Lewisville: History, Culture and Nature

When looking for a hotel in Lewisville, first consider which aspect of the city you want to shape your stay: the history of Old Town, culture through theater and art, or nature activities at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA). These highlights also call for different kinds of planning. Old Town represents early commercial history and historic buildings; LLELA offers trails, nature observation, a monthly nature walk and a paddling route. Performances and the public art collection round out the cultural offerings. This overview can help you decide what to focus on during your trip before comparing hotels.

Old Town Lewisville: Commerce and Historic Buildings

Old Town Lewisville was the first commercial center of Lewisville's agriculturally based community. Two rows of century-old buildings line both sides of Main Street. Its former commercial role and the buildings on both sides offer two perspectives on the same historic place: the first explains Old Town's role in the community, while the second gives the district a distinctive architectural character. Main Street is a specific reference point, as the two rows of buildings stand along either side of it.

One business illustrates the area's connection to agriculture. The Degan Livery Stable opened in 1885 as a wooden stable at the northeast corner of Main and Kealy and served Lewisville's agricultural community until 1932. Its location and period of use provide a specific context for this example: the stable connects a named place in Old Town with the community's agricultural character at the time.

Landscape and Activities at LLELA

LLELA lies where the Blackland Prairies and Eastern Cross Timbers meet. The Elm Fork of the Trinity River and its associated floodplain forest run through the area. This puts two named landscape regions, a river and floodplain forest at its heart. For travelers who want to consider the landscape as well as the city's history, this offers a distinct focus.

The area has more than seven miles of trails for hiking, birdwatching and wildlife observation. The trail network therefore combines physical activity with nature observation, appealing to different interests. Trail conditions can vary by season, so take this into account when planning. LLELA also holds a monthly nature walk led by naturalists. Check the current calendar for dates and reservations if you would like to include this activity in your plans.

There is another activity on the water: LLELA is home to the northernmost access point to a 22-mile paddling route on the Elm Fork. This is a different option from the land trails; the mileage refers to the paddling route. Check current river conditions and boating suitability. This can help you choose between hiking and observing nature on the trails, taking a nature walk, and paddling a route.

Performances and Public Art

The Lewisville Grand Theater opened in January 2011 as the first publicly operated arts center in southern Denton County. It hosts performances in music, dance and live theater. Its opening and regional role place the theater in the area's cultural history, while today's program includes several types of performance. If a performance is the reason for your stay, check the specific dates before making plans around it.

Lewisville's public art collection includes indoor and outdoor works in a variety of artistic media; it may grow over time. Compared with the performance program, the collection offers a different cultural reference point: its focus is on artworks in different media rather than performances in specific disciplines. When choosing a cultural focus, you can therefore distinguish between the theater program and public art.

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