Discover Chambers: wetlands, birdlife and history

Chambers County has about 6,000 feet of beachfront along the Gulf of Mexico. Migratory birds and protected wetlands, alongside historic buildings and seasonal events, offer specific themes for your trip.

Wetlands and migratory birds

The Candy Cain Abshier WMA covers 207 acres along Galveston Bay and Trinity Bay near Smith Point in Chambers County. The area is an important stopover for migratory birds. At the Wallisville Lake Project, protected wetlands, swamp forests and hardwood bottomland forests form part of the landscape. The Mouth of the Trinity River Waterbird Rookery is home to 12 species of colonial-nesting waterbirds.

The annual Hawk Watch at the Candy Cain Abshier WMA runs from August 15 to November 15. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the program dates in advance.

Waterways and routes

At the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, Shoveler Pond is a man-made freshwater pond covering 220 acres. The Shoveler Pond Auto Tour Loop is 2.64 miles long. Another route is the JJ Mayes Wildlife Trace: a four-mile, all-weather road on the levee along the west bank of the Trinity River. At 2.64 miles, the loop is shorter than the trace.

Buildings and history

The Chambers County Courthouse was completed in May 1937 as a three-story building made of cut limestone blocks. It combines Art Deco and Modernist architectural styles. Its construction and stylistic classification give the courthouse a clearly defined architectural profile.

Built in 1910, Union Church was moved from Anahuac to Wallisville. Wallisville Heritage Park includes a genealogical library and a research center with about 2,000 to 2,500 books. Wallisville thus brings together a relocated historic building and research resources focused on family history.

Fort Anahuac Park has an extensive pier with elevated viewing platforms. Several acres of natural areas are set aside for campers, anglers and hikers. In connection with the conflicts of 1832, William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack were imprisoned at Fort Anahuac. An armed confrontation followed on June 10.

Discover the Chambers County Children’s Museum

The Chambers County Children’s Museum has nearly 17,000 square feet of indoor play space for children ages 0 to 12. The indoor area is arranged around a Main Street. Play areas include a construction site, bank, restaurant, grocery store, dentist’s office, doctor’s office and farm.

The Oil and Natural Gas Park at the museum explains the oil and natural gas industry, from development through to end products. Topics include extraction, refining and transportation. The museum thus combines extensive play space with an exhibit on industrial processes.

A fall event

The Texas Rice Festival is held every year on the first weekend of October at Winnie-Stowell Park in Winnie, Texas. If you want to plan your trip specifically around the festival, check the dates for the relevant edition.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Winnie, Hankamer, Floyd County, La Salle County, Collin, Terry County, Trinity, Starr

For the main travel overview: Texas.