Despite never stepping foot in Columbus, Missy Parker moved there for a porch. “I was looking at old homes online and this one struck me,” she says of her 1895 Greek Revival-style home with a wraparound porch. “I bought it sight unseen.”

Parker, who was nearing retirement from her career in pharmaceuticals, packed her bags and moved in 2021 from her longtime home of Colleyville to start a new life in the town of 3,700 residents 70 miles west of Houston. As she settled in, she discovered not only a welcoming community but also a new purpose in life: saving the town’s historic 1886 Stafford Opera House. “It may be an overused term, but it is a crown jewel—not only in this town and county but in this region,” she says.

In its heyday, the opera house sat up to 1,000 people and drew crowds from across the state and beyond thanks to its impressive roster of performers like illusionist Harry Houdini. In recent years, however, the building fell into disrepair, and $800,000 needed to be raised to make necessary upgrades, including structural, plumbing, roofing, and flooring repairs.

In late 2023, Parker agreed to become the executive director of the opera house, a volunteer position that requires 40-60 hours of work per week. She put together a business plan and created six volunteer committees to raise the money. Within the first five months, they raised $600,000; the rest soon followed.

Parker can’t believe how much her new town has changed her life. She hosted her daughter’s baby shower on her porch, and this fall, the opera house is having a grand reopening. “I thought I was here for a porch,” she says. “Turns out, I was here to save an opera house.”

1 ⁄ Keyser Market

Tucked inside an unassuming storefront on the Columbus Courthouse Square, Keyser Market has served fresh-cut meats, sausage, and barbecue (Saturdays only) since 1970. Don’t miss the fresh-baked pastries, either. “You’ve never had a cinnamon roll like theirs,” Parker says.

2 ⁄ Magnolia Society

This restaurant was started by two friends, Sherry Tucker and Christine McBride, who grew up in Columbus and later returned with a shared culinary vision. “Sherry and Christine have created a classy and welcoming environment for dining while also preserving another historic building in this beautiful town,” Parker says.

3 ⁄ Hound Song Brewing Co.

This downtown brewery offers a variety of flagship and rotating beers, including High Cotton, a vibrant IPA, and Burnin Daylight, a light lager. Menu options include pretzel bites, chips and queso, and crispy Brussels sprouts. “You can see where all of the beer is made,” Parker says. “It’s just a really neat place.”

4 ⁄ Santa Claus Museum

This Columbus classic opened in 1990 and features five collections with more than 5,000 artifacts paying tribute to the big man himself. “It has brought thousands of smiles to people of every age from all over the world,” Parker says. The museum is open Friday afternoons all year long, on Saturdays in December, or by appointment.

5 ⁄ Magnolia Days Festival

Held annually the third weekend in May, this free festival showcases the town’s 100-year-old live oak tree. There’s music, a car show, food stalls, and a biergarten. “Magnolia Days is when the entire community comes together to celebrate each other,” Parker says.