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Food and Fun

photos by Hollis Shadden

Where the Bayou's Stories Still Gather

By Beverly Gentry



In a town known for ghost stories, riverboat history, antique treasures and Victorian charm, there is one place where nearly every Jefferson adventure eventually leads.

Maybe it begins after a day of browsing antique stores along Austin Street. Maybe it’s after a riverboat tour, a ghost walk or a weekend spent exploring one of Texas’ most historic small towns. Whatever brings visitors to Jefferson, many eventually find themselves pushing through the doors of Auntie Skinner’s Riverboat Club.

Housed in a historic building dating to the 1850s, Auntie Skinner’s has been part of downtown Jefferson’s character since opening in 1983. Today, the restaurant, bar and live music venue remains one of the most recognizable destinations in East Texas, welcoming everyone from local regulars and motorcycle riders to antique hunters and weekend travelers searching for a taste of Jefferson’s unique personality.

Known as the Queen of the Bayou, Jefferson was once one of the busiest inland ports in Texas. During the mid-1800s, steamboats traveled from New Orleans and St. Louis to Jefferson through the Big Cypress Bayou, helping transform the community into one of the state’s most important commercial centers. While the river traffic has long disappeared, the spirit of that era remains alive in the brick streets, historic storefronts and welcoming atmosphere that continue to draw visitors from across Texas and beyond.

Owned by Stan and Michelle Davis since 2012, the business has grown into more than a restaurant and bar. It serves as a gathering place for community organizations, local celebrations and visitors looking for an authentic East Texas experience. The couple has become deeply involved in community events and charitable efforts, helping establish and grow popular Jefferson traditions such as the East Texas Burn Run and the Outlaw National Car Show, events that attract thousands of visitors to the city each year.

On any given weekend, live music spills from the stage while diners fill tables beneath weathered wood, vintage signs and decades of accumulated memories. The atmosphere feels part honky-tonk, part river town saloon and entirely Jefferson.

Guests can start with favorites such as Boudin Balls, Cowboy Corn Bites or Spicy Pimento Cheese Dip before moving on to hearty entrees, steaks, seafood and oversized burgers. One longtime customer favorite is the Poorman’s Steak, a hand-crafted hamburger steak stuffed with jalapeños and green onions, topped with sautéed onions, melted cheese and brown gravy. It is comfort food with an East Texas attitude.

Auntie Skinner’s has become one of those rare places where locals and visitors naturally gather. During Mardi Gras Upriver, the streets surrounding the restaurant fill with revelers. On ordinary weekends, it’s simply where friends meet, stories are exchanged and another chapter of Jefferson life unfolds.

Perhaps that is why Auntie Skinner’s has endured for more than four decades. In a town built on history and hospitality, it offers both in generous portions.