Amarillo Attractions

Palo Duro Canyon is to Texas what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona. Up to 1313 ft deep and aglow with red and yellow colouring, the gorge is reached from Canyon, south-east of Amarillo. The effortless way to see it is on the 16 mi. long Scenic Drive.

This 2 acres garden, which is actually part of the Medical Center Park, features a green house and a fragrance garden.

The Amarillo Museum of Art features changing exhibits and offers a variety of educational programs and workshops for children and adults.

The 20-acre Amarillo Zoo features animals of the High Plains and other animals native to Texas.

American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum showcases the history and modern activities of the American Quarter Horse. Artifacts, artwork, audio visual and hands-on exhibits are available for visitors.

Splash Amarillo is a water park with water slides, lazy river, an interactive kiddie pool beach volleyballs and a bucket dump tower.

The 610 acre Thompson Park is home to a small zoo, a 36-hole golf course, a lake, ball park, children's amusement area, and picnic area.

The flint quarries at Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument can be toured by reservation only.

Archeologists find tools made of Alibates flint in many places throughout the Great Plains and southwest. Its use dates from 12,000 years ago to about 1870. Distinctive for its varied and bright colors, the flint comes from a large area within and nearby Lake Meredith. The flint was valuable because it could be fashioned into tools and weapons and traded for such items as sea shells, turquoise, pipestone, and decorated pottery.

Borger was an oil boomtown of the early 1900's which grew to a population of 40,000. Today the town is still a petroleum center and it maintains a population of approximately 15,000. The town is also known for its proximity to the site of the Battle of Adobe Walls, which is northeast of Borger.

The Hutchinson County Historical Museum offers exhibits related to the history of the area, including the era of the Spanish, Plains Indians, American frontier, and the boomtown days.

The museum, located in the 1909 Old Carter House, displays items related to the history of the county.

Dumas was founded in 1891 by Louis Dumas, president of the Panhandle Townsite Company. The town is north of Amarillo.

The Art Center in Dumas is as a neighbor to Window on the Plains Museum. The Art Center houses an extensive permanent collection of area artists as well as a comprehensive library of art books.

Dumas was originally an agricultural area that grew into a larger community with the discovery of oil in the 1920's. The Window on the Plains Museumm features extensive displays centered around farming and ranching, industry, business, family life and wildlife. The museum also houses a research and archives center.

Fritch (pop. 2,500) is a good base from which to explore the nearby recreational areas of Lake Meredith and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument.

The Lake Meredith Aquatic Museum features collections of live fish as well as wildlife dioramas.

The Lake Meredith Recreation Area is comprised of several areas which skirt the lake, offering camping, and picnic facilities. The area is popular with those interested in water sports.

The museum houses a collection of items and historic records from the town's history.

Housed in the old Santa Fe Railroad depot, the museum's collection includes household pioneer items, documents, agricultural equipment, weapons, Native American Indian artifacts and art, as well as prehistoric artifacts and fossils.

Pampa (pop. 20,000) was established in 1888 on the Santa Fe Railroad. The town boasts numerous parks and golf courses.

The museum offers information on all military branches dating back to the Revolutionary War.

The museum features period rooms and other historical items related to the time of the settlers.

Housed in the oldest building in the town, the Square House Museum features dioramas and art to depict the natural and cultural history of the area.

The museum features displays on the natural and cultural history of the area with permanent and changing exhibits.

This small town was incorporated in 1911, was originally a post office and is now a farming community.

The museum, housed in the old Reynolds Hotel, offers a wide range of displays, from American Indian and cowboy artifacts to NASA moon mission articles.

Housed in the restored depot agent's home, the museum offers displays on the history of Hansford County.

Vega, the county seat of Oldham County, is in the southern part of the county. In Spanish its name means "plains or meadow". The first settler arrived in 1899.