Welcome to Stop 2 of the Rails, Bales and Bluebonnet Trails historic downtown Ennis walking tour. Minnie McDowal Park is the gateway to our historic downtown Ennis district, where visitors can take a stroll and find a special place to unwind, gather, eat and play. In the late 1940’s Minnie McDowal began working as a cashier at the Plaza Theatre that once stood at this location. It was eventually renamed to the Tara Theatre, which was purchased by the Mitchell family in 1960 and became the first indoor theatre owned by Lee Roy Mitchell, the founder of Cinemark USA, INC. In 1992, the theatre was severely damaged by a windstorm and was reluctantly demolished. Lee Roy Mitchell and family donated the property to the City of Ennis in 1993 in honor of their beloved, long-time employee, Minnie McDowal, who had grown up in Ennis. The park was reconstructed in 2017 and has evolved into the beautiful public gathering place it is today.