My family and I stayed at the Maude Cobb City Convention Center, which was used as a Red Cross shelter, for two weeks in 2005 after evacuating Hurricane Rita. We were interviewed by reporters and our story was covered in the local newspaper. Then my cell phone and medication was stolen. Before and since then I and we’ve passed through and stopped for food and gas several times.

It can be easy to miss turns and tricky to follow or stay on Hwy 259 through here and Kilgore. There are lots of good dining and shopping along the loop. I recommend Baskin Robins and Fazoli’s.