The City of Lufkin is moving forward with plans for new gateway signage designed to welcome residents and visitors.

 

Funded through restricted Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenue, the project represents an investment in Lufkin’s visitor experience and community identity. The proposed signs are intended to provide a recognizable welcome to travelers entering the city while using materials and construction methods selected to improve durability, longevity, and ease of maintenance.

The project follows a multi-year planning and design process that included reviewing concepts, evaluating costs, coordinating site requirements, and incorporating City Council’s priorities for structural integrity, long-term value, and responsible maintenance.

“Gateway signage helps introduce our community to the people traveling into Lufkin,” said Tara Hendrix, Director of Visit Lufkin. “This project has involved careful consideration of design, cost, lasting performance, funding, and maintenance. Our goal is to create a welcoming, enduring representation of Lufkin while being responsible stewards of public resources.”

 

Learning from the Past, Planning for the Future

Lufkin’s former tree-cookie gateway signs welcomed travelers to the community for approximately 12 years before they were removed. Overtime, their foam-composite construction deteriorated, and the signs were beyond repair.

The City recognizes that the removal of the former signs raised questions and disappointment among some residents. That feedback reinforced the importance of developing a replacement design that considers not only appearance, but also lasting performance, structural integrity, upkeep needs, and lasting community benefit.

The design process began with concepts presented to City Council during its June 2024 budget retreat. Additional concepts were reviewed in 2025, and earlier designs were reconsidered after concerns were raised about construction costs and ongoing maintenance. The revised approach emphasizes a clean, timeless appearance intended to balance visual impact with practical considerations.

 

A Design Built with Longevity in Mind

The proposed signs incorporate steel framing, an aluminum composite sign face, a concrete foundation, mounting hardware, and external spotlights. Each sign will feature the City of Lufkin name and a pine branch graphic that reflects the community’s identity.

City Council’s feedback helped shape a more streamlined design that emphasizes lasting performance, simplified maintenance, and lasting benefits for the community. The goal is to create signage that welcomes travelers today while serving the community for years to come.

 

Planned Locations

The proposal includes three gateway signs at the sites of Lufkin’s former signs.

• ​U.S. Highway 59 South
• ​U.S. Highway 69 North
• ​U.S. Highway 69 South

The U.S. Highway 59 North gateway sign will be addressed as a separate project after construction is complete to ensure future planning accounts for the highway improvements.

 

Understanding the Hotel Occupancy Tax Funding Process

The City of Lufkin’s gateway signage project is funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenue, not local property taxes.

HOT funds come from taxes paid by visitors staying overnight in hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, and other qualifying lodging establishments. The City receives its share of this revenue to support activities that promote tourism and benefit the local hospitality industry.

Texas Tax Code Chapter 351 restricts how these funds can be spent. They cannot be used for general City operations, such as road repairs or public safety. Because gateway signs welcome visitors and promote Lufkin as a destination, they are an eligible use of these dedicated tourism funds.

 

Supporting Lufkin’s Identity and Visitor Experience

Gateway signage is one component of the City’s broader efforts to strengthen Lufkin’s identity, support tourism, and contribute to the community’s economic development goals. A consistent visual identity can help visitors recognize the community and encourage them to explore local businesses, restaurants, attractions, recreational amenities, and cultural destinations.

Lufkin’s downtown Texas Cultural District designation provides another opportunity to showcase the community’s arts, cultural organizations, public spaces, and local businesses. Together with local events, recreational opportunities, and visitor attractions, these assets help tell the story of Lufkin and what the community offers.

While gateway signs alone cannot guarantee increased tourism, business investment, or job growth, they can contribute to a coordinated effort to present Lufkin as a welcoming place to visit, live, work, and do business.

The City plans to share additional information about the project’s history, design, funding, and goals through its public communications channels as the project progresses.

Our history matters. Our community matters. And the future of Lufkin is full of opportunity.

A New Welcome. A Stronger Lufkin.