Recreation

While in the Denison area, visitors should allow time to enjoy its rich heritage and cultural opportunities. Denison's historic downtown arts district is home to eight art galleries, three international artists and over 82,000 square feet of antique shops, tea rooms and boutiques for everyone’s enjoyment.

Denison is known as an “event community” and some of the highlights include the Arts & Wine Renaissance in March, the Texoma Lakefest Regatta in April, the Memorial Day Parade in May, the July 4th Fireworks Show Extravaganza, the U.S. National Aerobatic Competition in September, the Art Tour in November and the Holiday Tour of Homes and spectacular Christmas Parade in December.

Denison Chamber of Commerce
The Denison Area Chamber of Commerce was established in 1912. The Chamber coordinates businesses and volunteers to work together for the benefit of the community. They keep up to date demographics, provide resources for information, help in research, and facilitate action committees and task forces to identify and address projects for the betterment of Denison.

The Chamber, Denison Development Alliance, Downtown Business Development office, along with Denison industry work together to establish new jobs and investments for the Denison community.

Lake Texoma
This 89,000 acre lake on the Red River is shared by Texas and Oklahoma. It is widely recognized as a top fishing lake, and is one of the most popular recreation destinations in the Southwest. Lake Texoma was built by the Corps of Engineers in the 1940's, and was stocked with black bass and crappie along with the native white bass in the Red and Washita Rivers.

The lake area includes two wildlife refuges, two state parks, fifty four U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed parks, twenty-six resorts, hundreds of campgrounds and a variety of excellent golf courses. Power boating, power sailing, personal watercraft, water skiers and wind surfers all consider the lake an excellent place to have fun. Lake Texoma has become a huge sailing center based on the lake's size, depth and miles of sailing shoreline.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Birthplace & Museum
The park features the Birthplace home, visitors center, a covered pavilion, restrooms, and an education building. The park offers picnicking, limited hiking trails and landscaped grounds. The visitors center contains information and displays related to the late president’s life, such as a bronze bust of Eisenhower, historic photographs of the Denison native and the “Ike Jacket,” the brown short-waisted, tailored wood field jacket sported by the U.S. general. In addition, park visitors can view two of Eisenhower’s paintings and photographs documenting his three visits to Denison between 1946 and 1965. The center also has a bookstore and gift shop.

Waterloo Lake Regional Park
 Large, multi-purpose park on 148 acres includes Waterloo Baseball Park, Waterloo Pool, and Culpepper Softball Complex, 52 surface acre lake, newly developed fishing pond, large pavilion with tables, horseshoe pits, ¾ of a mile paved walking track, nature trail around lake, multiple playground units, tables, and benches.

Eisenhower State Park
Eisenhower State Park, with 423.1 acres, is located in Grayson County, northwest of Denison on the shores of Lake Texoma. It was acquired in 1954 by a Department of Army lease and was opened to the public in 1958.

The park was named for the 34th U.S. president, Dwight David Eisenhower, as he was born in Denison. In the early 1830s, the area became increasingly important to Anglo settlers, particularly as a route to Texas and the American southwest. Some of the things which add to the history of the area are the American Indian; Butterfield Overland stage routes; Chisholm and Shawnee cattle drive trails; Fort Johnson, established in the area in 1840; and Colbert's Crossing, established on the Red River in 1853 and operated until 1931.

Some of the activities include picnicking, hiking, biking, nature study, fishing, boating and boat rentals, water skiing, swimming, and wildlife observation, and a variety of camping.

smalltownBIGART
In the 1990's artists began locating in our downtown Main Street district.  Today you'll find numerous galleries and studios showing a diverse assortment of painting, sculpture, stained glass, photography, and ceramics produced by regional, national and international artists.

Combine a friendly, casual Texas feeling, a rich cultural heritage and great recreational resources with the vibrant excitement of a major new art scene and the result is a truly special place - Denison - "Small Town...Big Art

Main Street Showcase
Two hours of high energy family fun just one hour North of the Dallas Metroplex.  From new country favorites to old country classics and southern Gospel hits...  to the side-splitting, laugh 'til you cry comedy of Edgar Alan Doolittle...  to flash-backs of the fabulous 50's...  this show has something for everyone!  There's a different theme every Saturday night!  It's an entertainment experience full of non-stop surprises!

Grayson County Frontier Village
Located in Loy Park, this pioneer settlement of 17 homes and buildings has been carefully restored to present an accurate portrayal of life in the mid-1800s. A museum housed in a log cabin displays artifacts of early life in Grayson County.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge lies on the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma, on the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas. Established in 1946, the refuge includes 3,000 acres of marsh and water and 8,000 acres of upland and farmland. During fall, winter, and spring, the marshes and waters are in constant use by migrating and wintering waterfowl.

Waterloo Pool
Waterloo Pool is a heated, indoor facility designed to service the needs of the community. The pool boasts seven-25 meter lap lanes, a 10 ½ foot diving well, diving board, slide, children’s play area, and plenty of deck area to lounge and sun bathe.

Munson Vineyards
Known as the “World’s Chief Vineyard Expert,” T.V. Munson’s development of hybrid grape varieties is acclaimed world-wide. many of the varieties, along with his innovative trellis, are on display on a 5 acre tract on the west campus of Grayson County College; includes a viticulture museum.

Golf Courses
A comprehensive list of golf courses in the Denison, Texas area, listed by proximity to Denison, including courses in neighboring cities.