Ben Wheeler, Texas

Fueled by childhood memories of a once-​thriving town and a desire to give back to the community, Brooks Gremmels bought property — lots of it — in and around small, unincorporated Ben Wheeler along Hwy. 64 and FM 773 in southern Van Zandt County. His plan: to return the town back to its 1935 look and to bring new businesses, and inspire a new community-​friendly attitude and sense of pride back into the area through events, festivities and other social projects.
Since last February, Gremmels and his team have been working on refurbishing old houses, and buildings, relocating and rennovating both a church and a school, cleaning up park land and putting on family-​friendly events to help restore a sense of pride and community. Musicians are often spotted playing guitars and fiddles on the porches and benches around town. Every Thursday there’s an open mic jam session at the Pickin’ Porch in the downtown park and an acoustic duo or band in Moore’s Store. Friday and Saturday live bands at Moore’s Store finds the dance floor filling fast.
As of this writing, downtown Ben Wheeler has 2 restaurants with bars (Moore’s Store and the Forge (a bistro)), several shops and art galleries (most of whom are OPEN Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.), AND an unlimited potential for cool. When they are done, this will be the Gruene of East Texas.
A few examples of businesses who are located here today are; Wagon Wheel Forge & Gallery, a family-​run full-​scale blacksmith shop (which was great for the kids!), WHIMZEE, a women’s & children’s clothing boutique, Antiques & Texas Heritage Shop with jewelry, antiques, and Texas décor, the Flying Fish Gallery, where arts and crafts share space with pottery, kinetic metal art, hand-​made jewelry, home décor, collage photos, soaps, candles, and the Rave Art Gallery, which features Dyan Johnson’s Studio Metal & Craig & Jan Blackmon’s Edom Ranch Art.
Annual events include the Ben Wheeler Birthday Bash (4^th w/​e in May), the Hog Follies, Fall Feral Hog Festival, and World Championship Wild Hog Cook-​Off the fourth weekend in October.
So if you are in the area around IH-​20 between Canton and Tyler in E. Texas and have some time to slow down, you need to check this place out — no Hog required!
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In the interest of full disclosure, this is not so much of a review as FYI — and some of the content was provided from their website.