Images Tyler, TX: 2012

2012 | livability.com/tyler/tx ®

Tyler, Texas

Secondary Cvrlne Large live it up Fancy food, entertainment liven up the square

Business is Booming

Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead

Secondary coverline small Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead

Local economy flourishes

Main Coverline Coming Up Roses Goes Here

One-third of the nation’s roses are processed here Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead

sponsored by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

2012 edition | volume 7 ®

Tyler, Texas co nte nt s F e atu r e s 12 live it up

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Fancy food, entertainment liven up the square

16 Man, oh man Guys have many outdoor recreation options in Tyler

20 shopping is sweet Locally owned Tyler shops offer fun and trendy finds

24 Coming up roses One-third of the nation’s roses are processed here

28 Child’s play Tyler brings families and fun together

32 fruits of the vine Kiepersol Enterprises entertains Tyler’s tourists, locals alike

36 the crossroads of medicine Research and health care connect at UT’s Health Science Center at Tyler

38 Business is Booming Local economy flourishes

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2012 edition | volume 7 ÂŽ

Tyler, Texas

56 d e pa r tm e nt s 8 Almanac 42 Biz Briefs 44 Chamber Report 45 Economic Profile 46 Image Gallery 51 Health & Wellness 52 Arts & Culture 54 Sports & Recreation 56 Local Flavor 60 Education 63 Community Profile 66 Through the Lens

on the cover Chamblee’s Rose Nursery Photo by Antony Boshier

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tyler, texaS

Secondary cvrlne large live it up Fancy food, entertainment liven up the square

BuSineSS iS Booming

Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead

Secondary coverline Small Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead

Local economy flourishes

main coverline coming up roses goes Here

One-third of the nation’s roses are processed here Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead Cover Subhead

SponSored By tHe tyler area cHamBer of commerce

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T yler , Tex as editorial project Manager mitch Kline content Director Lisa battles Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Cary Estes, Melanie Hill, Melonee Hurt, Joe Morris, Jessica Mozo, Chris Russell Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams Graphic Designers Rachael Gerringer, Taylor nunley Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier color imaging technician Alison Hunter Integrated Media Manager Brandy Maddox Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing Kim HOlmberg V.P./business Development Charles Fitzgibbon V.p./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens v.p./Travel publishing Susan Chappell V.P./Sales Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman sales support Coordinator alex marks sales support project manager sara quint system administrator daniel cantrell Database Manager/IT Support Chandra Bradshaw Web creative director allison davis Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web designer II Richard stevens Web development lead Yamel Hall Web developer i nels noseworthy Web Account Manager Lauren Eubank Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Creative Services Director Christina Carden Creative Technology Analyst becca ary audience development Director deanna nelson Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

Images Tyler is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce 315 N. Broadway • Tyler, TX 75702 Phone: (903) 592-1661 • Fax: (903) 593-2746 tylertexas.com Visit Images Tyler online at livability.com/tyler/tx ©Copyright 2012 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

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Almanac

Welcome to Tyler An introduction to the area’s people, places and events

Early Birds Star Gazing New on the city’s science scene is the Center for Earth and Space Science Education.

The Center was constructed in 2011 to replace Hudnall Planetarium, which originally opened in 1963, and offers the public educational and entertainment programming in hands-on exhibits and a 40-foot domed theater. What used to be the planetarium’s dome is now the exhibit hall, where guests can interact and explore. The new center is twice as big as the old one, complete with a classroom and outdoor courtyard. The center is open Tuesday-Sunday.

Tyler wasn’t named the first Certified Retirement City in Texas for nothing.

Among the leading attractions: Tyler’s appealing climate, ambiance and convenient location. Also leading Tyler’s top 10 is the favorable cost of living, ranked 16th in the nation by Places Rated Special Millennium Edition. Seniors also are looking for outstanding medical care, and Tyler meets their needs unusually well with three major hospitals. Housing options range from independent living to assisted living homes, and a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment choices are available.

Have a Taste Stanley’s Famous Bar-B-Que Pit is a Tyler institution. One of the city’s oldest restaurants, Stanley’s serves its famous barbecue with a whole lot of local flavor. Family-owned and -operated for 50 years, the pit changed hands in 2000 when new owners Nick and Jen Pencis took over and revamped the place. The atmosphere now resembles a cross between a ‘50s diner and rustic lodge, complete with a new deck outside. But the quality of the food has remained the same, with Stanley’s continuing to serve barbecue favorites like brisket, sausage and classic pulled pork.

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Fast Facts n The Cotton Belt Railroad Depot, built in 1905, now houses Tyler Transit and a railroad memorabilia museum. n The city’s No. 1 tourist attraction is the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, with 38,000 rose bushes and more than 500 varieties.

Outdoor Delight At the Rose Rudman Walking Trails, the 2.5-mile-long, 8-foot-wide paths are great for running, biking and rollerblading. Trails constructed especially for hikers and bikers run throughout the area, and picnic areas and pavilions along the trail provide sporadic places to rest. The recreation area is also home to the Tyler Cancer Bell, dedicated in 2002. Located in the northeast corner of the trail, the bell was built to honor those affected by cancer, including patients, their family members and health-care professionals. The City of Tyler donated the land for the bell and pavilion, with additional donations provided by individuals.

Hear Them Roar Tyler is home to more than your usual cats and dogs. More than 40 big cats belong to the Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary started in 1995 for abused or neglected big cats.

Lions, tigers, leopards, bobcats and pumas are among the residents of the refuge, which gained national recognition in 2002 from a television show called Growing up Tiger. The show played on Animal Planet and documented two Tiger Creek cubs’ first year. As its reputation grew, so too did the refuge, continuously adding more space to accommodate more cats.

These spaces, referred to as “living resorts,” provide the best living environment attainable for captive felines.

n In 1985, the International Adopta-Highway movement originated in Tyler.

The first road adopted for cleanup purposes was a 2-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 69. n A historical marker designates the site of Camp Ford along U.S. Highway 271.

The camp was the largest Civil War prisoner of war compound west of the Mississippi River. n “The Singing Fisherman,” Johnny Horton, one of the most influential honky tonk and rockabilly singers of all time, was raised in Tyler. n Tyler has been named one of the country’s Top 10 Golf Cities by Livability.com.

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Tyler At A Glance Population (2010 Estimate) Smith County: 209,714 Tyler: 96,900 Location Tyler is in northeast Texas, about 90 miles east of Dallas and 90 miles west of Shreveport, La. Beginnings Tyler, named after President John Tyler, was officially incorporated in 1848. It is the county seat of Smith County and has the distinction of being the only city in America named for the 10th U.S. president.

For More Information Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce 315 N. Broadway Tyler, TX 75702 Phone: (903) 592-1661 Fax: (903) 593-2746 www.tylertexas.com

Touchdown Tyler

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The spotlight doesn’t seem to want to leave Tyler’s famous football player Earl Campbell, winner of the 43rd Heisman Memorial Trophy and 1991 inductee into the National Football League Hall of Fame. The famous running back’s other honors include a No. 1 draft pick by the Houston Oilers and the titles of both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in his first year. The accolades didn’t end with his football career. Years later Campbell found success in the barbecue business, with his meats and sauces distributed throughout Texas.

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New Chapel Hill

Noonday

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Whitehouse 155

Bullard

What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Tyler, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at livability.com/tyler/tx.

Room to Fly The Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is really taking off.

Served by two commercial passenger carriers, American Airlines and Continental Airlines, the airport continues to grow. It was announced last summer that the airport would receive an $8 million grant for improvements from the Federal Aviation Administration, the largest single grant Tyler has ever received from the FAA. The funding is projected to cover 95 percent of the cost of lengthening and improving one of the existing runways.

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Chinatown Unplugged performs at Rick’s on the Square.

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Live it Up Historic buildings, fancy food and live entertainment line the Tyler square

Story By Melonee Hurt Photography By antony boshier

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he City of Tyler, Texas, is so focused on enhancing its reputation as an entertaining and cultured place to live and work, it bought and restored an old theater and turned it into the town’s hottest live music venue.

Part of the Tyler 21 Master Plan, which calls for downtown Tyler to become an arts and culture district directed at bolstering private investment and revitalization, the city partnered with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and major donor The Genecov Group to raise more than $1 million to fund the purchase and renovation of the space.

Movies and Theater and Comedy – Oh My! The old Liberty Theater, a first-run movie theater dating back to the 1930s that had been shuttered for years, was purchased in 2008 and reopened in 2011.

The space is booked with everything from comedy, to live music, movies and theater.

Reopened as Liberty Hall, the venue is joined in Tyler’s downtown square by numerous restaurants that offer a complementary variety of food, drink and entertainment.

Jake’s Tyler, another renovated building, boasts exposed brick, a curved bar and rooftop patio. Jake’s menu, which includes lobster tails,

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Angus beef and fresh oysters, is topped off with an impressive wine list and an array of decadent desserts. The 125-year-old building that now houses Jake’s has been a gentlemen’s clothing store, a barbershop, a hotel, a mission, a theater and a jewelry store.

Rick’s on the Square is yet another option for an upscale dinner that won’t break the bank.

Fresh seafood tops the menu at Rick’s but the options don’t stop there. The venue offers live music on the weekends and 20,000 square feet of rentable space for private parties.

Options Off the Square Tyler’s nightlife options extend beyond the borders of the downtown square. Half Moon Grill and Saloon is an intimate, friendly bar with live music, a covered patio, above-average bar menu and a packed parking lot.

If you are looking outside the confines of a bar for live music, how about a grocery store? Fresh

by Brookshire’s massive patio stays booked on weekends with a wide variety of live music.

“We wanted Fresh to be a hub for the community, and having live music was a natural extension of that,” says selling marketing manager Myste Snow. “We offer great food and offer great entertainment that is familyfocused, casual and high quality.”

The Fresh live music lineup draws from the local pool of musicians in Tyler, but also from as far away as Austin and Dallas.

Another alternative to the bar scene is KE Cellars, the upscale wine store in Tyler’s French Quarter. The boutique winery has a tasting room, nightly music showcase and gift shop that sells wines from dozens of Texas wineries.

Clockwise from top right: Half Moon Grill and Saloon’s patio; Live music at Half Moon Grill and Saloon; The old Liberty Theater reopened in 2011 as Liberty Hall, an entertainment venue.

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Man, Oh Man Guys have many outdoor recreation options in Tyler Story By Kevin Litwin | Photography By antony boshier

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I

t’s hard to deny Tyler’s rugged appeal. This Texas town offers many outdoor recreation options that men, and women, find hard to pass up.

Even President George W. Bush spent time in Tyler in 2011 specifically to enjoy outdoor activities.

The 43rd U.S. President visited Tyler State Park to access the 13-mile mountain bike trail, considered among the best in the country.

“Tyler State Park is the No. 1 most utilized Texas Parks & Wildlife facility in the state, and President Bush had a great time there in 2011,” says Stephanie Rollings, director of the Tyler Parks & Recreation Department. “The park also has canoeing, kayaking and swimming opportunities that are amazing.”

The rustic park has campsites with screened

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shelters, access to water, electricity and sewer services. A seasonal grocery store on-site is stocked with fishing supplies, and offers canoe and fishing boat rentals and a concrete launching ramp with courtesy dock.

Wishing for Fishing Speaking of fishing, the city oversees a small lake next to Glass Recreation Center in north Tyler, and another in Faulkner Park in south Tyler.

“Both are heavily stocked each year with trout,” Rollings says. “Lake Tyler, Lake Fork and Lake Palestine are also popular fishing lakes, although not in the city limits. All the lakes have several fishing guide services that are easy to find via the Internet.”

Back to mountain biking trails: Tyler has a long

trail at Faulkner Park and a hike-and-bike trail that starts at Rose Rudman Park and goes to Southside Park, then all the way to Grande Boulevard.

“The Tyler Bicycle Club has also come up with an idea called Four Pedals of the Rose, which is four strong mountain bike trails in the four corners of Tyler,” Rollings says. “One is at Tyler State Park, one is at UT Tyler, another at Faulkner Park and then one trail currently nearing construction completion at Lindsey Park. Those trails are open to anyone tough enough to tackle them.”

If Golf is Your Bag For guys who like to golf, Tyler has 23 public and private courses within a short drive of the city limits.

Among the nicest private facilities are The Cascades

Country Club, Emerald Bay Club, Hollytree Country Club, The Challenge at Eagle’s Bluff and Willow Brook Country Club. The list of good public courses includes Hilltop Country Club, Peach Tree Golf Club and Arrowhead Golf Club. Arrowhead is an especially challenging layout from the back tees for big hitters, measuring more than 7,200 yards.

Tennis is a Hit “Tyler is also home to the Faulkner Tennis Center, which has eight lighted courts and an affordable ‘pay-to-play’ policy,” Rollings says.

“Yearly memberships are available for avid players, with prices at $125 for individuals and $250 for families. Many outdoor opportunities are available in Tyler – just get out there and enjoy them.”

From left: Mountain biking at Tyler State Park; Hollytree Country Club

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Shopping is

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Sweet

Locally owned Tyler shops offer fun and trendy finds

Story By Jessica Mozo | Photography By antony boshier

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eyond the mall and big box stores there’s a vast collection of locally owned shops in Tyler that retail connoisseurs couldn’t pass by.

Among the sweetest shopping spots in Tyler is the Sweet Gourmet, a charming gourmet food shop that draws customers in with a free sample of chocolate and keeps them coming back with exceptional customer service.

“We’re like an old-fashioned store from the ’50s, a time when you had to have great customer service to stay in business,” says Pam Gabriel, who quit her traveling sales job in 2005 and bought Sweet Gourmet.

“We offer cooking classes and complimentary gift wrapping, and people always say they love the smell of the store with all the chocolate and fresh-roasted coffee beans.”

You never know what you’ll find here, but you can bet it will be a tasty treat.

“Our store is half chocolate and candy, half gourmet foods and kitchen niceties,” Gabriel says. “The chocolate we sell is imported direct from Belgium and France, and we have about 20 feet of fabulous chocolates made in the U.S. by chocolatiers who are running their grandparents’ businesses – everything from pecan turtles and truffles to orange creams.”

A fun retro candy section from the ’60s features hard-to-find

sweets, including 60 different flavors of Jelly Bellies.

“We carry a lot of products you see on the Food Network – sauces, marinades, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, cake and scone mixes, syrups, beautiful jams and jellies, and marmalades,” Gabriel says.

“We have Sweet Gourmet signature products too, like our coffeecake, white queso and salsa. I love seeing people’s faces when they walk in and say the store reminds them of when they were kids.”

Independent Tyler Shops Other unusual shopping finds in Tyler include Karen Horton and Co., a combined gift shop and spa; Cole and Co., known for its fine jewelry, china and crystal; High Cotton, a trendy men’s clothing store; and Mary V’s By Shelby, which carries women’s apparel and accessories.

When Tyler women and girls need a special-occasion dress, one of the first places they often look is Spinout, a family-run women’s clothing store that has been serving Tyler since 1986. Owner Diane Bunker started Spinout as a paintyour-own T-shirt store 25 years ago, and it has evolved over the years into a sassy boutique carrying such designer names as Vera Bradley, Juicy Couture and Tory Burch.

Bunker says the secret to her long-lasting success has been to

Mary V’s by Shelby owner helping a customer

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change with the times.

“You can’t stay stagnant – fads are always changing,” says Bunker, who runs the store with the help of her two adult daughters, Sara Seeker and Donna Alfred. “I ask my customers what they drive to Dallas to find. We try to carry exclusive brands.”

Bunker always has an eye out for the latest fashion trends and does a lot of buying in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York. Many of Spinout’s customers began shopping there as teenagers, and now they are mothers bringing in their own children.

“Middle schoolers shop with us all the way up to fun, hip grandmas,” Bunker says. “We do a substantial amount of sales online now, so Tyler girls who go off to college can still browse what we have in and still have a link to Tyler.”

Bridgette’s and Harley’s of Tyler Bridgette’s is another Tyler store that caters to fashionable women. It opened its doors in 1992 and is still going strong almost 20 years later.

“The shopping experience at Bridgette’s starts with our customers, most of whom are already friends,” says Bridgette Manziel Hooper, owner of Bridgette’s.

“Our staff will hand-select merchandise especially for you that reflects your personality and style.”

Bridgette’s husband, Harley Dean Hooper, is also in the retail business. He owns Harley’s, the premier men’s clothing store in Tyler that has been thriving more than 30 years.

“Being raised in East Texas, I have never wanted to do business anywhere else,” Bridgette says. “I love the people here. I wouldn’t think of having a business anywhere but Tyler.”

From top: Spinout is a family-run women’s clothing store; Sweet Gourmet’s signature queso dip

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Coming Up

Roses Tyler processes one-third of the nation’s roses

Story By Jessica Mozo | Photography By antony boshier

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n Tyler, you might say business is blooming. Aptly named the Rose Capital of America, the city has enjoyed a highly successful rose industry since the 1920s, thanks to its sandy soil, year-round rainfall and moderate climate.

“At one time, Tyler was famous for growing peaches, but around the turn of the century, a pest called the San Jose scale destroyed most of the county’s peach crop,” says Craig Reiland, rose garden supervisor for the City of Tyler. “Soon people realized they could grow roses really well here, and Tyler began growing more than 60 percent of commercially grown roses in the country. We had the lion’s share of the market for quite a while.”

Tyler Municipal Rose Garden Today, visitors from around the world come to explore Tyler’s fascinating rose history at the Tyler Rose Museum. More than 100,000 people also visit Tyler’s Municipal Rose Garden every year. The largest

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municipally owned rose garden in the country, it spans 14 acres and has more than 32,000 rose bushes representing more than 600 varieties of roses.

“The garden peaks two times a year, at the end of April and again in mid-October,” Reiland says. “There are modern roses with beautiful blooms, miniatures, climbers and Earth-Kind roses. Many people use the city’s rose garden as a tool for learning to grow roses in their own yards.”

Texas Rose Festival Each October, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden acts as the backdrop for the city’s annual Texas Rose Festival, a glittering tradition since 1933 that features the coronation of the Rose Queen, the popular Queen’s Tea, the Texas Rose Festival Show and the highly anticipated Rose Festival Parade. The four-day festival, laced with Southern hospitality and elegance, attracts more than 80,000 visitors.

In 2010, Tyler created the first annual Rose Season

Mark Chamblee at Chamblee’s Rose Nursery has been selling roses since 1982.

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By Bythe Numbers the Numbers

1920s When Tyler’s successful rose industry began

600+ Varieties of roses represented at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden

80,000+ Number of people a year who visit the Texas Rose Festival

$2 million Amount of money generated from Rose Season

in response to requests from residents and visitors for more activities surrounding the Texas Rose Festival.

The Rose Season lasts nearly the whole month of October and includes abundant activities, including wine tastings, concerts, cooking classes, museum tours, a marathon, rose garden tours and more. Rose Season pumps an estimated $2 million into the local economy.

Tyler Rose Growers At least 10 rose growers and nurseries continue to thrive in Tyler, shipping roses all over the country and beyond.

Chamblee’s Rose Nursery offers group tours, and has been in business since 1953. Chamblee’s grows more than 300 varieties of roses, which it sells both retail and wholesale.

“Both of my grandfathers grew roses, but I had planned a career in the medical field,” says Mark Chamblee, third-generation owner of Chamblee’s Rose Nursery. “While working my way through college, I changed career plans and decided to work in the rose business. I bought it from my dad in 1982.”

Chamblee’s roses are container-grown, although several commercial field growers still exist in East Texas.

“There are several large rose processing and production companies in the Tyler area – it is a very important part of our economy,” Chamblee says. “My favorite varieties are the disease-resistant ones such as Earth-Kind varieties. I love being around friends and

associates I have met over the years while growing beautiful roses.”

Keep Tyler Rosey Campaign To ensure Tyler’s rosy reputation lasts for generations to come, the City of Tyler and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce launched a new initiative called Keep Tyler Rosey in August 2011. The initiative encourages local businesses to creatively showcase the rose in any manner they prefer, whether it’s planting roses in landscaping, decorating with rose arrangements, using roses on printed materials or displaying photos of local rose gardens.

“Today, roses are not grown in the quantities they were at one time, but about one-third of the nation’s roses are still processed in Tyler,” says Kim Morris, marketing and communications specialist for the Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Roses are a key element to Tyler’s history and culture. They are what really put this East Texas town on the map. Keep Tyler Rosey is an effort to encourage the community to remember the flower that brings floods of tourists to Tyler every year and embrace that image within their business.”

Morris enjoys living and working in Tyler because of its supportive community and courteous, helpful people.

“We have great attractions and plenty of shopping,” she adds. “Not to mention the beauty surrounding Tyler. There are beautiful parks everywhere. Tyler is a community to be desired.”

Left: Morgan Elizabeth Rippy, queen of the 2011 Rose Festival

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Child’s Play Tyler brings families and fun together Story By Chris Russell | Photography By ANTONY BOSHIER

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yler, Texas, is a place where the family can have some serious fun, with literally dozens of entertainment options. Here’s a look at three of the best places for kids.

Caldwell Zoo At Caldwell Zoo, families can check out 85 acres of wilderness where 2,000 animals from the Americas and Africa roam in multispecies environments carefully constructed to resemble their own natural habitats. Several educational opportunities, such as scavenger hunts and day camps, are designed to further teach youngsters about various animals and their environments. Not the least of those programs is the zoo’s Scouts FunShops program for Boy and Girl Scouts.

“Each of the FunShops allows the Cub Scout or Girl Scout to work on a specific badge or achievement that is related to the wildlife here at the zoo,” says Linda

Kunze, education curator.

“We offer some Girl Scout badges related to plants, also.

We thoroughly enjoy having the scouts come to the zoo, and they in turn have a great time learning more about animals or plants with the real thing close by.”

Caldwell Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 1 through Labor Day. From Labor Day until February, hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The zoo is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Discovery Science Place The Discovery Science Place gets kids’ minds going through entertaining, hands-on exercises and exhibits.

“We have so many great attractions at Discovery Science Place. Our Discovery Landing gallery features Discovery Mountain, where kids can journey inside a cave to find fossils, an ‘earthquake,’ and much more,” says Emily Keane, education l i va b i l i t y. co m / t y l e r / t x

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manager for DSP. That’s just the beginning.

The brand-new robotics exhibit lets kids practice manipulating a robotic arm, and learn how robotics are used in the field of medicine. If they are feeling adventurous, they can head over to Discovery Zone to design, build and test out their own structure, car or aircraft.

Toddlers have their own play area, the Little Ones Lagoon.

DSP also hosts traveling exhibits throughout the year. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday. The Discovery Science Place is closed on all major holidays and Mondays from September through February.

The Water Park @ The Villages At The Water Park @ The Villages, fun on the water has been taken to a new level.

Located at Silverleaf’s The Villages Resort on Lake Palestine, this 25,000-square-foot indoor water park opened in 2008. It features a lazy river and whirlpool for tubes, four three-story water slides and a Forest Ranger children’s playscape that contains a 10,000-gallon bucket dump and three smaller body slides for kids.

Fun is the biggest feature at The Water Park @ The Villages, but it’s not the only one. The park also offers lounge areas, casual dining options and changing areas for men and women with lockers, showers and restrooms.

The Water Park @ The Villages is open for spring break and summer daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. From September to May, hours are Wednesday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Clockwise from top left: Children watch golf balls spin around a motion disk at the Discovery Science Place; Elephants at Caldwell Zoo; A slide at The Water Park @ The Villages

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Fruits of the Vine Kiepersol enterprises entertains Tyler’s tourists, locals alike

Story By Joe Morris Photography By antony boshier

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hen Pierre de Wet and his family relocated to Tyler in 1985, he did what his family in South Africa had been doing for generations: He farmed.

That was successful, but when he added grape vines into the mix a few years later, he created some buzz.

Most everybody thought his success would be limited, but flash forward a few years and take a look at what a few acres of grapes have become. The vineyard is now part of Kiepersol Enterprises, a multiacre complex that includes a winery, restaurant, bed-and-breakfast, events center, recording studio and more. And if de Wet has anything to say about it, that expansion is going to keep right on going.

“We are a farming family in today’s environment, so we have to be totally integrated in what we do to make a living,” de Wet says. “We started with the vineyard, and when the fruit began to be ready we got the permit for the winery. Then we thought people might want to stay and eat, so we built the B&B and the restaurant.

Now we have more, so we can bring more people here.”

Bushman’s Winery and Celebration Center Kiepersol’s growth has included such out-of-the-box thinking as building KE Bushman’s Winery and Celebration Center, which is used for concerts, Above: A technician at Kiepersol Enterprises inspects a glass of wine.

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receptions, business retreats and more, and Studio 333, a state-of-the-art digital recording studio that de Wet says offers just as much expertise as anything to be found in Nashville or other major recording centers.

On the food and beverage front, Kiepersol Estates Winery anchors a 60-acre estate producing red and white wines. The estate’s vintages have helped put Texas wines on the map, and can be sampled at Kiepersol Estates Restaurant, a choice steakhouse that gets rave reviews, and also purchased through KE Cellars, with two locations in Tyler where these Texas-made wines are available by the bottle.

KE Bed & Breakfast, Bushman’s Camp RV Park Guests who wish to stay overnight can hunker down at the Kiepersol Estates Bed & Breakfast, or pitch their own tent at KE Bushman’s Camp RV Park. And if they want to stay longer, the estate is branching out

into real estate development: The Vines are garden homes tucked into the vineyards, while Katima is a neighborhood being developed near Bullard.

It’s a lot of growth in a relatively short time, and de Wet credits Tyler itself for helping his family succeed in its many business ventures. In fact, he says, the two mirror each other.

“Tyler has grown, but also has kept its identity; we have done the same,” he says. “It’s a wonderful environment to live in. Now we are just going to keep bringing in wonderful musicians and events, produce good wine and see how we can grow and change with all of that going on. Our wines can compete with the best of the world, and Tyler can compete the same way as a destination for people to visit, or a community where they want to come and live. We are all Texas proud.”

Red and white wines are produced on a 60-acre estate.

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Tyler

The Crossroads of

Medicine

Research and health care connect at UT’s Health Science Center at Tyler

Story By Melanie Hill | Photography By Antony Boshier

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rom community clinics to cutting-edge research, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has it all. The only academic medical institution and health science center in East Texas, UTHSCT operates more than 20 outpatient clinics, a 109-bed hospital and an emergency care center. UTHSCT also provides research, residency and graduate programs, and nursing and medical education.

“With insights gained from our innovative biomedical research and comprehensive medical education programs, we have a unique perspective that enables us to provide excellent patient care,” says UTHSCT president Kirk A. Calhoun, M.D. Health Care With History Long before 614 acres in northeast Texas became UT’s Health Science Center, the site was home to Camp Fannin, a World War II training base for more than 100,000 infantrymen. A prisoner-of-war camp and a 1,074-bed camp hospital also forged Camp Fannin’s legacy. The property later housed the East Texas Tuberculosis Sanatorium, and in 1971 it became the East Texas Chest Hospital. In 1977 the institution joined the University of Texas System and today welcomes some 164,000 patient visits and 2,400 inpatient admissions each year.

The Science Behind UTHSCT The UT Health Science Center at Tyler offers education and treatment for multiple areas of specialty care. Its commitment to pulmonary and heart disease, however, has earned the center national recognition.

HealthGrades recently ranked UTHSCT among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation for pulmonary care. And in 2010, UTHSCT received HealthGrade’s Pulmonary Care Excellence Award and a five-star rating for treatment of pneumonia and chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease.

“A number of important research findings have come from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, including new treatments for the flu and for scarred lungs, as well as new approaches to prevent wheezing and asthma,” says UTHSCT vice president for research Steven Idell, M.D. “In addition, new therapies for very severe diseases that attack the lungs were developed here.”

By the Numbers In fiscal year 2010, UTHSCT scientists were awarded $14.2 million in research funds to investigate lung disease, cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes and aging.

Nearly half the funds awarded were from the National Institutes of Health, the premier U.S. funding agency for biomedical research. The center employs 800 faculty and staff, maintains an annual operating budget of $125 million, and boasts a major economic impact of more than $287 million on the northeast Texas region.

Growth at UTHSCT In 2011, UT’s Health Science Center opened Phase 1 of its state-of-the-art Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center, integrating cancer care with teaching and research.

“The Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center is a patient-centered, state-of-the-art facility that offers both chemotherapy and radiation treatment in one location, within a short walk of each other,” Calhoun says.

The cancer center is located within UTHSCT’s new Academic Center, attached to the main complex.

Once complete, the 85,000-square-foot, three-story Academic Center will include classrooms to support medical residencies, continuing education and future undergraduate and graduate degree programs; a spacious auditorium with theater seating; and a new Watson W. Wise Medical Library. l i va b i l i t y. co m / t y l e r / t x

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Business

Business is Booming tyler boasts surviving economy, public and private partnerships

Story By Melonee Hurt Photography By Antony Boshier

What’s Online Learn more about Tyler’s business climate at livability.com/tyler/tx.

T

yler, Texas, has concocted the perfect recipe for the ultimate business climate. This quiet, yet booming, community between Dallas and Shreveport has had equal parts low unemployment, interstate access, Internet services, low costs of living and a solid existing business base.

Mix those with an active economic development council that works on behalf of businesses looking to establish roots or relocate to Tyler, a chamber of commerce that bolsters existing business and recruits new business from Mexico, and a regional airport with multiple daily flights to neighboring cities, and one would be hardpressed to find a reason not to set up shop in Tyler.

Size Matters Tom Mullins, president and CEO of the Tyler Economic Development Council, says the city’s size is probably one of Tyler’s biggest selling points. With a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) of about 220,000, the area is big enough, but not too big.

“It’s just a nice-sized city,” Mullins says.

“We have a lot of variety. The cost of living

is lower than the national average, we have a four-seasons climate and we have some older, beautifully kept neighborhoods.

Tyler has a Southern charm to it and people are attracted to that.”

Rea Boudreaux, an engineer with Brannon Corp., was born and raised in Tyler and says it’s a great place to do business because it’s such a great place to live.

“My company does business all over the U.S., so we could live anywhere,” he says. “But we want to be in Tyler because that’s where we want to live. I don’t want to deal with cold, hurricanes or earthquakes.

Here, I like the school systems and the property tax is low. The city feels like a small city, but has advantages of living in Houston or Dallas – without the daily commutes.”

Follow the Leaders A number of large companies including Target Corp. and Brookshire Grocery Company have brought regional distribution hubs to the area, employing thousands of locals.

Price Arredondo, director of the Tyler

(Right to left) Bryan Ziegler, Rea Boudreaux and Kirk Bynum inspect plans for a runway at Brannon Corp., a civil engineering firm based out of Tyler.

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Tyler

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Tyler’s Largest Convention Hotel Our Hotel Offers: • 183 finely appointed guest rooms and suites • Two concierge levels for VIP guests • Outdoor saltwater pool, sun deck • Exercise room with nautilus equipment • Over 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space • Full-service restaurant and lounge with nightly entertainment • On-site guest laundry facilities • Complimentary high-speed Internet • Business center and ATM in lobby Our Rooms Offer: • Clean, crisp comfortable bedding with choice of pillows • Large work desk with ergonomic chair • 32” flat-screen TVs with premium movie channels • In-room iron/board and hair dryers, coffee makers • Upgraded bathroom amenities • Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet

5701 South Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75703 (903) 561-5800 Fax: (903) 561-9916

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Tyler

Please contact our Sales Department for more information or group rates.

For reservation, please call (800) HOLIDAY or visit us online at www.holidayinn.com/tylertx

Area Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Business Service Office, says his group also actively recruits new business from Mexico.

“We have seen a lot of influx of investment and individuals who want to expand their business to Texas or purchase a business here,” he says. “We established a Sister Cities program and work with the governor’s office in Mexico City.”

Mullins says the area is supported by a strong regional economy that includes a plentiful higher education sector and a medical sector. It is becoming known as a technology center, with companies like Suddenlink, an Internet service provider that employs more than 1,200 people.

Extra Incentives Can’t Hurt Over the last 20 years, TEDC has worked on 67 projects that helped retain or expand primary jobs and/or investment in Tyler and Smith counties. These projects have created 4,232 new jobs, retained 9,770 jobs and created $388 million in new investment.

By creating incentives such as tax abatements, low-interest loans and land

incentives, TEDC is able to sweeten Tyler as a top-tier place to do business for new businesses and keep it sweet for established ones. Swann’s Furniture, for example, has been doing business in Tyler since 1895.

The family business has outgrown spaces and relocated within Tyler multiple times, leaving the downtown area only because it lacked warehousing space.

Another company deeply rooted in Tyler is John Soules Foods, a nationally recognized food processing and marketing company that opened here in 1975 in a 2,000-square-foot facility. Today, the company has expanded to 250,000 square feet.

Mullins says many states offer either a high cost of doing business with some added incentives and others may have a lower cost of business with no incentives.

“In Texas we do both, and it has worked to our advantage,” he says. “We also have one of the lowest city tax rates in our population for the entire state. Tyler has been investing millions every year in upgrading infrastructure – and it shows.”

“Tyler has a Southern charm to it and people are attracted to that.”

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Business

Biz Briefs Businesses – both large and small – that help define Tyler’s economic climate

Scorecard Business At A Glance

$2.7 billion Annual Retail Sales

$27,778 Retail Sales per Capita

$274 million Annual Hotel and Food Sales

11,048 Total Number of Firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

Sweet Gourmet Biz: Candy and specialty food boutique Buzz: Sweet Gourmet features gourmet chocolates, roasted coffee beans and food items from all over the world, including jams, jellies, sauces, marinades and more.

An experienced and well-trained staff is available to answer questions, and events such as cooking lessons are also offered at the shop. www.sweetgourmetonline.com 42

Tyler

Swann’s Furniture Biz: Furniture gallery and store Buzz: In 1895, T.E. Swann founded Swann’s Furniture in Tyler. Since then, the business has remained in the Swann family, and has continued to grow. Furniture for each room in the home is available, as well as rugs, upholstery and other accessories. Swann’s Furniture also provides a design staff to assist with décor, floor plan layouts and budget preparation. www.swanns.com Mentoring Minds Biz: Educational resource provider Buzz: Created by former Douglas Elementary School administrator Michael L. Lujan, M.Ed., and his wife Lisa, Mentoring Minds offers educational materials, such as classroom management tools and critical thinking strategy guides.

The Lujans were named Texas Small Business Persons of the Year in 2011 by the Small Business Administration. www.mentoringminds.com Henry & Peters P.C. Biz: Public accounting firm Buzz: Henry & Peters P.C. has been providing tax, audit and advisory services since 1929. The firm specializes in industry-specific consulting, accounting services, estate planning and more. Henry & Peters P.C. also gives back to the community by supporting local organizations, and was named the Large Business of the Year by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. www.henrypeters.com Downtown Coffee Lounge Biz: Coffee shop Buzz: Tyler’s Downtown Coffee Lounge offers a variety of warm and chilled beverages, including cappuccinos, espresso drinks, lattes and smoothies, as well as breakfast and lunch foods. Customers can enjoy menu items such as seafood gumbo, chicken casserole, fresh salads and other dishes. Cookies, cobblers, cakes and other desserts and pastries are also available. www.downtowncoffeelounge.com

First Presbyterian Church Pastor: Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin Worship Sun. 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Church School Sun. 9:30 a.m.

Rooted in a compassionate faith

Contemplative Communion Wed. 5:30 p.m.

230 W. Rusk St. Tyler, Texas 75701 In the heart of Tyler’s Azalea, Brick Streets and Charnwood Historic Districts Voice: (903) 597-6317 www.fpctyler.com church@fpctyler.com

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Business

Chamber Report Chamber rebrands city for marketing purposes

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lower nurseries in Tyler produce 33 percent of all commercial rose bushes sold in the nation, which is why the city has long been known as the Rose Capital of the United States.

But to further market itself to attract a diversity of industries, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce recently embarked on a rebranding

campaign and came up with a new slogan: A Natural Beauty.

“I’ve been here more than 20 years and it’s the third rebranding the chamber has been through, to update ourselves and adjust to the times,” says Henry Bell, chamber chief operating officer.

“We changed our logo a bit this time but still kept the rose icon,

since commercial roses have been – and still are – a vital component of our local economy.”

Bell says branding Tyler as a natural beauty can have a broad meaning, and the slogan could be attractive to a variety of industries and businesses looking to locate in a city that has a good quality of life.

“It’s a different marketing world out there, and this is one of many efforts the chamber has in place to help our community grow,” Bell says. “People in Tyler didn’t want to give up the rose as our identity, so the chamber modified and tweaked the rose for our style guides and other publications. We feel that the upgraded logo and ‘A Natural Beauty’ make us look more up-to-date and professional.”

Fax Machine to Facebook Bell adds that the chamber has also made an effort to embrace social media, to the point of hiring a communications specialist to develop that program. The chamber is using Twitter and YouTube and posts a weekly newsletter every Friday at 10 a.m.

“We also have a Facebook page that has more than 1,650 likes,” he says. “When I first started at the Tyler Area chamber, we were happy when we bought a fax machine – and nobody on our staff had a computer. Now we’re a friend to Facebook. Times change fast, and we’re trying to keep up.”

– Kevin Litwin

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6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1

3/22/10 11:40:09 AM

economic profile economic overview Tyler is considered the advanced manufacturing, health care, educational and retail center of East Texas. Tyler offers companies a quality, centrally located, middle-market location with many of the advantages of a major market. Tyler is part of the Tyler MSA, which includes all of Smith County, Texas.

East Texas Medical Center 3,725 employees

education

Brookshire Grocery Company 2,524 employees

9%

Tyler Independent School District 2,464 employees

Associate Degree

Wal-Mart 1,711 employees

Bachelor’s Degree

Taxes

The Trane Co. 1,575 employees

The city of Tyler has the lowest property tax rate of all mid-size cities in Texas.

Suddenlink 1,197 employees

Residents pay $0.2089 per $100 of assessed value.

UT Health Center at Tyler 849 employees

9.6% Graduate Degree

Economic Resources

Tyler Junior College 786 employees

Tyler Economic

Sales Tax

Smith County 775 employees

315 N. Broadway Ave.

income

City of Tyler 761 employees

(903) 593-2004

$25,233

Transportation

Tyler Area Chamber 315 N. Broadway Ave.

$48,199

Tyler Transit System www.cityoftyler.org/Admin/ Tabs/tabid/104/Default.aspx Service hours are Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Night service is available with advanced scheduling. Tyler’s fixed route buses are also equipped with racks for bicycle transport.

(800) 235-5712

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport 700 Skyway Blvd.

Tyler, TX 75704 (903) 531-2343 www.cityoftyler.org/?TabId=78

(877) 833-9638

8.25%

Average Annual Household Income

workforce

92.2%

Employment Rate

49,871

Total Workforce

major employers Trinity Mother Frances 3,884 employees

Development Council Tyler, TX 75701 www.tedc.org

of Commerce

Per Capita Income

19.4%

Union Pacific Railroad (281) 350-7302 www.up.com

Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 592-1661 www.tylertexas.com Texas Engineering Extension Service 301 Tarrow College Station, TX 77840 (979) 458-6800 www.teex.org

Industrial Sites Tyler Industrial/Business Park www.tedc.org

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See The City

Lake Tyler State Park Photo by Antony Boshier

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Tyler

The Cascades Photo by Antony Boshier

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See The City

Tyler Rose Museum Photo by Todd Bennett

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Tyler

Todd Bennett

Antony Boshier

Health & Wellness

From left: East Texas Medical Center; Trinity Mother Frances Hospital

A Host of Healthy Options Tyler conveniently meets East Texas’ health-care needs

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yler is home to two full-service facilities that are also the top employers in the area, East Texas Medical Center and Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, as well as smaller health-care providers. As a result, East Texas residents can enjoy quality care close to home.

East Texas Medical Center ETMC has 454 beds and a Level I trauma center. The hospital has institutes dedicated to cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, orthopedic and urology, as well as a kidney transplant program and a behavioral health center.

In the 1980s, ETMC began developing formal referring relationships with hospitals in other East Texas communities. ETMC now has 11 affiliate hospitals outside of Tyler. All told, the ETMC Regional Health Care System sees more than 300,000 patients a year.

explosion, that killed nearly 300 people and injured hundreds more, pressed the hospital into immediate action.

Trinity currently has 404 beds and is a Level II trauma center.

In addition to centers focusing on cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders, Trinity offers a variety of specialized services, from sports medicine and reconstructive surgery to long-term care for the acutely ill.

University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler is a smaller facility (109 beds) with specialties in such areas as cystic fibrosis, sleep disorders, infectious diseases and rheumatology. Since 1977, the facility has been a component of the University of Texas System.

Trinity Mother Frances Hospital

A Leader in Spine Surgery

Trinity’s origins in Tyler date to 1937, when the Sisters of The Holy Family of Nazareth worked with city leaders and area physicians to bring a hospital to the community.

The facility opened one day ahead of schedule when an

Tyler has one of the best hospitals in the nation when it comes to spine surgery. The Texas Spine and Joint Hospital ranked in the top 5 percent nationally in spine surgery from 2006 to 2009, according to the HealthGrades

Hospital Quality in America study, and was ranked No. 1 in the state of Texas. The physician-owned hospital provides services focused on disease and injury affecting the spine and joints.

– Cary Estes

404 Number of beds at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital

300,000 Number of patients seen by ETMC Regional Health Care System a year

1977 Year the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler became a component of the University of Texas System

1 Ranking of Texas Spine and Joint Hospital for spine surgery in the state

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Arts & Culture

What’s Online Read more about Tyler’s, arts and culture scene at livability.com/tyler/tx.

Ballet Tyler; Right: Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon House

More Than Flower Power Flowers, museums and more make Tyler a cultural destination

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lowers may be the crown jewel in Tyler’s culture scene, but cultural opportunities extend far beyond the garden gates.

The premier event for a city that touts itself as America’s Rose Capital is the Texas Rose Festival.

The rose industry has long been an important part of Tyler’s economy (more than half of all rose bushes currently sold in the United States are grown or packaged in the area). Even during the Great Depression, the city was known for its robust rose production.

So in 1933, the Tyler Garden Club helped organize a festival to showcase the East Texas town where they said, “Everything is coming up roses.” It was originally known as the Tyler Rose Festival, but as its popularity expanded

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Tyler

and attracted visitors from throughout the state and beyond, the name was changed to the Texas Rose Festival.

Thousands of people attend the four-day event, which includes art shows, floral displays and a flamboyant rose parade featuring the Rose Queen and her court.

There is also a Queen’s Tea, held in an elaborate rose garden.

Flower Trails and Rose Gardens A more subdued – but just as colorful – floral festival is the Azalea and Spring Flowers Trail, which has been held in Tyler every year since 1960. The two trails traverse through 8 miles of residential gardens and historic homes, attracting more than 100,000 visitors during the annual

two-week run.

Rounding out the flower power is the city’s year-round attraction, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden.

The 14-acre garden is the largest of its kind in the United States and contains numerous varieties of roses, some dating back to the mid-1800s.

Museums and More But there is much more to do in Tyler than just stop and smell the flowers. Discovery Science Place is a hands-on science museum geared toward children and teens. Ballet Tyler holds dance performances and helps provide scholarship assistance to aspiring dancers. The East Texas Symphony Orchestra has been performing regularly since the 1950s and plays a series of

Todd Bennett

popular park concerts each year.

The city has eight different museums, including the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, the Tyler Museum of Art and the Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum, which was built in 1859 and was the first property in Tyler to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Additionally, the Bonner-WhitakerMcClendon House was designated a Tyler Historic Landmark in 1984, followed by a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

And for something slightly different, there is Texas True, a furniture and memorabilia store that sells only products made in Texas. It’s the perfect place to find that cowboy-theme dog bed.

Feeling artsy? Stop by the Main Street Gallery, an art gallery downtown that features a batch of local talent. – Cary Estes

Sports & Recreation

Adventure Awaits Tyler’s recreation options connect residents to the outdoors

I

n Tyler it’s easy to have fun outside. The city offers 26 parks, special events, dozens of playing fields, water recreation options and summer camps to keep residents in touch with the area’s natural beauty.

The organization SPORTyler ensures there are plenty of activities taking place at those fields and parks. SPORTyler was developed in 1990 to attract amateur sporting events to Tyler and promote recreation within the city.

Under the direction of SPORTyler, the city has played host to national junior college sports championships in baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, golf and tennis. Tyler has held events such as the Texas State Open golf tournament, Texas Elite Baseball Tournament, NJCAA Men’s Tennis Championship and many more.

The organization also sponsors luncheons to celebrate the start of each sport’s season.

Tyler State Park For those who like their outdoor activities a bit more secluded, there is Tyler State Park, spread across nearly 1,000 acres just north of the city. The park has a 64-acre lake with a concrete boatlaunch ramp, a 13-mile mountain bike trail, an amphitheater, a dining hall with full kitchen and premium campsites.

Antony Boshier

Parks, Lakes and More

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Tyler

But one does not have to find a major state park to have outdoor fun in Tyler. That’s because the city has 26 smaller parks that comprise more than 1,000 acres of land, and feature playgrounds,

athletic fields, walking trails and tennis courts. Frisbee golf courses are available at Lindsey Park and The University of Texas at Tyler.

There also is an amphitheater in Bergfeld Park, which is the site of the annual Tyler Azalea Trail and the Texas Rose Festival arts and craft shows.

And the list goes on. Lake Tyler is a popular fishing spot, while the Faulkner Park Nature Trail offers a 1.25-mile walk through oak and pine forests. In the summer, Faulkner Park and Tyler Fun Forest Park Pool also offer splash parks for those who want to cool off and play with water guns and sprayers.

Golf courses are available for adults and a skateboard park for children and teens. In fact, if there is something to do outdoors, there is a good chance you can do it in Tyler.

Summer Camps Tyler has numerous summer camps to help keep children active during their mid-year break from school. All Saints Episcopal School, offers more than 35 camps with programs ranging from traditional sports activities to “Princess for a Week” for young girls who like to dress up.

Other popular summer camps in Tyler include Pine Cove Christian Camp, Sky Ranch and the Rockin’ C Ranch, which is set on a real working Texas ranch.

A different type of camp can be found at Elite Gymnastics.

Created by a former competitive gymnast, Elite Gymnastics attempts to improve selfconfidence and self-esteem in children while they learn new skills.

– Cary Estes

Rockin’ C Ranch

Room to relax …

Room to breathe …

A place to call …

Home Away From Home!

3303 Troup Hwy. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 595-5188 www.residenceinntyler.com

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Local Flavor

Step Up to the Plate Menu items include traditional dishes, European cuisine hen you think about typical Texas fare, the things that usually come to mind are steaks and barbecue and TexMex. Such traditional Lone Star State food is readily available in Tyler but the city also ventures well beyond the state line with restaurants that specialize in French, Italian, Mediterranean and Latin cuisine.

Rick’s On The Square Since 1992, one of the most popular restaurants in town has been Rick’s On The Square. As the name suggests, Rick’s is located in the heart of downtown Tyler.

And it has found a place in the hearts of city residents by offering something for everybody in terms of food and atmosphere.

On the plate, Rick’s specializes in steaks (the chipotle rib eye is a local fave), seafood, wine and house-made desserts. Menu items range from the basic burger to the exotic barbecued smokedshark tacos.

As for the atmosphere, Rick’s is upscale enough to resemble a

fine-dining experience, yet still casual enough for live music on the patio. Sports fans will enjoy watching the game on one of the patio’s three 46-inch flat-screen TVs, while those with the latenight munchies can order off the full menu until closing.

Kiepersol Estates Winery and B&B One of the city’s true food destinations is Kiepersol Estates, which is a combination restaurant, winery, and bed and breakfast.

The business-casual restaurant features high-quality steaks and seafood. Tours of the winery and vineyard are available, and include a visit to the tasting room.

A True Texas BBQ Joint Of course, it wouldn’t be Texas without a good local barbecue joint, and Tyler’s is Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q. Texas Monthly magazine has proclaimed Stanley’s to be one of the 50 best barbecue restaurants in the state.

Stanley’s has been family-

Villa Montez serves Latin menu items such as camarones a la cazuela (top left) and shrimp enchiladas (bottom left).

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Tyler

photos by Antony Boshier

W

What’s Online

photos by Antony Boshier

Read more about Tyler’s food scene at livability.com/tyler/tx. Click “Food” under “Things To Do.”

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owned and operated since the 1950s. In addition to the standard pulled pork sandwich, the restaurant offers some interesting combinations such as the BrotherIn-Law (grilled hot link, chopped beef and cheese) and the Big Swimmer (tilapia on a jalapeñocheese sourdough bun, topped with guacamole).

Mediterranean and Mexican

Chez Bazan serves Chicken Florentine crepes (top) as well as an assortment of baked goods (bottom).

photos by Antony Boshier

For those who want to think outside the Texas box, Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant brings tastes of Italy and France to Tyler.

This cozy eatery has such traditional Europeans dishes as escargot and lasagna Bolognese, as well as a selection of steaks to appease the local palate.

French pastries can be found at Chez Bazan, which specializes in cakes, pies, cookies and breads.

The restaurant also creates some extravagant wedding cakes.

Don Juan’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina has long been a Tyler staple. The dishes have more of a traditional Mexican flavor rather than the Americanized version of Mexican food. The tacos are particularly popular, especially on Wednesdays when they are sold for a dollar a piece.

Villa Montez is a casual family dining restaurant that brings the best of “Cocina Latina” Latin kitchen. The menu features the freshest ingredients and the sauces are made daily in house, and there are more than 100 entrees, appetizers, sandwiches and wraps to choose from.

Other Tyler favorites include The Potpourri House and its chicken crepes, Villa Montez for Latin food and Breakers for seafood.

– Cary Estes

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Education

Todd Bennett

Jenkins Hall at Tyler Junior College; Right: University of Texas at Tyler

Knowledge is In Tyler offers solid educational options for serious learners

T

yler has some sizable choices when it comes to education.

Educational opportunities include several options from the largest junior or community college in the state to the largest public school district in northeast Texas.

Public and Private Schools On the public school level, the Tyler Independent School District is the largest district in northeast Texas, encompassing 193 square miles with a total of 28 schools and an enrollment of approximately 18,000 students.

In 2008, TISD began using the 5E Model of teaching: engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate. The goal is for students to have more interaction during

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the learning process, rather than simply writing down information and repeating it at test time.

There is also the Oak Hill Montessori School, Stepping Stone Pre-School and Elementary, C. Brown Middle School and several church-affiliated and private schools in Tyler. They include All Saints Episcopal, Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Regional Catholic, Brook Hill School, Cumberland Academy, East Texas Christian Academy, Grace Community School, Good Shepherd Christian, King’s Academy and St. Gregory Cathedral School.

UT Tyler The state’s most expansive educational component is the

University of Texas System, and the city of Tyler has been part of it since 1979 when Texas Eastern University became the University of Texas at Tyler. Known locally as UT Tyler, the college has approximately 6,200 students and a 210-acre wooded campus located on Harvey Lake just southeast of downtown.

UT Tyler offers more than 90 graduate and undergraduate degrees, with a specialty in nursing that includes a Ph.D. program. Other majors that attract a high level of interest include education, management, psychology and accounting. UT Tyler is also the home of the Texas Allergy, Indoor Environment and Energy Institute research center.

The university opened a

38,000-square-foot, three-story University Center in 2009, complete with restaurants, meeting rooms, a ballroom, an entertainment area and a convenience store. The school’s R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center attracts more than 26,000 visitors annually for a variety of shows and performances.

TYLER Junior College Since its inception in 1926, Tyler Junior College has grown from having fewer than 200 students to today’s enrollment of approximately 10,000, with another 15,000 taking continuing education courses at the school.

TJC has approximately 230 fulltime faculty members, keeping the average class size close to 20 students. The school has more than 50 degree options, with a focus on pre-professional

offerings in allied health. TJC also offers advanced training in information systems, with concentrations in networking, programming and Web mastering.

Historic Texas College The city’s oldest school is Texas College, which was established in 1894 by a group of Christian Methodist Episcopal Church ministers who wanted to provide higher education to African-Americans. Texas College remains affiliated with the CME Church. Among the offerings at Texas College are 16 baccalaureate degree programs and two associate of arts degrees. There is also a special program for working adults that provides a bachelor of science degree in business administration.

– Cary Estes

Antony Boshier

Living green starts from the ground up.

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.

Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

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Tyler

Community profile Community Overview Tyler’s charming brick streets lead visitors to an array of family attractions, quaint antique shops and unique specialty stores.

Special events throughout the year include the Texas Rose Festival, Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, Festival on the Square and Movies Under the Stars in Bergfeld Park.

cost of living

ETHNICITY:

$48,199

51%

Median Household Income

White

$88,547

25%

Median Home Price

Black

$694

21%

Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

transportation Climate Tyler’s climate is hot during the summer and cold during the winter. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is October, with an average rainfall of 5.14 inches.

94° F July Average High

38 F °

Median Travel Time to Work

AGE:

34

49.4

Texas Department of Public Safety 4700 University Blvd.

Tyler, TX 75713 (903) 939-6014 www.txdps.state.tx.us

Median Resident Age

25%

Vehicle Registration:

Age 55 and Over

County of Smith: Auto Registration 1517 W. Front St. Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 590-2900 www.smith-county.com/ government/electedofficials/ taxassessor/VehicleReg.aspx

MARITAL STATUS:

Utilities:

51%

Tyler Water Utilities P.O. Box 2039 Tyler, TX 75710 (903) 531-1234 www.cityoftyler.org/ Default.aspx?tabid=331

Age 19 and Under

Age 20-54

size in square miles

numbers to know Driver’s License:

household information

45”

Central

18 minutes

44%

time zone

3% Other

January Average Low

Annual Rain Fall (vs. National Average Annual Rain Fall of 37”)

Hispanic

31%

Married

49% Single

l i va b i l i t y. co m / t y l e r / t x

63

10 Gardens

Where Inspiration Grows

CHEYENNE BOTANIC GARDENS Cheyenne, WY JAPANESE GARDENS AT LAKE SACAJAWEA Longview, WA WATER GARDEN Fort Worth, TX TYLER MUNICIPAL ROSE GARDEN Tyler, TX CINNAMON CREEK TROPICAL BUTTERFLY GARDEN Boerne, TX UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIASANTA CRUZ ARBORETUM Santa Cruz, CA

Tyler made the list.

10 Gardens to Inspire See more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.

SWAN LAKE IRIS GARDENS Sumter, SC WICHITA GARDENS-BOTANICA Wichita, KS DANIEL STOWE BOTANICAL GARDEN Gastonia, NC CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN Fayetteville, NC

Introducing the Livability.com Top 10 Lists New lists every month | Not your average lists | Not your average website

Voter Registration: Smith County Courthouse Annex 200 E. Ferguson Ste. 500 Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 590-4777 www.smith-county.com/ Government/Departments/ Elections/Registration.aspx Recycling: Tyler Recycling Collection Center 418 N. Bois D’ Arc (903) 531-1388 www.cityoftyler.org/Admin/ Tabs/tabid/100/Default.aspx Tyler Solid Waste Department 414 N. Bois D’ Arc Ave. Tyler, Texas 75702 (903) 531-1388 test.cityoftyler.org/ ?TabId=100 The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department offers subscription-based curbside recycling to residential customers. Residents can sign up for this optional program and receive two curbside recycling pickups per month for $2.50 plus tax per month.

Telephone & Internet: AT&T (800) 464-7928 Suddenlink (903) 595-4321 Cable: Suddenlink (903) 595-4321 Northland Cable Television (Flint area) (903) 894-8200 Library: Tyler Public Library 201 S. College Ave. Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 593-7323 www.cityoftyler.org/ Library/Library/tabid/542/ Default.aspx

visit our

advertisers All Saints Episcopal School www.all-saints.org

Scott & White Health Plan www.swhp.org

Altra Federal Credit Union www.altra.org

Sherwin-Williams www.sherwin-williams.com

Austin Bank www.austinbank.com

Southside Bank www.southside.com

Brookshire’s Grocery Company www.brookshires.com

Swann’s Furniture Gallery www.swanns.com

East Texas Symphony Orchestra www.etso.org

Texas Bank & Trust www.texasbankandtrust.com

Express Employment Professionals www.expresspros.com First Federal Bank Texas www.ffbtx.com First Presbyterian Church – Tyler www.fpctyler.com Gray’s Home Fashion Gallery www.grayshfg.com Holiday Inn www.ichotelsgroup.com/ h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/tyrsb

Texas Spine & Joint Hospital www.tsjh.com The Hospice of East Texas www.hospiceofeasttexas.org The University of Texas Health Science Center www.uthct.edu Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals & Clinics www.tmfhc.org Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce www.tylertexas.com

Kiepersol Enterprises www.kiepersol.com

Tyler Independent School District www.tylerisd.org

Residence Inn Marriott www.residenceinntyler.com

Tyler Junior College www.tjc.edu

l i va b i l i t y. co m / t y l e r / t x

65

Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced Tyler through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog: Tyler While I was shooting for Images Tyler I stopped in at the chamber of commerce.

The building that houses the Tyler, Texas, chamber of commerce is a great example of art deco architecture. In front of the elevators is a wonderfully crafted wrought-iron bench; it is decidedly not art deco but somehow seems right at home in its surroundings. This bench is typical of the rugged functional art that is found throughout Texas.

Posted by antony boshier

More Online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.

66

Tyler

Ad Index

61 All Saints Episcopal School

40 Gray’s Home Fashion Gallery

40 Holiday Inn

C4 Kiepersol Enterprises

55 Residence Inn Marriott

50 Scott & White Health Plan

34 Sherwin-Williams

7 Southside Bank

5 Swann’s Furniture Gallery

C3 Altra Federal Credit Union

43 Austin Bank

58 Brookshire’s Grocery Company

62 East Texas Symphony Orchestra

65 Express Employment Professionals

22 First Federal Bank Texas

10 Texas Bank & Trust

43 First Presbyterian Church – Tyler

62 Texas Spine & Joint Hospital

Ad Index (cont.)

50 The Hospice of East Texas 2 The University of Texas Health Science Center

C2, 1 Trinity Mother Frances

Hospitals & Clinics

49 Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

53 Tyler Independent School District

4 Tyler Junior College