Texas Forest Country
Jasper County becoming attractions to retirees
By KATIE WALDROP Staff Writer

The Texas Forest Country has been claimed as a place for retirees to come and settle down. Jasper County is one of the 13 counties a part of the Texas Forest Country.

Jasper County is an area for older adults that may be living in urban and suburban areas to come and live a slower paced life, where the cost of living is less than larger cities and can accommodate a fixed income budget.

Retirees ranging between their 50s and 60s are used to an active lifestyle; moving around, going to work and staying busy.

To drop everything and become immobile would be difficult for most people.

"Jasper County is a hot spot for active retirees," said Trent Ashby, a member of Texas Forest Country Partnership Board of Directors.

"Jasper is relatively close to larger cities. You can drive to see the Astros play, drive to Dallas, Shreveport, Beaumont, Houston and it's all surrounding Jasper.

And it's the

'Jewel of the Forest'.

"To emphasize the advantages

it is easier

to paint a picture of all the assets,

four

lakes and three

and a half national forests"

Ashby said.

In Jasper County people

can

check out Umphrey Family Pavilion for a tournament on Lake Sam Rayburn.

Martin Dies Jr. State Park offers fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, boating, bird watching and more.

"Many retirees are surprised by the health care quality and the capabilities of hospitals for specialty treatments," Ashby said.

Within Jasper County alone there are at least six health facilities.

"Whether you like it or not, baby boomers are coming," said Ashby "Within the next 20 years, 1/3 of the population will be baby boomers."

Although some may feel retirees are a detriment to society the true perspective is that they can have a large economic impact.

"Take Jacksonville for example," Ashby said. "Retirees can have the same local economic impact as that of 3.7 manufacturing jobs."

As of now two counties have achieved the status of 'Certified Retirement Communities', Nacogdoches and Lufkin. This is a lengthy, community-wide process, that takes time.

"Since these counties have received their CRC certification four to six more phone calls have been coming in everyday wanting to know more about The Texas Forest Country because of the certification," Ashby said.

Baby boomers are coming, you can either sit-back or appreciate it.