Visiting The Area
Jasper Texas Area Guide
Jasper has a cozy, home town feel. And though still a modestly sized town, there’s no shortage of things to do or places to go when you stay at The Bird & Butterfly Inn. Whether a nature walk, a visit to the museum or dinner in town, you’re sure to find plenty of options when you stay with us.
The Jewel of the Forest
Jasper County was one of the original 23 counties at the creation of the Republic of Texas in 1836 and was originally settled around 1824. It’s seen many changes since then. Historically a major producer of lumber, you can still see logging trucks on the roads here daily.
However, the abundant natural beauty here makes it easy to see why Jasper is called “The Jewel of the Forest.” In addition to the tremendous beauty of the East Texas Piney Woods, in 1956, construction began on what is now the Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir, or as we call it, Sam Rayburn Lake. At a total length of over 19,000 feet, it covers a surface area of over 114,000 acres and is both the largest reservoir, and the largest man-made lake in Texas and it continues to be a top fishing destination for anglers.
A Butterfly & Bird Migration Route
Texas is a major flyway for many varieties of birds and butterflies and with Jasper having one of three major flyways, it’s a well-traveled route – so much so that in 2015, Governor Greg Abbot signed a declaration naming Jasper “the butterfly capital of Texas.”
Accordingly, Jasper is a proud host of the annual Butterfly Festival celebrating the migration of these magnificent insects. The City of Jasper is also home to the Butterfly House in the Butterfly Gardens at the Jasper Arboretum. Visitors to the Butterfly House learn about the migration and life cycle of these spectacular butterflies and these visits add to Jasper’s local economic prosperity.
Explore the Area
Lake Sam Rayburn
Lake Sam Rayburn is the largest lake in Texas at 114,500 acres. Lake Sam Rayburn was named the No. 1 bass fishing lake in the nation 2018 by Bassmasters.
The Butterfly Capital of Texas
Jasper is the Butterfly Capital of Texas as proclaimed by Governor Greg Abbott. Join our newsletter to stay updated on events such as the butterfly festival.
An Azaela City
Jasper is one of only 20 cities in the nation that is a recognized Azalea City by the Azalea Society of America.
Angelina National Forest
Jasper is home to two lakes, two rivers and the 153,180-acre Angelina National Forest, which makes it an outdoor recreation paradise with camping, fishing, hunting, boating, skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, biking and birding.
Festivals & Events
Jasper celebrates many festivals and events throughout the year, including the largest fireworks show within a 100-mile radius on the Fourth of July and the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Nature lovers
The Bird & Butterfly Inn offers abundant riverfront views and we think you’ll find that every spot is the perfect spot to spy a heron flying across the river, watch butterflies over the garden or just rock the afternoon away with a great book on our giant porch.
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