Lakes Trail Region

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Originally Bright Star, the town became Sulphur Springs in 1871, when entrepreneurs used nearby mineral springs to promote the place as a health resort. In 1894, the town got its own J. Riely Gordon-designed courthouse, a Romanesque Revival edifice almost identical to Gordon’s courthouse in Waxahachie. Restored and rededicated in 2002 through the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, the Hopkins County Courthouse rises above Heritage Square, a district of antique shops, restaurants, and specialty gift shops. A heritage museum just north of the square sits on the 11-acre site of an 1890s brick plant. The Hopkins County Museum and Heritage Park contains more than a dozen relocated historic houses, shops and mills. Hopkins County is one of the state’s top-producing dairy counties. That heritage is touted at the Southwest Dairy and Education Center. Housed in a modern, 10,000-square-foot, dairy-barn style complex, the center preserves the artifacts and memorabilia of the pre-electrification dairy industry. An old-fashioned soda fountain offers lunches, malts, milk shakes and sundaes.

Suphur Springs knows how to have fun with the many annual events that they host each year. Sulphur Springs is the home of the Texas State Champion Homemade Ice Cream Freezeoff, held each year on the second Saturday in June. The event has been featured on the Food Network's All-American Festivals segment. The Freezeoff is held in connection with the annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival and Hot Air Balloon Rally—our 53rd year! The World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest, in its 43rd year, has also been featured on All-American Festivals. On the third Saturday in September is the annual Hopkins County Fall Festival. Another event held in the Fall is the annual Fly-In at Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport. Over 250 private planes, experimental aircraft, and military aircraft regularly attend this event