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WELCOMETOENNIS! Welcome to Ennis! Where the bluebonnet trails are plentiful in
April but the bluebonnet spirit lasts all year long. Our community is growing and we couldn’t be more excited to be the place where residents want to live. This year we celebrate our Sesquicentennial year - 150 years of culture, revitalization and tradition! Ennis has become quite the place to be and we look forward to the success our community will have with this direction of growth. When you visit, make sure you make a trip to our newly revitalized historic downtown where you will find the streets decorated with small businesses ranging in dining and shopping. Trees line Dallas Street and it is quite the scenic view. You can stop into our Bluebonnet Spirit Shop located at 204 W. Knox St. to shop official bluebonnet spirit apparel including hats, water bottles, bags, coffee mugs, and various festival shirts. On Saturdays you can enjoy our Bluebonnet Market featuring fresh produce, baked goods, local artisans, clothing and more. It is a local favorite and is nestled right on N. Dallas St. from 8am to noon April through October. There are also numerous attractions in Ennis either for this visit or next time you venture here. Watch a movie under the stars at the popular 7 screen drive-in theatre, the Galaxy Drive-In Theatre.
Witness a live play at Ennis Public Theatre or at Theatre Rocks. Feel the noise at the Texas Motorplex during an action packed drag race Erica Todd or throw it back with an old dirt track at City of Ennis Big O Speedway. Let your pooch stretch Communications & their legs at our Puppy Patch located Marketing Manager downtown at 302 N. Dallas St. Make sure you mark your calendars for these upcoming events like Cinco de Mayo Cultural Celebration happening on May 1 and our National Polka Festival taking place on Memorial Day Weekend. Both events are a cultural experience that are both family friendly and include tasty food and dancing! Other upcoming events are Blues on Main, June 11 and 12 featuring a health fair, live music and Sunday brunch. Main Street Midway, our beloved carnival is back on June 22 and will run until the 26th. Ring in our Independence with our Ennis Freedom Fest, a two part festival that begins in the morning downtown with the Red White & Bike parade then continuing on in the evening at Veterans Park with the LARGEST, free fireworks display in North Texas. You must be inside the park to see these amazing fireworks views! We round out the year with Autumn Daze with a month long downtown haymaze and festival on October 29 and 30. December will be no less exciting as we welcome the holiday season with the annual Lights of Ennis Parade and Block Party on December 1. Don’t forget to download our free mobile app, Ennis Y’all, where you will have access at your fingertips to everything you need to know while here and to plan your next visit back. Please stop by the Ennis Welcome Center to say hello, be greeted with a “Hey Y’all” and see the beautiful art exhibition that is displayed. The Welcome Center is located at 201 NW Main and can be reached at 972-878-4748. Visit us at www.visitennis.org. Welcome to Ennis Y’all!
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non Cox Courtesy Shan
Special thanks to the City of Ennis, Ennis Welcome Center, Ennis Main Street, Ennis Chamber of Commerce, and Ennis Independent School District. Additional images courtesy of the City of Ennis and other contributors. Cover image taken by Joanna Kuo. Discover Spring 2022 is a publication of The Ennis News. Features by Mark Warde and Randy Bigham. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. For more copies, contact us at The Ennis News or go online to www.ennisdailynews.com.
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TEXASBLUEBONNETCITY BLUEBONNET BLUEBONNETCITY T
he magnetic appeal to Ennis is as fresh as the annual blanket in blue, the April arrival of the bodacious and beautiful blue flower that captures the imagination. It remains the challenge of photographers to freeze-frame its glory. Designated the home of the “Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail” by the 1997 State Legislature, Ennis was later appropriated the “Official Bluebonnet City of Texas.” While others boast of their blooms, the bluebonnet spirit radiates here like nowhere else. The Ennis Garden Club is again showcasing over 40 miles of mapped Bluebonnet Trails for viewing. They are the oldest such trails known in the state, and tens of thousands of visitors make the trek to Ennis to behold this wonderful wildflower show. Garden Club members drive the trails to check their bloom status each week this season. They relay their reports to the Welcome Center (201 NW Main St.) so visitors can be well-informed about where the best flowers are located on the trails at the time of their visit. Each year the state flower appears on various trails, many of them fertilized and groomed while growing naturally and free. Bluebonnets typically peak around the middle of April, according to the Ennis Garden Club. This can vary year to year due to weather condi-
tions, so please check the visitennis.org and bluebonnettrail.org websites or call 972-878-4748 before your visit. The downtown Welcome Center is open seven days a week in April, except for Easter Sunday, April 17. A highlight of the Bluebonnet Trails month is the Bluebonnet Festival. It will be held April 8-10, 2022 in downtown. It too is sponsored by the Ennis Garden Club; who is celebrating their 70th year this spring. A year ago, the three-day venue drew over 30,000 people, with vendors, and entertainment for kids as well as a host of bands performed for great crowds. The 2022 Bluebonnet Trails Festival will play host to numerous live acts. Infinite Journey, a Journey tribute band, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, April 8, 2022. Saturday, April 9, 2022, also at 7:30 p.m., brings country musician Rick Trevino to the stage. Allan Conner, a Dallas native, will sing hits from the 40s-through-the-80s in the Great American Radio Songbook at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 10. There will also be a number of acts opening for the nightly headliners. This year’s festival promises to be one you don’t want to miss! Visit Ennis for the bluebonnets in April. Their beauty in person is well beyond what any photo can capture. Download the mobile app, Ennis Y’all, for the trail map and more.
Ennis Bluebonnet Trails April 1-30, 2022
Bluebonnet Trails Festival April 8-10, 2022
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BLUEBONNETMARKET B
ack by demand, the Bluebonnet Market, formerly known as the Ennis Farmers Market, opens for an eighth straight, seven-month season. It is held from 8 a.m. until noon on the renovated North Dallas Street. The future of Ennis brings a touch of yesteryear with a taste of the now in the Bluebonnet Market. Offices, lofts, businesses and restaurants have materialized, and more are on the way, all part of the city’s Main Street national program. One exciting element that remains is the downtown Bluebonnet Market. It has endured surrounding renovation work in recent years, with this being another uninterrupted season, dating back to April of 2014. It offers garden and farm fresh produce and food products picked and prepared daily. Now a fixture in town, on any given Saturday, April through October, an average foot traffic crowd of 500 or more will shop the market. Vendors provide a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, honey, meat, nuts, cottage and prepared food, clothing, crafts and interior products. Special events are scheduled, including cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts for children at Make It at the Market, exhibitions, kids’ activities and special music.
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ENNISCZECHHERITAGE The Czech experience extends beyond the Polka Fest to the
churches, civic groups and family-owned restaurants and other businesses that cater to life in Ennis. The Ennis News regularly features cultural and historical news items about Czech heritage. But the parade and accompanying activities and entertainment are the big attraction once May rolls around. The National Polka Festival® in Ennis celebrates years of Czech heritage from Friday through Sunday, May 27-29, 2022. Held annually on Memorial Day Weekend, the National Polka Festival offers activities for the whole family in the small town atmosphere of The Bluebonnet City. The festival kicks off with a dance on Friday, featuring polka music and the King and Queen Dance Contest, in which participants and audiences are encouraged to wear traditional Czech kroj (costumes). On Saturday morning, floats, bands and colorful costumes make up the famous parade that twists through historic downtown. The festivities include attractions for visitors of all
ages. Attendees can enjoy the music of polka bands on decorated floats or the sounds of the award winning Ennis High School Marching Band. The Shriners make their annual appearance, as well as celebrities, public officials, motorcyclists, horseback riders, clowns, kids and seniors. The Polkafest Run also returns in 2022. Visitors experience Czech traditions, religious customs and dancing throughout historic downtown and at three spacious, air conditioned halls (KJT, Sokol and SPJST). Attendees will enjoy a weekend of polka dancing, Czech foods, and numerous sensational live polka bands. Polka Festival guests can also experience authentic Czech cuisine at what has become the city’s largest festival. Today, Polka fans from across the country come to Ennis for Memorial Day weekend. Attendance continues growing, and by some counts, as many as 50,000 people come to town each year to enjoy events associated with the National Polka Festival. *Events are subject to change
National Polka Festival Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-29, 2022
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Museum and Library: Czech it out Ennis’ Czechoslovakian heritage is celebrated at the Sokol Hall Activity Center’s Czech Museum and Library. Exhibits include authentic Czech costumes, memorabilia, dolls, photographs, crystal and books. The museum and library is open during special events and by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call Liz Moucka at 972-765-3733.
KATOLICKA JEDNOTA TEXASKA SOCIETY NO. 35 Members: Approximately 1,250 Community Outreach & Activities:
KJT youth program, scholarships for KJT members who are graduating seniors
History:
KJT Society began so that Czech immigrants could bond with each other after coming to the United States. The Ennis chapter was founded in 1900. KJT began accepting women members in 1980. Although it started out as an exclusively Catholic organization, in 2008, KJT opened membership to all Christians.
SOKOL Members: Approximately 300 Community Outreach & Activities:
Sokol provides gymnastics and fitness classes for all, and a twirling program. Facilities can be used for community functions, weddings, and other parties.
History:
Sokol, which means falcon in Czech, was founded in 1862 in Prague, and brought to the United States by Czech immigrants to preserve their heritage. The Ennis unit was formed in 1908.
SPJST LODGE #25 Members: Approximately 700 Community Outreach & Activities:
SPJST #25 Youth Program; Scholarships for SPJST Members who are graduating seniors; SPJST Lodge #25 Bar open every Wednesday Night from 5pm-10pm; Kitchen/Dining Room, Bar, and Hall available for bookings for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holiday parties and special occasions. New Year’s Eve Party with live music featuring The Moravians and a Balloon Drop. Facebook / Instagram: @spjstennistx
History:
SPJST stands for Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas which translates to Slavonic Benefit Order of the State of Texas. SPJST Lodge #25 was established in 1897.
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THEATRELIVESHERE Bill Rhoten, artistic director, and Suzanne Rhoten, executive director, have teamed together for over 30 years and have been producing and directing in Ennis since 2002. Sense and Sensibility runs April 22, 23, 29, 30 and May 6, 7, all at 7:30 p.m., and two matinees, May 1, 7 at 2:30 p.m. They are holding another playwriting contest, which brings a cash reward to the winner as well as having the play performed at Theatre Rocks. Details are at theatrerocks.com/nationalplaywritingcompetition. Call 972-878-5126 or email Suzanne@TheatreRocks.com or their Facebook page for information.
Ennis is home to two local theater organizations, each presenting six productions a year on their respective stages. Ennis residents and those in the local area are exposed to some great shows at Ennis Public Theatre and Theatre Rocks! Plus, there are opportunities to audition to be part of a production. Ennis Public Theatre, an Ennis treasure
An extraordinary find in Ellis County is the live drama productions available year-round as delivered by the Ennis Public Theatre. With over a decade of plays under their belt, EPT produces superb live-entertainment at a reasonable cost. Part of the Main Street revitalization program in Ennis, EPT is located in their modern downtown digs at 113 N. Dallas St. The atmosphere and amenities are outstanding. The theatre delights audiences of all ages with laughout-loud comedies, heart-warming dramas, lively musicals and a fantastic Young Artists Program. Corsicana’s Pam Dudley is co-directing Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, May 12-22. A married tandem, Julie Mitchell and Markus Baldwin, serve as overall artistic directors. The theatre group is supported by a board of directors and a receptive community. For more information, a list of their shows as well as access to tickets can be found at www.ennispublictheatre. com or by calling 972-878-PLAY.
Theatre Rocks! under Rhotens’ leadership
Located near downtown at 505 NW Main St., Theatre Rocks! is a popular venue for live plays. An intimate, blackbox theatre with seating for 75, guarantees talent you’ll find at big productions. Shows are unique and well-performed featuring local amateurs working alongside well-trained actors. They have produced a number of well-known hits, from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams to Sam Shepard’s True West and 12 Angry Men. 10 - DISCOVER ENNIS SPRING 2022
CINCODEMAYO
CULTURALCELEBRATION The Cinco de Mayo Cultural Celebration
proved to be a huge hit in 2021. For the first time, the heart of downtown celebrated this unique, cultural holiday with a one day festival. Smiles, dancing and more decorated Knox and Dallas Streets and even with the celebration being postponed from the original scheduled date due to weather, the festival had an amazing amount of people in attendance. Last year’s entertainment featured local artists and musicians from the Metroplex. This year the plan is to take the celebration to the next level with more headlining entertainment. Local artists will still be involved as well as local food vendors and artisans. Mark your calendars for May 1st as this will continue to be a kick off to the month of May and a continuation of celebration for our Sesquicentennial year that you won’t want to miss.
MAY 1, 2022
FULLBLOOM
Enjoy the beautiful art installation, "Full
Bloom" by artist, Michele R. Gutlove, Design Studio GH, LLC. Photos by Zev B. Hoover, Design Studio GH, LLC. Located inside the Ennis Welcome Center, 201 NW Main St. DISCOVER ENNIS SPRING 2022 - 11
TEXASMOTORPLEX Texas Motorplex hosts a National Hot Rod Event each racing season which draws fans from across the globe.
The Texas Motorplex is known nationwide for being the host of the prestigious Texas Fall Nationals Stampede of Speed (Oct. 7-16, 2022) event each fall, but it’s also a year-round racing center, located about two miles west of Ennis. Events start in February and run through November, among them National Hot Rod Diesel Association events, Import Face Offs, car shows,
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and Fast Fridays. Fast Fridays give people a chance to take their own cars to the strip to give drag racing a try. It’s a way for people to legally satisfy their need for speed, and for a very reasonable fee. Anyone can head to the track and race unlimited times. Home of the world speed record of 333.95 mph, the Texas Motorplex is
considered one of the finest one-quarter mile drag racing facilities in the nation. Constructed in 1986 by Billy Meyer, the Texas Motorplex is known across the country as “the ultimate drag racing facility” both by drivers and the fans alike. The Motorplex hosts over 90 events each year, with 500,000 fans visiting the race track annually. Ennis welcomes the racers and race fans with open arms. If you are just visiting or planning to come back, be sure to get your hotel reservations early. Ennis is blessed with great lodging, and accommodations fill up as fast as a dragster on the strip.
FUNINJUNE
BLUESONMAIN&ENNISFREEDOMFEST
Saturday & Sunday, June 11-12, Blues on Main hits downtown Ennis, featuring live music and family fun for everyone! This annual event is sponsored by Unity in the Community.
Saturday, June 25, begins downtown with
the annual Red, White and Bike Parade. Come see hundreds of people in patriotic garb, showcasing their decorated rides. The festival then moves west to Veterans Park, 2301 Ennis Parkway, where families will find music, vendors and fun activities. 2022 Ennis Freedom Fest culminates with a spectacular fireworks display after sundown. *Events are subject to change
OLDTIMEFUN!
JUNE 22-26, 2022 A five-day carnival-ride event with some of the same attractions one might find at the Texas State Fair. Typically held annually at North Plaza in downtown Ennis.
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ENNISEVENTSCALENDAR April - October Bluebonnet Market (formerly the Farmers Market), 100 N Dallas St., Sat. 8am – noon April 1-30 Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, www.bluebonnettrail.org April 2 SPJST Annual Fundraiser, feat. live music, raffles and door prizes at SPJST Lodge, 1901 E. Ennis Ave. at 6pm. April 2 Don’t Mess with Texas Trash Off, www.KeepEnnisBeautiful.com April 8-10 Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival, www.bluebonnettrail.org May 1 Cinco de Mayo Cultural Celebration, downtown Ennis May 6 FFA Fundraiser Dinner, downtown Ennis May 27-29 National Polka Festival, www.nationalpolkafestival.com May 28 Polka Fest Run June - October Mornings at Minnie, family friendly entertainment at Minnie McDowal Park, 119 N. Dallas St., Saturdays at 10am June 11-12 Blues on Main, www.visitennis.org June 22-26 Main Street Midway, downtown Ennis June 25 Ennis Freedom Fest, www.visitennis.org
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July 15-16 October 1-31 October 8 October 7-16 October 29-30 November 26 December 1 December 3 December 1-31
Quilt Show hosted by Ellis County Quilters Guild, Sokol, 2622 Hwy 34, 10am - 4pm Hay Maze & Pumpkin Patch - FREE!, North Plaza Parking Lot, 302 N. Dallas St. Walk to End Alzheimer’s, downtown Ennis, www.act.alz.org Texas Fall Nationals Stampede of Speed, Texas Motorplex, www.nhra.com or www.texasmotorplex.com Ennis Autumn Daze Festival, www.visitennis.org Small Business Saturday, downtown Ennis, Saturday after Thanksgiving Lights of Ennis Parade & Block Party, downtown Ennis, (Thursday after Thanksgiving) Lucky’s Car Club Car Show & Toy Drive, downtown Ennis Lights of Ennis Events, downtown Ennis, include Cookies with Mrs. Claus, horse drawn carriage and wagon rides, Elf Seek & Find game, a giant snow hill, photo ops and more!
**Events are subject to change. Please confirm before driving long distances. Follow Visit Ennis, Texas AND Downtown Ennis TX on Facebook and Instagram. Download the mobile app Ennis Y’all. Visit the website www.VisitEnnis.org. Call 972-878-4748.
BY THE #’S
OFFICIALS CITY OF ENNIS
20,422
Census Bureau Est. Population in 2020 Angeline Juenemann Mayor
Jake Holland Mayor Pro-Tem
Rowdy Pruitt
Ward 1 Commissioner
Bruce Jones
Ward 2 Commissioner
39
Miles from Ennis to downtown Dallas
5
State Football Championships
32.6
Median household age Scott Hejny
Ward 3 Commissioner
Shirley Watson
Ward 4 Commissioner
Bill Honza
Ward 5 Commissioner
INFORMATION City of Ennis, 972-875-1234 Ennis Police Department, 972-875-4462 Ennis Fire Department / Ambulance Service, 972-875-3473 Ennis Fire Station #2, 972-875-6151 Ennis Fire Station #3, 972-895-3313 Ennis Regional Medical Center, 972-875-0900 Ennis Chamber of Commerce, 972-878-2625 Ennis Welcome Center, 972-878-4748 City of Ennis Economic Development, 972-878-4748 City of Ennis Health & Inspections, 972-878-6442 Ennis Independent School District, 972-872-7000 The Ennis News, 972-875-3801 Ennis Main Street Program, 972-878-4748 Ennis Public Library, 972-875-5360 Go to www.visitennis.org or download the ENNISY’ALL Ennis Municipal Airport, 972-875-4279 app for event times and dates. Ennis Cares, 972-695-3524 Do you need information for your visit? Go to www.visitennis.org, or contact the Ennis Chamber of Commerce at 972-878-2625 or www. ennis-chamber.com. Download the free mobile app, Ennis Y’all, for Ennis information and where to shop, stay, do and see!
74,642
Median family income in dollars
11
Number of Ennis Independent School District instructional facilities
2022 & 70th
Bluebonnet Trails Festival will celebrate its 70th in April 2022
1/4
Length in miles of drag races at Texas Motorplex
2
Number of Operating Stage Theaters
40
Miles of Bluebonnet Trails
ENNIS:HISTORYLIVESHERE The Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum is located on Northeast Main Street, along the railroad tracks, on Ennis Avenue. The City of Ennis was established as a town in 1872 and was named after Cornelius Ennis, director of the Houston & Texas Central (H&TC) Railroad. Much of its history can be found at the museum. Hours are TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays 1-4 p.m. Mondays are open only by appointment for group tours. Please call 972-8751901 or 972-878-4748 at least one week in advance for reservations. The museum is housed in a former Van Noy restaurant building built in 1915. The restaurant served customers from the 10 passenger trains a day that once stopped in Ennis. The yellow wood-frame building to the north of the museum served as the ticket office and baggage building after the original two-story depot was destroyed by fire in the late 1930s. Located to the south of the museum is the former Wells Fargo freight office. The City of Ennis acquired the museum building from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1991. In 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, a forerunner of the Southern Pacific Railroad, purchased 647 acres of land in Ellis County at a price of $5.00 per acre, establishing the line’s northern terminus. It was on June 8, 1872 that the site was established as the City of Ennis. Ennis was the banking and agricultural center of east Ellis County by the 1880s. Ennis National Bank, with capital of $100,000, held the title of the largest bank in the county in 1883. Many of the early settlers of this area were people from the East and South who were attracted by the rich Blackland Prairie soil, the railroad, and other business opportunities. In 1873, Jacob Shebasta, an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, was the first of many Eastern Europeans to make this area his home. Ennis retains a strong Czechoslovakian influence, and today is home to four Czech social halls as well as the annual National Polka Festival each May. In 1891, the Texas & New Orleans Railroad, a part of the Southern Pacific system, established a division point in Ennis, leading to the construction of shops and a roundhouse. The citizens of Ennis contributed $25,000, 90 acres of land, and a 43 acre lake toward the project. 16 - DISCOVER ENNIS SPRING 2022
A contract was drawn up stating that the railroad could not move its shops out of town as long as the City of Ennis was able to provide water for the railroad’s use. The railroad was the key to the development of Ennis as an agricultural, commercial, and later, an industrial center. According to early resident Joseph Baldridge, “If Ennis had not obtained the shops and the superintendent’s offices, it would have remained only a small agricultural center.” Ennis was able to successfully combine the natural resources of its rich farm land with the transportation advantages offered by the railroad. In May 1930, Ennis had become known as the place “Where Railroads and Cotton Fields Meet.” From its founding, various cultures have shaped the development of the City. In its earlier days, Ennis was a settlement town with a “wild west” reputation. At one time, the City had 13 saloons and six beer halls. The town also served as a stopping place for outlaw gangs including those of Cole Younger and Sam Bass; and the family of gunfighter John Wesley Hardin was among the city’s pioneers. Other cultures have also contributed to the history of Ennis. For example, Robert Martinez drove 3,200 head of cattle from Ennis to Montana along the Chisolm Trail in the late 19th century. Also, during the 1920s, Ennis resident Dr. Armour Rogers became one of the first practicing African American doctors in Ellis County. About our history: • The City of Ennis was established in 1872. • A record-making Texas League game with 8 homeruns was played in Ennis in 1902. • Author and educator Katie Daffan, the first woman to head a state agency in Texas, lived in Ennis. • In 1920 a total of 152,601 bales of cotton were ginned in Ellis County, the most of any county in America. • Ennis is known as the Bluebonnet City because of the springtime beauty and abundance of the state flower in and around the city. • U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, born in Ennis, posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in World War II. Lummus, a former Baylor University and New York Giants football star, was one of only two National Football League players to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, and he was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor in 2015.
ENNISCARES The Ennis CARES Program was born as a response to community needs identified during the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. Ennis C.A.R.E.S. serves our (C)ommunity by providing (A)ssistance and (R)esources, through (E)ngagement and (S)ervices while focusing on long term solutions for people and families in need. Ennis CARES serves as the resource hub for the City of Ennis, all while working alongside other agencies, organizations and churches, by providing charitable, benevolent, civic, educational, social and societal services to the community of Ennis to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. The Ennis CARES Program identifies a need in the community and looks for ways to address those needs. To date, the Ennis CARES Program has assisted with initiatives such as the Hurricane Laura Evacuation Center, Extreme Cold Weather Emergency Shelter, Emergency Water Distribution, COVID-19 Working Group, Ellis County Vaccination Hub, Ennis Vaccination Hub, Ellis County Mobile Vaccination Team (In-Home), Mobile Food Pantry Events, Community Thanksgiving Meal and Angel Tree Programs. The non-emergency Bluebonnet Call
Center serves the Ennis and Ennis ISD area and is a great resource to citizens needing help with running errands for the homebound, picking up a prescription, financial assistance with a bill, welfare checks, prayer or just someone to talk to. For assistance or information on how YOU can help those in need, call the Bluebonnet Call Center at 972-6953524 or email BBCC@ennistx.gov. We are here for YOU because
ENNIS LOVES YOU!
KEEPENNISBEAUTIFUL Keep Ennis Beautiful (KEB) is a City of Ennis affiliation with Keep Texas Beautiful. The mission of KEB is to cultivate community pride through volunteerism and education focused on creating a healthy, beautiful, and sustainable environment. Our goals are: 1. To inspire, initiate, plan, direct, and coordinate programs for litter control and prevention 2. To encourage the planting and preservation of trees, flowers, plants and shrubbery 3. To initiate programs that promote a cleaner, safer, healthier, and more beautiful community 4. To stimulate interest and action toward conservation of resources. In a nutshell ~ we dig in the dirt, we pick up trash, we try not to waste, and we encourage others to do the same. We believe that our words and our actions should create an environment that we can be proud of. Since its creation in 2018, KEB volunteers have put their love for our community in action by spending countless hours picking up litter, planting trees, and encouraging others to respect the planet and all of the organisms that we share it with. We ARE the change! Join us in making Ennis the most beautiful city in the great state of Texas.
For more information: www.KeepEnnisBeautiful.com 972-878-4748
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ENNIS ENNISVETERANS MEMORIAL Ennis Veterans Memorial Park, located at 2301 Ennis Pkwy, was dedicated to those who are serving, have served, and gave up their lives to protect American freedom. The Veterans Memorial monuments honor veterans from each 20th and 21st Century U.S. military conflict. In addition to the memorial site, there are three lighted competition football /soccer fields for league play and six youth soccer fields, available for use by reservation. There is also a building for concession and restroom facilities, a 0.4 mile of walking paths, picnic tables and a children’s playground. Veterans Memorial Park has been open to the public since August 2011, and many have enjoyed its recreational amenities since then. A salute in brick and mortar to the men and women of America’s Armed Forces, the memorial has been the backdrop for many local patriotic events. Vietnam War veteran Gerry Wright has referenced how the AO (Agent Orange) monument erected at the Ennis site inspired him in his work to change the law governing health coverage for AO survivors. The memorial is now known nationally due to his campaign to secure better medical care for fellow sufferers of AO. The memorial takes the form of a circular promenade with a centerpiece devoted to veterans and surrounding sections dedicated to specific conflicts, from World War I to the current War on Terror. The stewards of the Ennis Veterans Memorial are pleased to incorporate the Jack Lummus Memorial, formerly located on the grounds of the old Ennis Chamber of Commerce property, and the new ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ bronze monument, which represents such a well-known scene carried out on so many battlefields over the years, to the Memorial. “This Veterans Memorial has been blessed as Hallowed Ground, and therefore the City of Ennis and the Ennis Veterans Memorial Committee attempts to honor all Veterans of the past, present, and future with this premiere Veterans Memorial,” says Commandant Robert Bell, of the Ellis County Marine Corps League, and Ennis Veterans Memorial Committee member. For more information, contact City of Ennis Parks Department at 972-875-1234. 18 - DISCOVER ENNIS SPRING 2022
ROTARYPARK Located at 2300 Park Street, the former Jaycee Park has 35.5 acres and wraps around historic Old City Lake. It is the largest community park in Ennis and now has a cool, refreshing splash pad, which reopens in the spring. Another new feature is the outdoor National Fitness Center Fitness Court, the only one in Ellis County. Enjoy a game of pickleball or tennis at our outdoor courts or play some baseball on our practice diamonds.
Picnicking under one of multiple shaded gazebos around the playground is relaxing fun. The park, which now has restrooms, connects to the adjoining Kiwanis Park via the Ivan Goodwin Walking Trail. Watch for new, covered playgrounds, an extension of the Goodwin Trail, additional covered pavilions and lighted sand volleyball courts.
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LAKEBARDWELLRESERVOIR Ellis County is home to one of the largest
recreational facilities in North Texas – Lake Bardwell Reservoir. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in the county. Thousands of residents and tourists visit the 3,500-acre lake each year, enjoying fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, biking, and just about any other outdoor activity within and along its 25 miles of shoreline. It is more than 5 miles long and more than 1 mile wide at its largest point. Both the lake and surrounding campgrounds are maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which features a marina and several boat ramps. You can reach the marina at 972-646-5330. Camping reservations or additional information is available at 972-875-5711 or recreation.gov. Congress authorized construction of the reservoir of the Bardwell Reservoir on March 31, 1960. Construction began in September 1963. Impoundment of water at the lake, which provides flood control and conservation platform for area water, began in November 1965. It cost more than $12 million to build.
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Bardwell is known for its fishing, with bass, catfish and crappie the most-targeted catches.
FUN&GAMESGALORE • Bluebonnet Park: On Ennis Pkwy, west of Hwy 287, and follow the signs. Facility includes eight lighted ball fields, 10 acres of recreational open space, a two-acre fishing lake, and a 0.7-mile jogging path. Available for softball and baseball tournaments and attracts teams from all across the State. • Community theaters – Ennis Public Theatre, 113 N. Dallas St., 972-878-7529, www.ennispublictheatre.com, and Theatre Rocks!, 505 NW Main St., 972-878-5126, www. theatrerocks.com. See page 10 for more infomation. • Disc golf located adjacent to the dam on the south end of Lake Clark, at 3000 W. Ennis Ave. • Big O Speedway: Located east of Ennis, the facility offers dirt track racing on weekends March-October. • E.I.S.D. Tennis Center: 9 championship quality tennis courts (4 indoors), snack bar, and pro shop. • Lions Lanes – 2303 W. Ennis Ave. • Galaxy Drive-In Theatre features seven screens. • The Gameroom - 807 W. Lake Bardwell Dr., 469-881-1022 • Golf is open to the public at Red Oak Valley Golf Club in Red Oak and the Old Brickyard course in Ferris. • Highview Park at Lake Bardwell: Picnic and/or swim. This park requires a facility use fee per carload. For camping reservations, please call 972-875-5711 or go to recreation. gov. • Highview Marina at Lake Bardwell: 972-646-5330. • Lake Clark Park: Found on the west end of Baldridge Street, it is a perfect place to have a picnic, to fish, to play on the playground, or to take a walk with a lake view. Check out Kachina Prairie and the bison statue there. • Lions Park: Corner of Hall and Lampasas streets. • Meadow View Nature Area: 972-878-4748 for hours. • Minnie McDowal Park is a unique gathering spot for families located at 119 N. Dallas featuring a gazebo, art wall and water feature.
• Opry: Located in the old Bristol School, about 15 minutes east of Ennis, the Opry features local talent performing live on stage. The show goes on the fourth Saturday of each month at 7 p.m., except in December. The Bardwell Opry, located in the Bardwell Community Center, is every fifth Saturday. • Puppy Patch Dog Park: 302 N. Dallas St., is sure to be a favorite stop for the dog in your family! • Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum: 972-875-1901. • Rotary Park: 2300 Park St. At 35.5 acres, it is the largest community park in Ennis. Features a splash pad, National Fitness Center Fitness Court, pickleball/tennis courts, baseball practice diamond, gazebos, and playground. Connects to Kiwanis Park via 3/4 mile Ivan Goodwin Walking trail. Fishing allowed with proper license. See page 19 for more information. • Sugar Ridge Winery in Bristol offers local wines, a private tasting room, and reception area. • Texas Motorplex: 972-878-2641. • Veterans Memorial Park at 2301 Ennis Parkway features a veterans memorial and athletic fields. Youth soccer is a favorite. • Xtreme Raceway Park Ferris: Info on Facebook.
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DISCOVERNEWDOWNTOWNENNIS F or years the hopes of a city whose downtown was seriously damaged and, faced with the likelihood of never coming back, had a fresh vision born in the hearts of people. Pacing back and forth like a new father, the revitalization of the Bluebonnet City came to blooming life. Nearly 20,000 residents have witnessed the growth of new housing sectors and incoming businesses. They have sprung up along the I-45 corridor and in downtown, a mile west of the interstate. May 13, 2013 was the date when 13 local twisters ravaged the area, including one that strolled down midtown toward the east on Ennis Avenue. Once the effects, which included the loss of vitality between McKinney and Main, had taken their toll, what rose from the collapsed heap of bricks was a new-found purpose. Ideas of rebuilding and restoring began to outnumber thoughts of vacating and starting over elsewhere. Right in the middle of it all the Historical Society
helped foster a desire to parlay seeming defeat into a spirit of revival. Even old buildings that had perhaps outlived their usefulness have seen investors step in to do much more than a face-lift. Work has largely been completed on Dallas Street, including a huge undertaking beneath the five blocks of North and South Dallas. Minnie McDowal Park, formerly a theatre downtown, has been a huge benefactor. So have plans for new restaurants and night life, retail, offices, apartments and lofts, banking and a fenced in dog park at North Plaza. The city’s heartbeat is alive and well. Festivals and wholesome events that fill the calendar make Ennis a growing destination for families. A multicultural mesh give credence to sustaining that life for years to come. Most of the venues bring thousands of people, and then there are the 40,000 that flock to Memorial Weekend’s National Polka Festival. The magnetic appeal of Ennis is related directly to the vibrant life of this community. It’s alive, and contagious.
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