Mineola, TX (MIN)

Ticket Revenue

FY 2011

$418,416

Station Ridership

FY 2011

7,165

Note: Fiscal year is from
October through September.

On June 10, 2006, Mineola’s historic station was rededicated to celebrate the completion of its restoration. From 1974 until 1996, the Amtrak Texas Eagle and its predecessor trains passed through the community of 5,000 without stopping. However, Mineola community leaders convinced Amtrak to make their city a stop, based on creative local marketing and a promise to renovate the train station. The station captures the look of the 1906 station that was remodeled and replaced almost exactly 55 years earlier, on June 20, 1951.

In 1951, the original station was completely remodeled and “modernized.” The most recent project restored the exterior of the building to its original design. The restored brick depot is painted beige and is trimmed in green. Large metal brackets support an overhanging roof. Other improvements to the site include new signage, parking, fencing, landscaping, and bicycle racks. There is also space for a future ticket agent’s office. The depot now features a Museum of Railroad Memorabilia as well as a restored caboose on the grounds.

The city used grants from the Texas Department of Transportation ($550,000), Mineola Development Inc. ($195,820) and the Meredith Foundation ($46,000 for a railroad museum) and raised additional funds ($13,000) to support the project.

The building, at 115 East Front Street, is now part of what is known locally as the Mineola Transportation Plaza. The property is leased from the Union Pacific Railroad. The now multi-modal depot is known as the Mineola Transportation Plaza and won the “Best Building Restoration” award from the Texas Downtown Association in 2006.

The recent restoration of the Mineola depot is fitting for a city that owes its existence to the railroad. Mineola came into existence when railroad companies began building lines through East Texas. Two railroads, the Texas & Pacific (T&P) and the International & Great Northern, raced to see which could get to Mineola first. It was a close race, but the I & GN reached Mineola 15 minutes earlier. Both railroads eventually became part of Union Pacific.

According to some, the town was named by an I & GN official who laid-out the town site. The moniker came from a friend’s name (Minnie Patten) and that of his daughter (Ola).

Mineola was in the heart of East Texas timber country, making timber readily available for railroad tie-making and lumber. The construction of a T&P Railroad shop and the discovery of oil in Wood County in the 1940s caused growth as well. Two railroad hotels, Beckham (in the north) and Carleton Bay (in the south) served train crews on layovers between trips.

Mineola is home to many bed-and-breakfasts and antique stores. Events and festivals take place year-round. The Railroad Heritage Festival takes place in October. The Select Theater is also an attraction. The 70-year-old playhouse is the last remaining movie house in Mineola and plays an active role in the community. Willie Brown, the eventual Speaker of the California Assembly and Mayor of San Francisco was born and raised in Mineola before leaving after high school graduation. He was another of the advocates for the Amtrak stop in Mineola and rode the first Amtrak Texas Eagle to stop in Mineola in 1996.

Mineola is also the gateway to Tyler, Texas, 35 miles to the south. Tyler has been nicknamed the "Rose Capital of America" because of its large role in the rose-growing industry; about 20% of commercial rose bushes produced in the U.S. are grown in Tyler and Smith County and more than half of the rose bushes are packaged and shipped from the area. It has the nation's largest municipal rose garden and hosts the Texas Rose Festival each October, which draws more than 100,000 spectators.

Mineola is served by two daily trains.

Amtrak does not provide ticketing or baggage services at this facility.