Is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas, Worth Visiting?
After driving through I-30 E between Dallas and Texarkana many times, we finally visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas, last Christmas vacation.
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We had extra time on our way to Memphis, Tennessee. So we decided to make a detour to Paris, Texas.
After driving and doing a little walk in downtown Paris, we continued to Love Civic Center to see the Eiffel Tower.
When we approached the Center, we were like, “Where is it? Where is it?” looking around.
After driving through the parking lot, we saw the tower to the right of the Center.
It is small, with a red cowboy hat on the top. We were a bit disappointed seeing it.
We expected to see a large tower because everything is supposed to be bigger in Texas, right? It doesn’t have to be bigger than the original tower, but at least we could see it right away from the entrance to the Love Civic Center.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris Las Vegas is way bigger.
There was a Trolley de Paris parking on the road during our visit. I thought it was a free trolley to tour downtown Paris, but it’s not.
You can rent the trolley for a guided tour, parties, and other special occasions. For more information or to request a booking, call 903-739-9912.
There was a family of four and three young adults when we were there. It looked like they made a detour like us.
We spent several minutes at the tower, then continued our road trip to Memphis, Tennessee.
Eiffel Tower in Paris Texas History
The original Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas, was made of wood. It was much smaller and sat on the Paris Junior College campus. The tower was blown down by high winds and replaced by the one that still exists today.
Members of the Boilermakers Local 902 who worked at Babcock & Wilcox built the current tower. They donated their time, and the company donated much of the materials.
The tower is bolted into 10-foot by 10-inch pads to ensure it would not be blown away like the previous one.
In total, 78 individuals spent approximately 1,000 hours constructing the tower.
The Eiffel Tower is located at the Love Civic Center, about seven minutes drive southeast of downtown Paris.
Texas Eiffel Tower Height
The Eiffel Tower replica in Paris, Texas, was 65 feet tall when unveiled in July 1994.
It was billed as the “Second Largest Eiffel Tower in the Second Largest Paris in the World.”
Then another Paris in the country, in Tennessee, raised their tower that was 10 feet higher to claim that slogan. That’s where the red cowboy hat comes in.
When they placed the hat on top of the tower in October 1998, it added 4 1/2 feet high. Once again, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas, became the second-largest Eiffel Tower in the world.
Not long after that, the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas took over the title in 1999.
But no other tower sports a bright red cowboy hat atop the tower. It’s what made the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas, special.
The red cowboy hat was designed and created by the late Daon Wall.
Eiffel Tower in Paris Texas Tickets
There is no ticket to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas. It is free and open 24 hours.
There is no elevator to the top like the original one in Paris, France, or the Tower in Las Vegas.
Therefore, you don’t have to worry when visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas, if you are afraid of heights.
Eiffel Tower in Paris Texas Facts
– It is free and open 24 hours.
– During the night, it lights up, displaying the colors of the Texas flag.
– The tower is pet-friendly.
– It is the only Eiffel Tower with a red cowboy hat on top.
– The community members donated their time, funds, materials, and more to build the tower.
– The tower location is not by Highway I-30 E. You must drive between 30 to 50 minutes to the tower, depending on the exit you take.
Texas Eiffel Tower Address
2025 S Collegiate Dr., Paris, TX 75460.
Distance to Paris, Texas.
Dallas – 2-hour drive northeast of Dallas.
Texarkana – 1,5 hour.
Bonham State Park – 1 hr
Greenville – 50 min.
Sulphur Springs – 40 min.
Cooper Lake State Park – 30 min.
So, is it worth visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas?
The answer is no if you make a special trip there. You can wait until you have extra time like us or there is a business to do in the area.
If you go camping at Cooper Lake State Park or Bonham State Park, you may want to make a quick visit there.
Or, find other things to do in Paris and surrounding areas to make your visit worthwhile.
Here are some ideas to make your trips to Paris, Texas, more fun:
– watch the Paris Pump Track in April
– join the annual Tour de Paris Bicycle Rally in July
– visit during Paris Balloon & Music Festival in September
– visit and use the see-through restroom in nearby city, Sulphur Springs
While you are here, check out my other posts about where to see Europe or other parts of the world in Texas:
– 5 Fun Things to Do in Castroville, Texas, in Less Than 2 Hours.
– Visiting Texas Stonehenge (and Texas Easter Island, too!) in Ingram, Texas Hill Country.
– Around the World in the Texas Hill Country – 3 Days Itinerary.
I had no idea there was an Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas, until reading your article! Learning about this unique replica with its distinctive red cowboy hat is fascinating. Your honest perspective and tips make me curious to check it out if I’m ever in the area, making sure to pair the visit with other local attractions to make the trip worthwhile.
I appreciate your honesty on visiting here. As a European, we are always amazed by how many replicas of European landmarks there are around the world. I like the cowboy hat on top, it adds a Texas symbol and also that it’s free to visit.
Yes! That red cowboy hat is uniquely Texas! 🙂
I always find it fun but strange to find iconic sights in unusual spots. So I would definitely want to check out the Eiffel Tower in Paris Texas. But I might too be a bit disappointed at the size and found the cowboy hat on top to be a bit weird. Interesting to read that while it once was the second highest Eiffel Tower, other small towns quickly replaced it. Probably worth a detour to see it if we have time on a driving day.