Located 5 miles North of Gilmer, TX on Hwy. 155. Gilmer is home of the nationally famous
Yamboree. Also features a historical museum, Cherokee Rose Festival, art, antiques, and
crafts shopping.
Property Description
TMTCs 1st Property was officially opened in July 2000 and has become one of the premiere
off-highway parks in the United States. BMRA is one of the largest projects principally using
the Recreational Trails Program Grant Process.
Some of BMRAs amenities include Full Shower and Bathroom facilities, pristine port-a-potties
throughout the property, on-site food vendor, a well marked trail system utilizing
unobtrusive trail signage designed by TMTC Board Member Bobby Beamer. These signs are
now being used at many off-road facilities including the Superlift ORV Park in Hot Springs,
AR.
This beautiful 1800 acre park located 5 miles north of Gilmer TX on highway 155 is a shining
example of what TMTC and its members and volunteers can accomplish. TMTC and BMRA
have been recognized by such organizations as Texas Parks & Wildlife, The Blue Ribbon
Coalition, Tread Lightly!, National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, The ATV Safety
Institute (ASI), American Motorcyclist Association, United Four Wheel Drive Association,
Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association, as well as many regional and state organizations.
Property Location
From Gilmer turn east onto Hwy 155 North (this is a stoplight). Go approx. 5 miles and as
you start to climb a hill look for a green sign on the left pointing to the right that says
"Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area". You have to watch for the turn off because it is at the
crest of the hill and you will miss it if you are not paying attention. This sign is directly across
the Hwy from the entrance. Turn right, go through the gate and up the hill.... you can't miss
it.
BMRA
6284 State Highway 155 N
Gilmer, TX 75645
(This is the "official" 911 address of the park.)
Surrounding Area - Gilmer, Texas, Upshur County
Nestled among the pine covered hills and lakes of Northeast Texas, Gilmer is the economic
center of Upshur County (population 33,986). Gilmer is located 120 miles east of Dallas, 225
miles north of Houston and 80 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. It is situated to provide
easy access to both Longview and Tyler. Gilmer is a community reflecting the values of
small town America with an eye toward a managed and progressive future. The area's
dual-based economy centers around industry and agriculture-beef, dairy, poultry and
timber. The majority of Gilmer's workforce is employed locally or in surrounding
communities.
Gilmer has a history closely entwined with the founding and early days of the Texas Republic
more than 100 years ago. First settled by white men about 1835, this area, which became
Upshur County a dozen years later, was filled with Cherokee Indians.
Gilmer's location was determined by a flood on Little Cypress Creek. First located near the
creek, residents decided to change locations because of frequent floods. On the day of the
election a flood kept voters north of the creek from getting to the polling place, so the south
side voters won.
Gilmer's first court was held on Cherokee Trace under a big oak tree. Judge Oran Roberts,
who later became a Texas governor, presided over this court a few years after the county
was established by the legislature in 1846. A historical marker now marks this site.
Gilmer was located in 1846. The county was named for United Stated Secretary of State
Able P. Upshur, and Gilmer was named for Capt. Thomas W. Gilmer, Navy Secretary. Both
were killed in 1844 when a new Naval gun exploded during a demonstration aboard the USS
Princeton on the Potomac.
In addition to becoming a leading trade center in Northeast Texas before the Civil War,
Gilmer became an educational center. In 1850 the Methodist Church organized a Male
Institute and a Female Institute. In 1858 the Gilmer Masonic Lodge took over the Women's
Institute, but the Civil War interrupted their plans for enlarging the school. After the war
Morgan Looney, a Mason and one of the greatest of the early Texas educators, came here
from Georgia and took over the Masonic School and established the Looney School. Two
governors, Charles Culberson and Oran M. Roberts, were graduates. There were many
other famous early Texas leaders who were students.
Gilmer has maintained a steady growth over the past years, but it was the discovery of the
East Texas Oil Field which kept residents from feeling the full blow of the depression of the
early thirties. On May 7, 1931, oil was found in the southeast portion of Upshur County,
giving the area a tremendous boost. A new Courthouse, the present one, was built in 1935,
with $200,000 cash. That portion of the original East Texas Oil Field in Upshur County is now
dying, but oil and gas have recently been discovered in other areas of the county, and many
new industries have come in to take the place of oil as our principal source of income.
Resource:http://www.gilmer-tx.com/
Local Phone Numbers & Emergency Information
Upshur County Chamber Of Commerce 903.843.2413
Box 854, 106 Buffalo Square, Gilmer TX 75644
Upshur County Sheriff 903.843.2541
Gladewater Police Dept. 903.237.1199
Upshur County Justice of the Peace 903.843.5023
Poison Control 800.764.7661
Fire Department 903.843.3225
Animal Control 903.237.4530
Ambulance 903.843.5641
City Hall 903.843.2552
Yamboree. Also features a historical museum, Cherokee Rose Festival, art, antiques, and
crafts shopping.
Property Description
TMTCs 1st Property was officially opened in July 2000 and has become one of the premiere
off-highway parks in the United States. BMRA is one of the largest projects principally using
the Recreational Trails Program Grant Process.
Some of BMRAs amenities include Full Shower and Bathroom facilities, pristine port-a-potties
throughout the property, on-site food vendor, a well marked trail system utilizing
unobtrusive trail signage designed by TMTC Board Member Bobby Beamer. These signs are
now being used at many off-road facilities including the Superlift ORV Park in Hot Springs,
AR.
This beautiful 1800 acre park located 5 miles north of Gilmer TX on highway 155 is a shining
example of what TMTC and its members and volunteers can accomplish. TMTC and BMRA
have been recognized by such organizations as Texas Parks & Wildlife, The Blue Ribbon
Coalition, Tread Lightly!, National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, The ATV Safety
Institute (ASI), American Motorcyclist Association, United Four Wheel Drive Association,
Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association, as well as many regional and state organizations.
Property Location
From Gilmer turn east onto Hwy 155 North (this is a stoplight). Go approx. 5 miles and as
you start to climb a hill look for a green sign on the left pointing to the right that says
"Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area". You have to watch for the turn off because it is at the
crest of the hill and you will miss it if you are not paying attention. This sign is directly across
the Hwy from the entrance. Turn right, go through the gate and up the hill.... you can't miss
it.
BMRA
6284 State Highway 155 N
Gilmer, TX 75645
(This is the "official" 911 address of the park.)
Surrounding Area - Gilmer, Texas, Upshur County
Nestled among the pine covered hills and lakes of Northeast Texas, Gilmer is the economic
center of Upshur County (population 33,986). Gilmer is located 120 miles east of Dallas, 225
miles north of Houston and 80 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. It is situated to provide
easy access to both Longview and Tyler. Gilmer is a community reflecting the values of
small town America with an eye toward a managed and progressive future. The area's
dual-based economy centers around industry and agriculture-beef, dairy, poultry and
timber. The majority of Gilmer's workforce is employed locally or in surrounding
communities.
Gilmer has a history closely entwined with the founding and early days of the Texas Republic
more than 100 years ago. First settled by white men about 1835, this area, which became
Upshur County a dozen years later, was filled with Cherokee Indians.
Gilmer's location was determined by a flood on Little Cypress Creek. First located near the
creek, residents decided to change locations because of frequent floods. On the day of the
election a flood kept voters north of the creek from getting to the polling place, so the south
side voters won.
Gilmer's first court was held on Cherokee Trace under a big oak tree. Judge Oran Roberts,
who later became a Texas governor, presided over this court a few years after the county
was established by the legislature in 1846. A historical marker now marks this site.
Gilmer was located in 1846. The county was named for United Stated Secretary of State
Able P. Upshur, and Gilmer was named for Capt. Thomas W. Gilmer, Navy Secretary. Both
were killed in 1844 when a new Naval gun exploded during a demonstration aboard the USS
Princeton on the Potomac.
In addition to becoming a leading trade center in Northeast Texas before the Civil War,
Gilmer became an educational center. In 1850 the Methodist Church organized a Male
Institute and a Female Institute. In 1858 the Gilmer Masonic Lodge took over the Women's
Institute, but the Civil War interrupted their plans for enlarging the school. After the war
Morgan Looney, a Mason and one of the greatest of the early Texas educators, came here
from Georgia and took over the Masonic School and established the Looney School. Two
governors, Charles Culberson and Oran M. Roberts, were graduates. There were many
other famous early Texas leaders who were students.
Gilmer has maintained a steady growth over the past years, but it was the discovery of the
East Texas Oil Field which kept residents from feeling the full blow of the depression of the
early thirties. On May 7, 1931, oil was found in the southeast portion of Upshur County,
giving the area a tremendous boost. A new Courthouse, the present one, was built in 1935,
with $200,000 cash. That portion of the original East Texas Oil Field in Upshur County is now
dying, but oil and gas have recently been discovered in other areas of the county, and many
new industries have come in to take the place of oil as our principal source of income.
Resource:http://www.gilmer-tx.com/
Local Phone Numbers & Emergency Information
Upshur County Chamber Of Commerce 903.843.2413
Box 854, 106 Buffalo Square, Gilmer TX 75644
Upshur County Sheriff 903.843.2541
Gladewater Police Dept. 903.237.1199
Upshur County Justice of the Peace 903.843.5023
Poison Control 800.764.7661
Fire Department 903.843.3225
Animal Control 903.237.4530
Ambulance 903.843.5641
City Hall 903.843.2552
Directions & Maps Hours of Operation Fee Structure Rules & Regulations Minors Policy Local Hotel Accommodations |
