russell is the house manager, while Karen Blewitt is the business manager and Brett Schmidt is responsible for community outreach. The theatre group is supported by a great board of directors and a receptive community.

For more information, a list of their shows as well as access to tickets call 972-878-PLAY or visit their website www.ennispublictheatre.com.

ENNISAUTUMNDAZE The biggest little fall festival event in Texas, Ennis Autumn Daze, is three incredible days of family fun! Friday, October 27th will kick off 21 years of the celebration with entertainment for the whole family, free kids activities and a gorgeous pumpkin display sure to make it a memorable experience for all! This historic fall event has been a longstanding tradition among locals and a family favorite across the DFW metroplex.

The giant Hay Maze and Pumpkin Patch (featuring over 15k pumpkins) will continue to be a main attraction, engineered and professionally designed by MESA, an award winning landscape architecture and urban design firm. The design theme this year is “Season of the Harvest” and gives incredible scenery with stellar photo ops including a pumpkin house and harvest tractor.

The Shed will be open 7 days a week for snacks and beverages and pumpkins will be for sale this year so you can take home a little piece of the patch! The maze and pumpkin patch will be free and open to the public October 1st through October 31st with the exception of October 27th-29th when it is within festival grounds.

Bring your dancing shoes because the entertainment this year will include: Le Freak, the greatest disco band in the world, Josh Weathers, Texas native, with a powerhouse performance of “Texas soul music” and los Musicales David Lee Garza-progressive Conjunto and Tejano music.

These incredible artists as well as a full line-up of local talent will bring a unique variety of music to the stage for everyone to enjoy.

In addition to music, guests will be wowed by award

winning professional pumpkin carvers creating masterpieces live in the festival grounds. Kids will have a blast in the free kids craft area where they can get creative and use their imagination. They can also enjoy fun sensory play in the giant corn pit! Talley Amusements, the carnival provider for the State Fair of Texas and Ft. Worth Stock Show, will be bringing in carnival rides appealing to both thrill seekers and small children.

The event will also feature a corn hole tournament with a $1,000 cash prize, beer garden, food, and unique shopping vendors. This event is truly a family experience with fun for all ages!

Admission will be free on Friday, October 27th. Admission for Saturday and Sunday are $5 each day for adults. Children 12 and under are free. All proceeds go to Ennis Main Street, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is committed to providing free, educational, social and cultural programming in Historic Downtown Ennis.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor Pegasus Chevrolet & Pegasus Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for making this event possible. With their help, families are able to create wonderful memories in Ennis, Texas.

Download the free Ennis Y’all mobile app for more details on Ennis’ year round events and activities. Contact the Ennis Welcome Center at 972-878-4748 or www.visitennistexas. com for more information. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Downtown Ennis Tx for the latest events and updates.

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TEXASMOTORPLEX Texas Motorplex hosts a National Hot Rod Event each racing season which draws fans from across the globe.

The Texas Motorplex is known nationwide for being the host of the prestigious Texas Fall Nationals Stampede of Speed (Oct. 6-15, 2023) event each fall, but it’s also a year-round racing center, located about two miles west of Ennis.

Events start in February and run through November, among them National Hot Rod Diesel Association events, Import Face Offs, car shows,

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and Fast Fridays.

Fast Fridays give people a chance to take their own cars to the strip to give drag racing a try. It’s a way for people to legally satisfy their need for speed, and for a very reasonable fee.

Anyone can head to the track and race unlimited times.

Home of the world speed record of 333.95 mph, the Texas Motorplex is

considered one of the finest one-quarter mile drag racing facilities in the nation.

Constructed in 1986 by Billy Meyer, the Texas Motorplex is known across the country as “the ultimate drag racing facility” both by drivers and the fans alike. The Motorplex hosts over 90 events each year, with 500,000 fans visiting the race track annually. Ennis welcomes the racers and race fans with open arms.

If you are just visiting or planning to come back, be sure to get your hotel reservations early. Ennis is blessed with great lodging, and accommodations fill up as fast as a dragster on the strip.

KATOLICKA JEDNOTA TEXASKA SOCIETY NO. 35 Members: Approximately 1,250 Community Outreach & Activities:

KJT youth program, scholarships for KJT members who are graduating seniors

History:

KJT Society began so that Czech immigrants could bond with each other after coming to the United States. The Ennis chapter was founded in 1900. KJT began accepting women members in 1980. Although it started out as an exclusively Catholic organization, in 2008, KJT opened membership to all Christians.

SOKOL Members: Approximately 300 Community Outreach & Activities:

Sokol provides gymnastics and fitness classes for all, and a twirling program. Facilities can be used for community functions, weddings, and other parties.

History:

Sokol, which means falcon in Czech, was founded in 1862 in Prague, and brought to the United States by Czech immigrants to preserve their heritage.

The Ennis unit was formed in 1908.

SPJST LODGE #25 Members: Approximately 700 Community Outreach & Activities:

SPJST #25 Youth Program; Scholarships for SPJST Members who are graduating seniors; SPJST Lodge #25 Bar open every Wednesday Night from 5pm10pm; Kitchen/Dining Room, Bar, and Hall available for bookings for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holiday parties and special occasions.

Facebook / Instagram: @spjstennistx

History:

SPJST stands for Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas which translates to Slavonic Benefit Order of the State of Texas. SPJST Lodge #25 was established in 1897.

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ENNISEVENTSCALENDAR Apr – Oct Apr – Oct

Bluebonnet Market (formerly Farmers Market) 100 N Dallas St, Saturdays, 8am – noon Mornings at Minnie: family friendly entertainment at Minnie McDowal Park, 119 N Dallas St, Saturdays 10am

OCTOBER 2023 Oct 1-27 Oct 6-15 Oct 27-29 Oct 31

Hay Maze & Pumpkin Patch, FREE! Becomes a part of Autmn Daze on 10/27* North Plaza Parking Lot, 302 N Dallas St Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex, Tickets at www.texasmotorplex.com Ennis Autumn Daze Festival Live entertainment, carnival, hay maze, pumpkin patch, vendors, and more!

Trunk or Treat at the Hay Maze & Pumpkin Patch

NOVEMBER 2023 Nov 25 Nov 30 Nov 30

Small Business Saturday, a downtown Ennis shopping event Lights of Ennis Parade & Block Party in downtown Ennis Christmas Market, 5-8pm

DECEMBER 2023 Dec 1-31

Dec 2 Dec 2 Dec 9 Dec 15-17

Lights of Ennis events in downtown Ennis: includes horse drawn carriage and wagon rides, Elf Seek and Find game, a giant snow hill, photo ops, and more! Details TBA as they boecome available.

Cookies with Mrs. Claus Lucky’s Car Club Car Show & Toy Drive, Ennis Main Street on Facebook for details Snow Hill Tubing Holiday Roller Skating

APRIL 2024 Apr 1-30 Apr 8 Apr 19-21

MAY 2024 May 5

May 24-26

JUNE 2024 Jun 8

Jun 29 Nightly Weekly Weekly Weekly Monthly Bi-Monthly Bi-Monthly

FEBRUARY 2024 Feb 10 Feb 17

Mardi Gras Masquerade, deatils TBA Presented by Ennis Chamber of Commerce Ennis Czech Music Festival www.ennisczechmusicfestival.com

*Calendar is updated weekly and subject to change. Please confirm event details before driving long distances.

Follow Visit Ennis, Texas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow Downtown Ennis Tx on Facebook and Instagram.

Download the mobile app Ennis Y’all. www.VisitEnnisTexas.com • 972-878-4748 12 - DISCOVER ENNIS FALL 2023

Ennis Bluebonnet Trails www.visitennistexas.com Total Solar Eclipse Watch Party www.visitennistexas.com Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival www.visitennistexas.com Cinco de Mayo Cultural Celebration www.visitennistexas.com National Polka Festival www.nationalpolkafestival.com Blues on Main www.visitennistexas.com Ennis Freedom Fest www.visitennistexas.com Movies at Galaxy Drive Theatre-In www.galaxydriveintheatre.com Races at Big O Speedway www.bigospeedway.com and the Texas Motorplex www.texasmotorplex.com Karaoke & 8 Ball Tournaments at The Gameroom, www.ennisgameroom.com Music & Wine at Sugar Ridge Winery www.sugarridgewine.com Public Antique Auction at the Ennis Auction House www.landmark-auction.com Live Theatre at Ennis Public Theatre www.ennispublictheatre.com Live Theatre at Theatre Rocks! www.theatrerocks.com

ENNISCARES The Ennis CARES Program was born as a response to community needs identified during the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. Ennis C.A.R.E.S. serves our (C)ommunity by providing (A)ssistance and (R)esources, through (E)ngagement and (S)ervices while focusing on long term solutions for people and families in need.

Ennis CARES serves as the resource hub for the City of Ennis, all while working alongside other agencies, organizations and churches, by providing charitable, benevolent, civic, educational, social and societal services to the community of Ennis to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. The Ennis CARES Program identifies a need in the community and looks for ways to address those needs.

To date, the Ennis CARES Program has assisted with initiatives such as the Hurricane Laura Evacuation Center, Extreme Cold Weather Emergency Shelter, Emergency Water Distribution, COVID-19 Working Group, Ellis County Vaccination Hub, Ennis Vaccination Hub, Ellis County Mobile Vaccination Team (In-Home), Mobile Food Pantry Events, Community Thanksgiving Meal and Angel Tree Programs. The non-emergency Bluebonnet Call

Center serves the Ennis and Ennis ISD area and is a great resource to citizens needing help with running errands for the homebound, picking up a prescription, financial assistance with a bill, welfare checks, prayer or just someone to talk to.

For assistance or information on how YOU can help those in need, call the Bluebonnet Call Center at 972-6953524 or email BBCC@ennistx.gov.

We are here for YOU because

ENNIS LOVES YOU!

KEEPENNISBEAUTIFUL Keep Ennis Beautiful (KEB) is a City of Ennis affiliation

with Keep Texas Beautiful. The mission of KEB is to cultivate community pride through volunteerism and education focused on creating a healthy, beautiful, and sustainable environment. Our goals are: 1. To inspire, initiate, plan, direct, and coordinate programs for litter control and prevention 2. To encourage the planting and preservation of trees, flowers, plants and shrubbery 3. To initiate programs that promote a cleaner, safer, healthier, and more beautiful community 4. To stimulate interest and action toward conservation of resources.

In a nutshell ~ we dig in the dirt, we pick up trash, we try not to waste, and we encourage others to do the same. We believe that our words and our actions should create an environment that we can be proud of. Since its creation in 2018, KEB volunteers have put their love for our community in action by spending countless hours picking up litter, planting trees, and encouraging others to respect the planet and all of the organisms that we share it with. We ARE the change!

Join us in making Ennis the most beautiful city in the great state of Texas.

For more information: www.KeepEnnisBeautiful.com 972-878-4748

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DISCOVERENNIS

Check out our Discover Ennis Spring edition for more

details and information on these exciting events and MORE!

Ennis Czech Music Festival National Polka Festival February 17, 2024 Memorial Day Weekend, Ennis Bluebonnet Trails April 1-30, 2024 Bluebonnet Trails Festival April 19-21, 2024 Cinco de Mayo Cultural Celebration May 5, 2024

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May 24-26, 2024

Blues on Main June 8, 2024 Ennis Freedom Fest June 29, 2024 • Please confirm event details before driving long distances. • Follow Visit Ennis, Texas on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. • Follow Downtown Ennis TX on Facebook and Instagram. • Download the Ennis Y’all app. • www.VisitEnnisTexas.com • 972-878-4748

FRIDAYNIGHTLIGHTS Friday Night Lights is more than

a book and a popular TV series. It is a way of life for aspiring, young athletes, coaches and fans in Texas. Over 1,400 high schools play football in Texas, but few have done it better than Ennis.

Odessa Permian was the setting for the 1988 book, where the Panthers won six state titles and have advanced to the championship game on 11 occasions.

Ennis High School has played the part for decades, but instead of black & white and a helmet adorned with the letter P, they splash maroon, an oval E, and have won state crowns in all five of their appearances.

Added to that is an element that very few can match, a marching band.

They have achieved the highest rating possible, superior, in 65-of-the-past-66 years.

For nearly seven decades, the Olde English “E” has provided the soundtrack for Fridays, much of it in Gary Goodwin’s 29 years.

On the gridiron, the Lions last wore the crown as Kings of the Jungle in 2014.

Entering 2023, they have qualified for the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons.

So, they will keep knocking on the door until a sixth coronation.

First, in 1975, the late Head Coach Don Essary led Ennis to the zenith.

Then, HC Sam Harrell orchestrated the Scripted E’s to three titles in a span of five years, 2000, 2001 and 2004. The fifth was in 2014 with HC Jack Alvarez at the helm. He is currently at Class 5A Marshall in East Texas.

The most recent occurred in front of 29,000 at AT&T Stadium. A long pass, from QB Devin Smith to WR Donta Thompson, finished as a game-winning, last-minute touchdown in a 38-35 triumph over Cedar Park. It was the second straight year the Lions won 14 games under Alvarez.

Now, after a nine-year respite due to health, Harrell, since named to the

Texas Hall of Fame, has returned. The 2023 campaign is the sixth (43-15 record in 5 years, .741), though his Lions went 32-4 during the second, third and fourth years of his ‘heralded’ comeback.

This fall, the Lions are again picked as a contender in their district. The final home game, Oct. 27, is against Burleson.

Two weeks later, Nov. 9 or 10, look for the Lions in the playoffs.

Cheer teams, Erica Todd is their coach, are rousing up fans who need little rousing. Plus, the Lionettes dance troupe, under Coach Tia Hensley, has over 30 years under their wide white belts and cowgirl hats. The good news is - there is always room on the bandwagon for newcomers.

Traditions carry strong meaning in this town, where conservative family values, a strong work ethic and a living faith will bring automatic respect, and a Czech name will bring honor.

Few places in this country circle the wagons in support of the military, the colors wafting on a flag pole and especially the heart of meeting the needs of their own, than Ennis.

Residents give generously to its organizations, civic groups, heritage halls, veterans service organizations, Helping Hands, Give-A-Kid-A-Chance and churches, to name a few.

Ennis continues to be a city that makes for the best in small-town Americana.

No wonder so many keep wearing maroon and return here to live after college.

It truly is a wonderful town to grow a family, operate a business and the stage shines brightest on Fridays.

Ennis Lions State Champions

1975 - Ennis 13, Cuero 10 2000 - Ennis 38, West Orange-Stark 24 2001 - Ennis 21, Bay City 0 2004 - Ennis 23, Marshall 21 2014 - Ennis 38, Cedar Park 35

Most State Football Championships in Texas

No. 11 9 8 7 6

5

Team Aledo Carthage, Katy, Richland Springs Celina, Mart, Southlake Carroll Abilene, Brownwood, Plano Breckenridge, Judson, Daingerfield, Highland Park, Lake Travis, Odessa Permian, Stephenville, Waco, Wichita Falls Ennis, Allen, Canadian, Galena Park North Shore, LaMarque, Newton, Refugio, Sealy, Sonora, Stamford

ENNIS:HISTORYLIVESHERE The Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum is

located on Northeast Main Street, along the railroad tracks, on Ennis Avenue.

The City of Ennis was established as a town in 1872 and was named after Cornelius Ennis, director of the Houston & Texas Central (H&TC) Railroad. Much of its history can be found at the museum.

Hours are TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays 1-4 p.m. Mondays are open only by appointment for group tours. Please call 972875-1901 or 972-878-4748 at least one week in advance for reservations.

The museum is housed in a former Van Noy restaurant building built in 1915. The restaurant served customers from the 10 passenger trains a day that once stopped in Ennis. The yellow wood-frame building to the north of the museum served as the ticket office and baggage building after the original two-story depot was destroyed by fire in the late 1930s. Located to the south of the museum is the former Wells Fargo freight office.

The City of Ennis acquired the museum building from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1991.

In 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, a forerunner of the Southern Pacific Railroad, purchased 647 acres of land in Ellis County at a price of $5.00 per acre, establishing the line’s northern terminus. It was on June 8, 1872 that the site was established as the City of Ennis.

Ennis was the banking and agricultural center of east Ellis County by the 1880s. Ennis National Bank, with capital of $100,000, held the title of the largest bank in the county in 1883. Many of the early settlers of this area were people from the East and South who were attracted by the rich Blackland Prairie soil, the railroad, and other business opportunities. In 1873, Jacob Shebasta, an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, was the first of many Eastern Europeans to make this area his home. Ennis retains a strong Czechoslovakian influence, and today is home to four Czech social halls as well as the annual National Polka Festival each May. In 1891, the Texas & New Orleans Railroad, a part of the Southern Pacific system, established a division point in Ennis, leading to the construction of shops and a roundhouse.

The citizens of Ennis contributed $25,000, 90 acres of land, and a 43 acre lake toward the project. A contract was drawn up stating that the railroad could not move its shops 16 - DISCOVER ENNIS FALL 2023

out of town as long as the City of Ennis was able to provide water for the railroad’s use. The railroad was the key to the development of Ennis as an agricultural, commercial, and later, an industrial center. According to early resident Joseph Baldridge, “If Ennis had not obtained the shops and the superintendent’s offices, it would have remained only a small agricultural center.”

Ennis was able to successfully combine the natural resources of its rich farm land with the transportation advantages offered by the railroad.

In May 1930, Ennis had become known as the place “Where Railroads and Cotton Fields Meet.” From its founding, various cultures have shaped the development of the City.

In its earlier days, Ennis was a settlement town with a “wild west” reputation. At one time, the City had 13 saloons and six beer halls. The town also served as a stopping place for outlaw gangs including those of Cole Younger and Sam Bass; and the family of gunfighter John Wesley Hardin was among the city’s pioneers.

Other cultures have also contributed to the history of Ennis. For example, Robert Martinez drove 3,200 head of cattle from Ennis to Montana along the Chisolm Trail in the late 19th century. Also, during the 1920s, Ennis resident Dr. Armour Rogers became one of the first practicing African American doctors in Ellis County.

About our history: • The City of Ennis was established in 1872.

• A record-making Texas League game with 8 homeruns was played in Ennis in 1902.

• Author and educator Katie Daffan, the first woman to head a state agency in Texas, lived in Ennis.

• In 1920 a total of 152,601 bales of cotton were ginned in Ellis County, the most of any county in America.

• Ennis is known as the Bluebonnet City because of the springtime beauty and abundance of the state flower in and around the city.

• U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, born in Ennis, posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in World War II. Lummus, a former Baylor University and New York Giants football star, was one of only two National Football League players to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, and he was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor in 2015.

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ENNIS ENNISVETERANS MEMORIAL Ennis Veterans Memorial Park, located at 2301 Ennis Pkwy, was dedicated to those who are serving, have served, and gave up their lives to protect American freedom. The Veterans Memorial monuments honor veterans from each 20th and 21st Century U.S. military conflict.

In addition to the memorial site, there are three lighted competition football /soccer fields for league play and six youth soccer fields, available for use by reservation.

There is also a building for concession and restroom facilities, a 0.4 mile of walking paths, picnic tables and a children’s playground.

Veterans Memorial Park has been open to the public since August 2011, and many have enjoyed its recreational amenities since then. A salute in brick and mortar to the men and women of America’s Armed Forces, the memorial has been the backdrop for many local patriotic events.

Vietnam War veteran Gerry Wright has referenced how the AO (Agent Orange) monument erected at the Ennis site inspired him in his work to change the law governing health coverage for AO survivors. The memorial is now known nationally due to his campaign to secure better medical care for fellow sufferers of AO. The memorial takes the form of a circular promenade with a centerpiece devoted to veterans and surrounding sections dedicated to specific conflicts, from World War I to the current War on Terror.

The stewards of the Ennis Veterans Memorial are pleased to incorporate the Jack Lummus Memorial, formerly located on the grounds of the old Ennis Chamber of Commerce property, and the new ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ bronze monument, which represents such a well-known scene carried out on so many battlefields over the years, to the Memorial.

“This Veterans Memorial has been blessed as Hallowed Ground, and therefore the City of Ennis and the Ennis Veterans Memorial Committee attempts to honor all Veterans of the past, present, and future with this premiere Veterans Memorial,” says Commandant Robert Bell, of the Ellis County Marine Corps League, and Ennis Veterans Memorial Committee member.

For more information, contact City of Ennis Parks Department at 972-875-1234.

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LIGHTSOFENNIS Holiday fun is on the way between Thanksgiving and Christmas in Ennis.

Though a wonderful place to be year-round, Downtown Ennis comes to life during the holidays! Our hometown is failthful to provide tons of fun and events to Light Up the Y’all in you all.

Families will create great holiday memories this year! Try these on for size. A handful of the most popular activities return, so plan ahead.

The magic begins with the Lights of Ennis Parade and Block Party and Christmas Bluebonnet Market on November 30th and continues throughout the month of December with many more events including snow hill tubing, holiday roller skating, Cookies with Mrs. Claus, Lucky’s CC Car Show and Toy drive, carriage rides, and the elf seek and find game.

Go to www.visitennistexas. com, follow Downtown Ennis Tx on Facebook and Instagram or download the free mobile app Ennis Y’all for all updates.

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LAKEBARDWELLRESERVOIR Ellis County is home to one of the largest recreational

facilities in North Texas – Lake Bardwell Reservoir. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in the county.

Thousands of residents and tourists visit the 3,500acre lake each year, enjoying fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, biking, and just about any other outdoor activity within and along its 25 miles of shoreline. It is more than 5 miles long and more than 1 mile wide at its largest point.

Both the lake and surrounding campgrounds are maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which features a marina and several boat ramps. You can reach the marina at 972-646-5330.

Camping reservations or additional information is available at 972-875-5711 or recreation.gov. Congress authorized construction of the reservoir of the Bardwell Reservoir on March 31, 1960. Construction began in September 1963. Impoundment of water at the lake, which provides flood control and conservation platform for area water, began in November 1965. It cost more than $12 million to build.

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FUN&GAMESGALORE • Bluebonnet Park: On Ennis Pkwy, west of Hwy 287, and follow the signs. Facility includes eight lighted ball fields, 10 acres of recreational open space, a two-acre fishing lake, and a 0.7-mile jogging path. Available for softball and baseball tournaments and attracts teams from all across the State.

• Community theaters: Theatre Rocks!, 505 NW Main St., 972-878-5126, www.theatrerocks.com and Ennis Public Theatre, 113 N. Dallas St., 972-878-7529, www. ennispublictheatre.com. See page 10 for more infomation.

• Disc golf: Located adjacent to the dam on the south end of Lake Clark, at 3000 W. Ennis Ave. • Big O Speedway: Located east of Ennis, the facility offers dirt track racing on weekends March-October.

• E.I.S.D. Tennis Center: 9 championship quality tennis courts (4 indoors), snack bar, and pro shop.

• Ennis Golden Circle Senior Activity Center: Located at 1700 Floyd St., aims to keep the senior citizens of Ennis mentally, physically and spiritually active. Call the center at 972-875-6101 or check their website for event information. www.ennisgoldencircle.com.

• Lions Lanes: Bowling and family fun, 2303 W. Ennis Ave. • Galaxy Drive-In Theatre features seven screens.

• The Gameroom: 807 W. Lake Bardwell Dr., 469-881-1022 • Golf is open to the public at Red Oak Valley Golf Club in Red Oak and the Old Brickyard course in Ferris.

• Highview Park at Lake Bardwell: Picnic and/or swim.

This park requires a facility use fee per carload. For camping reservations, please call 972-875-5711 or go to recreation.gov.

• Highview Marina at Lake Bardwell: 972-646-5330.

• Lake Clark Park: Found on the west end of Baldridge Street, it is a perfect place to have a picnic, to fish, to play on the playground, or to take a walk with a lake view. Check out Kachina Prairie and the bison statue there.

• Lions Park: Corner of Hall and Lampasas streets.

• Meadow View Nature Area: 972-878-4748 for hours.

• Minnie McDowal Park is a unique gathering spot for families located at 119 N. Dallas featuring a gazebo, art wall and water feature.

• Opry: Located in the old Bristol School, about 15 minutes east of Ennis, the Opry features local talent performing live on stage. The show goes on the fourth Saturday of each month at 7 p.m., except in December. The Bardwell Opry, located in the Bardwell Community Center, is every fifth Saturday.

• Puppy Patch Dog Park: 302 N. Dallas St., is sure to be a favorite stop for the dog in your family!

• Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum: 972-875-1901.

• Rotary Park: 2300 Park St. At 35.5 acres, it is the largest community park in Ennis. Features a splash pad, National Fitness Center Fitness Court, pickleball/tennis courts, baseball practice diamond, gazebos, and playground.

Connects to Kiwanis Park via 3/4 mile Ivan Goodwin Walking trail. Fishing allowed with proper license.

• Sugar Ridge Winery in Bristol offers local wines, a private tasting room, and reception area.

• Texas Motorplex: 972-878-2641.

• Veterans Memorial Park at 2301 Ennis Parkway features a veterans memorial and athletic fields. Youth soccer is a favorite.

• Xtreme Raceway Park Ferris: Info on Facebook.

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BY THE #’S

OFFICIALS CITY OF ENNIS

20,159

Census Bureau Est. Population in 2020 Angeline Juenemann Mayor

Jake Holland Mayor Pro-Tem

Rowdy Pruitt

Ward 1 Commissioner

Bruce Jones

Ward 2 Commissioner

39

Miles from Ennis to downtown Dallas

5

State Football Championships

58,735

Kameron Raburn

Ward 3 Commissioner

Shirley Watson

Ward 4 Commissioner

Bill Honza

Ward 5 Commissioner

INFORMATION City of Ennis, 972-875-1234 Ennis Police Department, 972-875-4462 Ennis Fire Department / Ambulance Service, 972-875-3473 Ennis Fire Station #2, 972-875-6151 Ennis Fire Station #3, 972-895-3313 Ennis Regional Medical Center, 972-875-0900 Ennis Chamber of Commerce, 972-878-2625 Ennis Welcome Center, 972-878-4748 City of Ennis Economic Development, 972-878-4748 City of Ennis Health & Inspections, 972-878-6442 Ennis Independent School District, 972-872-7000 The Ennis News, 972-875-3801 Ennis Main Street Program, 972-878-4748 Ennis Public Library, 972-875-5360 Go to www.visitennistexas.com or download the ENNISY’ALL Ennis Municipal Airport, 972-875-4279 app for event times and dates.

Ennis Cares, 972-695-3524 Do you need information for your visit? Go to www.visitennistexas.com, contact the Ennis Chamber of Commerce at 972-878-2625 or www.ennis-chamber. com. Download the free mobile app, Ennis Y’all, for all things Ennis!

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Average Median Income

11

Number of Ennis Independent School District instructional facilities

2023 & 71st

Bluebonnet Trails Festival celebrated its 71st in April 2023

2023 & 56th

Ennis’ National Polka Festival celebrated its 56th in May 2023

1/4

Length in miles of drag races at Texas Motorplex

2

Number of Operating Stage Theaters

40

Miles of Bluebonnet Trails

DISCOVERNEWDOWNTOWNENNIS F or years the hopes of a city whose downtown was seriously damaged and, faced with the likelihood of never coming back, had a fresh vision born in the hearts of people. Pacing back and forth like a new father, the revitalization of the Bluebonnet City came to blooming life. Nearly 20,000 residents have witnessed the growth of new housing sectors and incoming businesses. They have sprung up along the I-45 corridor and in downtown, a mile west of the interstate.

May 13, 2013 was the date when 13 local twisters ravaged the area, including one that strolled down midtown toward the east on Ennis Avenue. Once the effects, which included the loss of vitality between McKinney and Main, had taken their toll, what rose from the collapsed heap of bricks was a new-found purpose. Ideas of rebuilding and restoring began to outnumber thoughts of vacating and starting over elsewhere.

Right in the middle of it all the Historical Society

helped foster a desire to parlay seeming defeat into a spirit of revival.

Even old buildings that had perhaps outlived their usefulness have seen investors step in to do much more than a face-lift. Work has been completed on Dallas Street, including a huge undertaking beneath the five blocks of North and South Dallas.

Minnie McDowal Park, formerly a theatre downtown, has been a huge benefactor. So have plans for new restaurants and night life, retail, offices, apartments and lofts, banking and a fenced in dog park at North Plaza. The city’s heartbeat is alive and well.

Festivals and wholesome events that fill the calendar make Ennis a growing destination for families. A multi-cultural mesh give credence to sustaining that life for years to come. Most of the venues bring thousands of people, and then there are the 40,000 that flock to Memorial Weekend’s National Polka Festival.

The magnetic appeal of Ennis is related directly to the vibrant life of this community. It’s alive, and contagious.

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