MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
HISTORIC TOURS OF TEXAS is a small business offering luxury tours in a large, comfortable 15-passenger party van. “Our mission is to provide engaging and entertaining historical visits to locations in and around East Texas in the comfort of our luxury party van, as well as tours to Mexico and Spain. Our company is dedicated to sharing fascinating stories about the people and places of East Texas from its earliest native tribes to the variety of travelers who came through the area and to the settlers who have made Texas their home. Visitors will learn the history of the economic development of Texas from cotton plantations to lumber mills to rice farms and the rise of educational, church and governmental entities in the many towns that dot East Texas. Our company also provides tours to the Mexican Riviera, to the Sea of Cortez, to San Miguel de Allende and other historic sites in Mexico and Spain. After two years of being shut in, tourism is once again an attractive industry. Tours are aimed primarily at retirees who are still interested in traveling but no longer want to drive themselves or go alone.”
Dr. Caroline Crimm, the owner, is a retired history professor Emeritus from Sam Houston State University, who enjoys sharing the history of Texas with her guests. As an award-winning teacher, she inspires and entertains those who join her trips in the van known as the Joye Mobile, by using her 40 years of teaching experience to share the wonderful stories of Texas History with her guests. Among the many tours she offers are visits to Historic Huntsville, Tiny Town Tours on Friday afternoons, wine tours to local wineries on Saturdays, and educational trips to Nacogdoches, Galveston, San Antonio and dozens of other sites as well as several international tours.
In order to maintain its friendly, personal ambience, Historic Tours of Texas limits its tours to 10 to 12 like-minded, intellectually curious guests. With the comfortable limousine seating (and, yes, a dance pole) the guests soon become acquaintances and friends. Overnight stays are, as often as possible, at lovely historic Bed and Breakfasts with meals at the best local eateries. Your tour guides, whether it is Dr. Crimm or a local step-aboard guide, provide historic insights and local yarns to help you learn “the Rest of the Story.”
The party bus is also available for wedding parties; safe and secure bar-hopping; bachelorette parties, trips for Genealogists to the Clayton Library; safe transportation for Quilters desiring to attend the Annual Quilt show but not wanting to drive or find a parking spot in Houston; viewing tours of the Christmas lights, or visits to arboretums and gardens in glorious bloom with spring flowers across East Texas.
We asked Dr. Crimm why she felt it was important for her to be a Chamber member. She shared, “Our Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic and critical part of our community. The Chamber helps to encourage and develop small businesses such as mine by providing numerous fairs and exhibitions where businesses can display their wares and attract customers. Recently, the Chamber has begun to work extensively with the Small Business Development Center to provide government- supported training programs and very worthwhile informational materials. For the last several years, I have had the good fortune to be part of the Thursday Leads group. These business owners help the growth of small businesses like mine by referring opportunities to each other. Without the encouragement and support of this group of individuals, I would probably not have succeeded in remaining in business. The help that I have received from the wonderful staff at the Chamber has also made my future success a growing probability.”
