Texas Plains Trail Region

17/12/2024

Our region is fortunate to have several nice rest stops and picnic areas scattered throughout our 52 counties! Located between Brownfield and Lubbock on US Highway 62 is the Blankenship Picnic Area, which is also the site of the former Primrose School and historical marker.

The marker reads:

(About one-half mile southwest)
First public school in Hockley County; named for a wild prairie flower. In 1902 homesteaders had begun farming here. By 1909 their children needed education, so the parents hauled lumber by wagon from Big Spring (about 100 mi. S), donated labor, and built a one-room schoolhouse. Classes began Dec. 13, 1909, with pupils from the Ardis, Baker, Blankenship, Brown, Carter, Cowan, Dixon, Perritt, Rose, and Witherspoon families. The schoolhouse served as polling place, church, and public meeting hall in 1917, when Ropesville was established about a mile away, with better facilities. (1974)

12/12/2024

We are beyond overjoyed at this news! We are so proud to have two state historic sites in our region now this addition.

We look forward to continuing to share the The Slaton Harvey House legacy with generations to come! 💙

10/12/2024

On this day in 1928, the future television star Dan Blocker was born in DeKalb, Texas. When he was six years old the family moved to O'Donnell, in Lynn County, where his father operated a general store.

Dan attended Texas Military Institute in San Antonio and Hardin-Simmons University before entering Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine in 1947. After graduating with a B.A. degree in speech and drama, he refused offers of professional careers in both football and boxing. He was drafted for combat duty in Korea, where he served as an infantry sergeant. In 1952 he returned to Sul Ross, where he earned an M.A. degree, and then taught school in Sonora, Texas, and Carlsbad, New Mexico, before moving to California in 1956 to work on a Ph.D. degree at the University of California at Los Angeles. During this time he also worked as a substitute teacher and began his career as a professional actor in Los Angeles.
He played the role of Hoss Cartwright for thirteen seasons, from 1959 until his death in 1972 from complications following an operation, on NBC's "Bonanza," one of the longest-running and most popular TV series in history.

A monument in Blocker's memory stands in a park in downtown O'Donnell, across the street from a museum which displays memorabilia from his career.
📍 https://bit.ly/3hgD01i

07/12/2024

The Ritz Community Theatre in Snyder is once again lighting up the downtown square! Just in time for Christmas. 🎄❤️ We love to see our historic theaters being preserved. These venues are more than buildings—they are living legacies where art, history, and community come together to inspire and entertain.

03/12/2024

Subscribe to the heritage magazine of our Lone Star State! 💙

Time’s Running Out! Black Friday Sale Ends Tuesday! This is your LAST CHANCE to save 20% on a 1-year subscription to Authentic Texas. Don’t miss out on this incredible deal to explore stories about Texas history, culture, and heritage!

It's a great gift for friends and family, so whether its for you or a gift for someone else, don't miss out on great savings! https://authentictexas.com/subscribe

30/11/2024

🛍️ Small businesses are the heart and soul of the Texas Plains Trail Region. From family-owned shops to local cafes and artisans, these businesses are not just economic drivers—they’re keepers of our culture, history, and community spirit.

When you support small businesses, you’re doing more than just shopping local:

• Preserving Local Heritage
• Strengthening Communities
• Fostering Innovation

Let’s keep the Texas Plains Trail Region thriving by choosing to shop small and invest in the businesses that make our area extraordinary.

Featured is a favorite stop on our way to Palo Duro Canyon, the Sad Monkey Mercantile. Just 15 minutes from Canyon, and 25 minutes from Amarillo - Sad Monkey Mercantile is a multifaceted business offering a unique experience for both tourists and locals alike. They aim to provide a place for all visitors to find food, drinks, and rest, while browsing camping gear, homewares, and “Panhandle Proud” merchandise.

📍https://www.sadmonkeymercantile.com/about

28/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving from the Texas Plains Trail Region! 🦃

Today, we’re counting our blessings and celebrating the spirit of gratitude that binds us together. We’re thankful for:

🛤️ Our Rich Heritage – The stories of the Texas Plains Region connect us to the resilience and pioneering spirit of those who came before.

🤝 Our Communities – The people who preserve, share, and celebrate our history are the backbone of our trail. We’re grateful for the museums, heritage sites, cultural centers and passionate individuals who keep Texas’ legacy alive.

🌅Our Scenic Landscapes – The vast plains, red canyons, vibrant sunsets, and rugged beauty of this region inspire us every day.

💙 Our Visitors and Supporters – Whether you’re exploring our region in person or cheering us on from afar, your curiosity and enthusiasm fuel our mission to share the story of the Texas Plains Trail.

As we gather around today, we’re reminded of the importance of connection—past, present, and future. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

📸 A tom turkey at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife

27/11/2024

🎉Congratulations to the McDonald Trading Post on being honored with a Texas Treasure Business Award by the Texas Historical Commission. This honor recognizes their significant role in West Texas history as a key trading and ranching hub since the late 19th century.

The McDonald family’s dedication to preserving this heritage ensures that future generations can appreciate its impact on the region’s development. Here’s to celebrating a piece of Texas history that continues to inspire!

For 88 years of continuous service, McDonald Trading Post was recognized with the Texas Treasure Business Award by the state historical commission

20/11/2024

Warren Queton, a member of the Kiowa Tribe, shared his reflections on the significance of Palo Duro Canyon to the Kiowa Tribe, Comanche Nation, and the Cheyanne and Arapaho Tribes in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Palo Duro on September 28, 2024.

We are so grateful for his insight and to be able to continue to learn about the Native American heritage in our region through these partnerships.

I had the great honor to speak with Warren Queton, a member of the Kiowa Tribe, who shared his reflections on the significance of Palo Duro Canyon to the Kio...

19/11/2024

This Texas Quote comes from M.E. Bell, a young ranch hand who began working for legendary cattleman Charles Goodnight on the J.A. Ranch in the early 1880s—a story of grit, determination, and the start of a life shaped by the rugged ranching life of the Texas Plains.

The Texas Quote of the day comes from M.E. Bell, who was roughly 16 years old when he went to work for the iconic rancher Charles Goodnight on Goodnight's J.A. Ranch in the early 1880s:

"I shall never forget the day I asked Colonel Goodnight for a job. He was in the office working on his books at the time I applied for a job. I walked into the office, but he did not look up. I spoke to him and told him that I wanted a job. He turned around in his chair and looked at me for a good bit before he said a word. I felt like he was staring a hole right through me. The first thing he said to me was, 'Well, son, you are rather small, do you think you can do a man's work?' I told him I believed I could. He then said, 'I don't believe I can afford to give you as much as I am giving the other boys.' I told him that was all right, what I wanted was a job. And it was the truth, too: I was just a kid, a long way from home, jobs were scarce, winter was coming on, and I wanted some place to stay during the winter months.

He gave me a job all right. He had a grub patch near headquarters which he kept to try new hands to see if they really wanted to work. he put me to work on this grub patch. It was rather heavy work for me, but I worked like the dickens for three days on this job; then he put me on a horse. He gave me the same salary the other boys got, too."

----- Mitchell Edward Bell, as quoted by Harley True Burton in "A History of the J.A. Ranch IV," Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 32, No. 1, July, 1928. M.E. Bell worked for five years on the JA Ranch and later became owner of a substantial ranch 26 miles south of Clarendon. He fathered five sons, all of whom became ranchers and cattlemen. M.E. Bell was born in Mississippi in 1864 and died in Amarillo in 1958. He was 93 years old. Mr. Bell was buried in the Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon, Texas. Shown in this photo is the main house/headquarters of the JA Ranch. I would imagine this looked quite appealing to a skinny 16-year-old kid looking for a place to stay out of the cold!

11/11/2024

Today, we pause to honor and thank our veterans, the brave men and women who have served our country with courage, dedication, and sacrifice. We are forever grateful for your service and the legacy you have built. You are the true heroes, and we are in your debt.

As you travel through our region, visit one of the many sites that honors veterans and our military heritage: https://bit.ly/3UQ16hw

📍Freedom Museum USA, Pampa

07/11/2024

We are so excited to see these preservation efforts underway! ❤️

History is underway at the Goodnight Ranch!

All five house chimneys are being restored for the first time in 50 years, along with stained-glass weathervanes crafted to closely resemble the originals that once crowned the roof, overlooking the Southern Great Plains. We are deeply grateful to see this dream become a reality and eagerly anticipate the moment we can welcome visitors back for house tours! In the meantime, please feel free to visit the Learning Center on-site! We have a new exhibit on the Red River War!

05/11/2024

Make plans to attend the Southern Plains Handgame Exhibition at Texas Tech University tomorrow night - Wednesday, November 6th - at 7pm in the Red Raider Ballroom of the Student Union Building! This family friendly event is free and open to the public.

Teams from the Kiowa Tribe, Comanche Nation, and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes will be on campus to demonstrate this exciting Native American game. We hope you’ll join us to learn more about this traditional Indigenous pastime. This event is part of the Humanities Center’s 2024-2025 theme “Celebrating Indigenous Resilience: Commemorating the Red River War and Honoring the Vibrancy of Native American History and Culture on the Southern Plains.”

https://www.depts.ttu.edu/provost/humanities-center/upcoming-events.php

02/11/2024

On this day in 1940, the cowboy “poet laureate,” Lysius Gough passed away at his home in Amarillo. He did many things throughout his life. Gough earned a teaching certificate, published a book of cowboy verse, engaged in real estate, farming, and irrigation well drilling. Gough served as president of the Texas Wheat Growers Association and also helped organize the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society. He published Spur Jingles and Saddle Songs in 1935.

His poem below recalls his time spent working as a cowboy on the T Anchor Ranch.

The T-Anchor Ranch

I would like to see the Palo Duro
at the old T-Anchor Ranch;
and the clear, cold-water spring,
that's on the garden branch.
for on that ranch in eighty-two,
one summer I did share,
and in the cool and pleasant days,
spent happy hours there.

Then I could see the pretty valley
so level and so wide
and the wild antelope,
upon the the mountain side;
and the weeping willow grove,
that's by the old corral,
for it's the very place
I used to love so well

And in that old corral,
I used to take my stand,
while in the furnace heat the iron
and catch the calves to brand.
for this, we always did,
let it be cool or calm;
I had a noble partner,
and called him Jolly Sam.

I would then go to the falls,
to see the catfish swim,
take some bait, a hook and line,
and catch a few of them.
I would go up to the stream,
where the plums and currants grow,
among the pretty cedars,
a pleasant place I know.

Then, next upon the park
is where I would like to be;
to view across the level plains,
as far as the eye can see.
then in the shady cedar grove,
in pleasure I would play,
and see the lakes of water wave,
on a clear, bright summer day.

And when the lakes were dry,
I could see the mirage white,
and watch the wild mustang
run far out of my sight.
I could also see the stream,
and the little hills of stone,
the waving cottonwood,
and the waters rolling on.

July, 1884

01/11/2024

Do you have a holiday event happening in the Texas Plains Trail Region? We want to help spread the word! Submit your festive happenings—from parades and markets to historic home tours and holiday light displays—to reach travelers and locals eager to celebrate the season. 🎄✨

Share your event details with us to be included on our website, social media and email newsletter and let’s make this holiday season one to remember across the Texas Plains!

https://texastimetravel.com/events/submit-your-event/

31/10/2024

🎃 This Halloween, immerse yourself in the haunting past of Glenrio, a ghost town on Route 66 that straddles Texas and New Mexico in the Texas Plains Trail Region.

Once a bustling stop, Glenrio faded after the construction of I-40. Now, travelers can visit the Glenrio Historic District, featuring abandoned buildings like a former diner and Texaco station that evoke the eerie echoes of the past. Discover the spirits of Route 66 with us this spooky season!

Read about 7 of the quietest places along Route 66, some that are ghost towns, other have a few remaining residents angling for revival.

30/10/2024

Mark your calendars for November 3! Enjoy a day of free admission to Texas state parks, with over 80 parks open for exploration. Hike, paddle, or relax and immerse yourself in the beautiful Texas outdoors.

Explore the stunning Texas Plains Trail Region Parks; From Lake Colorado City State Park - Texas Parks & Wildlife serene waters to Texas Parks and Wildlife - Copper Breaks State Park rugged terrain, each park offers unique adventures. Caprock Canyons State Park is home to Texas’s official bison herd, while Big Spring State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife promises panoramic views and hiking trails. Don’t miss Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife the nation’s second-largest canyon, for breathtaking landscapes. Join us in celebrating these incredible parks with free admission—perfect for a day of exploration and appreciation!

📸 Caprock Canyons State Park, TPWD

29/10/2024

It’s a week of celebrating Texas downtowns in Visit Abilene, Texas!

We truly value our partnership with Texas Downtown as it allows us to collaborate on preserving and revitalizing the heart of Texas communities. Working together, we’re able to share resources, ideas, and support to strengthen downtowns across the state, enriching visitor experiences.