INVEST SMITHVILLE
SEE THE OPPORTUNITY BEYOND THE PROPERTY
Smithville offers something increasingly difficult to find in Central Texas—a community with a strong sense of place, a historic downtown, creative energy and room for new ideas.
Invest Smithville is your introduction to the community behind the properties: the people, places, history, resources and local character that make Smithville worth a closer look.
A TOWN WITH A STORY
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN. CREATIVE COMMUNITY. CENTRAL TEXAS CHARACTER.
SMITHVILLE THINKS BIG
FROM SMALL-TOWN IDEA TO GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
In 2006, Smithville decided to take a beloved Festival of Lights tradition and make it larger than life. After a year of planning, experimenting and community effort, volunteers baked a 20-foot gingerbread man weighing 1,308 pounds, 8 ounces—earning Smithville a Guinness World Record.
It took 750 pounds of flour, 49 gallons of molasses, 72 dozen eggs, a dump-truck load of charcoal and even a crane to make it happen.
The world record was eventually surpassed, but “Smitty” remains a Smithville landmark—and a pretty good reminder that this little Texas town has never been afraid to think big.
20 FEET • 1,308½ POUNDS •
49 GALLONS OF MOLASSES • 72 DOZEN EGGS
MEET SMITTY
Take a photo with Smithville’s giant gingerbread man and share your visit.
SMITHVILLE ON SCREEN
FROM HOPE FLOATS TO A FILM-FRIENDLY TEXAS FIRST
Smithville’s streets, historic buildings and small-town character have provided the backdrop for film and television productions for decades. From Hope Floats to later productions, the community’s connection to the screen became part of its identity — and in 2008, Smithville became the first community in Texas to receive the Film Friendly Texas designation.
WHY FILMMAKERS CHOOSE SMITHVILLE:
Hear directly from filmmakers and production professionals who chose Smithville as a location—and experienced the community behind the camera.
“Smithville is a wonderful place to shoot… The locations, local talent and hospitality were outstanding.”
“Shooting in Smithville was an amazing experience for our entire cast and crew.”
“We had a great experience filming in Smithville.”
Interested in filming in Smithville?
Successful location work is about more than finding the right property. It takes local knowledge, problem-solving and an understanding of what a production needs to keep moving. Tamble Realty brings firsthand experience in both Locations and Production, helping crews navigate Smithville and the surrounding area efficiently—while making their time here productive and enjoyable.
MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
CREATIVITY IS PART OF SMITHVILLE'S IDENTITY
Smithville's creative spirit extends well beyond the screen. Music, visual arts, historic places and community traditions are woven into the life of the town—creating a cultural identity that is distinctly its own.
WEST END PARK
West End Park holds an important place in Smithville's African-American history. During segregation, it provided a gathering place for music, baseball and community life and became one of the last Texas stops on the Chitlin' Circuit. Traveling musicians performed here, Negro League baseball games were played here, and generations of families gathered here. The historic park building still stands today—a tangible connection to the people, music and stories that shaped this community.
A RARE SURVIVING PIECE OF TEXAS MUSIC HISTORY
THE MUSIC RETURNED
Generations later, the Chitlin' Circuit Blues Review brought musicians and community members back to West End Park. In 2016, the celebration included the unveiling of the site's Texas Historical Marker—recognizing and preserving a history that had long been carried through the memories of the community.
“MUSIC HAS THE POWER TO LIBERATE AND BRIDGE ALL GAPS.”
— Hannibal Lokumbe
RICHARD D. LATHAM CULTURAL DISTRICT
WHERE HISTORY, ART & COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER
Designated by the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2013, Smithville's Richard D. Latham Cultural District brings together the places, people and stories that shape the community's creative identity. Historic sites, music, visual arts, performance and public art connect Smithville's past with a creative community that continues to evolve today.
ART THAT TELLS SMITHVILLE'S STORY
Throughout downtown, public art turns walls, buildings and public spaces into storytellers. Murals, mosaics and sculpture celebrate Smithville's music, railroad heritage, people and history—creating unexpected discoveries around nearly every corner.
CREATIVITY CONTINUES
THE NEXT CHAPTER IS ALREADY BEING CREATED
Smithville's creative story isn't confined to its history. Artists, young people, local organizations and community events continue to bring new ideas into downtown—using storefronts, public spaces and gathering places as places to create, share and connect.