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Panola County’s name derives from ponola, the Cherokee word for “cotton.” The county itself covers 842 square miles filled with trees, hills, plains and the Sabine River.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love Lake Murvaul, situated in the southwestern portion of the county just off FM 1970; Martin Creek Lake, near Tatum; and the Toledo Bend in the very southeastern tip of the county. Lake Murvaul provides campgrounds and cabin rentals for those who plan on staying for a while.
Billy Bob’s Zipline provides family fun at their U.S. 79 location. Continue east on that road and then turn onto FM 1186, where a ways down you’ll find seasonal U-Pick fun and fresh fruit for sale at Panola Orchards. Every Christmas, families from all over Panola County travel to the Merket Christmas Tree farm in Beckville, on FM 1794, to find and cut down their own Christmas tree (Don’t worry; They can also cut a tree down for you). Daniel Springs Baptist Camp offers spiritual nourishment to its visitors, and just down the road on Lake Murvaul is the Pirtle Boy Scout Camp.
Historical can’t-miss spots include Trammel’s Trace, a trading route used first by Native Americans, on the very western edge of the county, and a still-standing International Boundary Marker that marks the border between the Republic of Texas and the United States. The boundary marker is located 100 feet off present FM 31 between Panola County and DeSoto Parish, Louisiana.
Stop off for lunch or dinner at Chuck’s Smoke House, a barbecue spot featured on Texas Monthly’s celebrated list, on FM 1970 or Fugler’s Feed Store, a down-home cooking mecca, also on FM 1970.
Kathy Bee sings in front of the Footprints in the Sand Monument during a special event in 2021. Photo by Stella Wieser
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