OLD SNAVELY No. 1
If you’re wondering whether the oil derrick sitting in the middle of downtown Gladewater is getting ready to blow, don’t worry. The Old Snavely No. 1 you see today is only a replica. The actual gusher was located about a mile down the road. The big boom happened in 1931, ushering in an era of petro dollars that helped Gladewater rise to the top of the east Texas oil scene. A lot has changed for Gladewater since the first oil boom. Once known as the hub of the east Texas oil field, the city now considers itself the region’s antique capital and it has the shops to prove it. But Gladewater still celebrates its petroleum past with events like the East Texas Gusher Days, a big bass fishing tournament at Lake Gladewater, and the annual fundraiser Taste of the Oil Patch. And Gladewater embraces the present with their celebrations as well. The Annual Boat Parade and Fireworks, the Gladewater Round-up Rodeo, and the Gladewater Main Street Art Stroll are a few examples of this community’s enthusiasm for the modern age.
Related
Forest Trail Region
Gladewater Museum
116 W. Pacific Street Gladewater, TX 75647 (903) 845-7608 Website
Gladewater Museum116 W. Pacific Street
Gladewater, TX 75647
Lake Gladewater FM 2685
Gladewater, TX 75647