Jacksonville in Cherokee County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Love's Lookout
Photographed By Amanda Hartley, June 8, 2010
1. Love's Lookout Marker
On this nine mile long ridge there are two historic lookout points which command a view of 30 to 35 miles. Between this site, with an elevation of 713 ft., and Point Lookout (1/4 mi. NW), lies a narrow valley. An Indian trail and later a pioneer road crossed this valley. The pass became known as McKee's Gap in 1846, after Thomas McKee led a group of Presbyterians here from Tennessee and began the town of Larissa (3.5 mi NW). Named by McKee's son the Rev. T. N. McKee, the village flourished as the location of Larissa College from the 1850s until the 1870s. Point Lookout was a popular recreational area for citizens of Larissa until the railroad bypassed the town and it declined.Around the turn of the century, John Wesley Love (1858-1925) bought this land and developed a 600-acre peach orchard. Known as Love's Lookout, the scenic point was used for outings by area residents. After Love's death, his family gave 22.22 acres, including the lookout site, to the state for a park. The city of Jacksonville bought 25 adjoining acres and developed both tracts as a WPA project.
J. L. Brown (1866-1944) and Jewel Newton Brown (1873-1966),
this page online
Erected 1978 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6965.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.
Location. 32° 1.765′ N, 95° 16.757′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Texas, in Cherokee County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 69 near Lookout Valley Road. At the Love's Lookout Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jacksonville TX 75766, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Old Neches Saline Road (approx. 3.4 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 4.9 miles away); Sea Scouts Ship 400 (approx. 5.1 miles away); Earle's Chapel Methodist Church (approx. 7.2 miles away); Earle's Chapel Cemetery (approx. 7.3 miles away); Bullard Water Well (approx. 8 miles away); Craft Baptist Church (approx. 8 miles away); Cuney (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.
Photographed By Amanda Hartley, June 8, 2010
2. View From Love's Lookout
Photographed By Amanda Hartley, June 8, 2010
3. View From Love's Lookout
Photographed By Amanda Hartley, June 8, 2010
4. View From Love's Lookout
Photographed By Amanda Hartley, June 8, 2010
5. View From Love's Lookout
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2010, by Amanda Hartley of Tyler, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,866 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 9, 2010, by Amanda Hartley of Tyler, Texas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
