Travel and Explore Amarillo, TX!

Amarillo, TX First settled in 1887, Amarillo serves as the commercial, cultural, and recreations center of the Texas Panhandle. Fifty-six parks provide recreational opportunities. Amarillo was on Route 66 and "Old Route 66" signs mark the route through the area. Amarillo is home of Amarillo College. Amarillo events include: Texas Outdoor Musical Drama, National Old-Timers Rodeo, and Tri-State Fair.  Amarillo Chamber of Commerce  P.O. Box 9480  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 373-7800 or (800) 692-1338  Information about Amarillo and the area.  Amarillo Garden Center  1400 Streit Dr.  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 352-6513  A fragrance garden and greenhouse center located on the 51-acre Medical Center Park.  Amarillo Museum of Art  2200 S. Van Buren St.,on the campus of Amarillo College  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 371-5050 or (806) 352-6513  A museum consisting of a collection of excellent paintings and scultures. Dedicated to the fine arts, music and drama, the museum also offers regular performing arts.  Amarillo Zoo  NE 24th Ave. at U.S. 287, in Thompson Park  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 381-7911  A 20-acre range with herds of bison and animals that appeal to children.  American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum  I40 and Nelson st.  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 376-5181  Features the world's largest equine registry, which contains over 2.6 million horses. The quarter horse is America's Horse and was the first American horse breed.  Big Texan Steak Ranch and Opry  I-40 and Lakeside  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 372-7000  Famous for the 72-oz. steak. Eat it in one hour and it is free! A variety of country western entertainers perform live on Tuesday nights. Reservations are recommended.  Cadillac Ranch  Located west of Amarillo on I40  Amarillo  Texas    A collection of Ten Cadillacs (1949-1963) buried nose down at the same angle as the Cheops' pyramids.  Cal Farley's Boys Ranch  36 mi. n.w. on FM 1061  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 372-2341  A ranch for troubled youths. Boys and girls ages 5-19 have a home hear. This 10,700-acre ranch is built on the 1870s town site of Tascosa which includes a museum of Old West memorabilia and a barbed-wire collection.  Don Harrington Discovery Center  1200 Streit Dr. in the Medical Center Park  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 355-9547  The center has hands-on exhibits and activities, a 360-degree theater, an aquarium with exotic fish, and a planetarium with shows and a night sky program.  Garden Center  1400 Streit Dr.  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 352-6513  The Garden Center is located in the 51-acre park. Elegant lawns and walkways and decorative floral displays. For the blind there is a touch and smell garden.  Harrington House  1600 S. Polk Street  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 374-5490  A 1914 neoclassical style house featuring French and English furnishings.  Helium Monument  1200 Streit Dr.  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 355-9547  A six story, 60-foot stainless steel monument erected in 1968 for the discovery of helium in 1868. Large quantities of the natural element is locate near by.  Kritser Aviation and Space Museum  Tradewind Airport, Hangar 4  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 372-6999  Features and displays helicopters of the Vietnam era.  Palo Duro Canyon State Park  12 miles east on SR 217  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 488-2227  Palo Duro Canyon (meaning "Hardwood"). Palo Duro Canyon is the largest State Park in Texas and the nation's second largest canyon. The park contains a spectacular geologic scenic area, geological formation and a panorama of colors throughout the park. You can view the park's scenery by car, horse and hiking.  Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum  4th Ave., Canyon TX  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 656-2244  Featured exhibits include donosaurs, conquisadors, western art collections and the history of the petroleum industry. Free admission.  Panhandle-Plans Historical Museum  2401 4th Ave., e. of US 87 on SR 217  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 656-2244  It offers cultural, geological and economic history of northwest Texas. There is a time-line that you will approach about the five major displays.  Thompson Park  US 287N Exit 24th Ave.  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 381-7911  Includes a 36-hole golf course, children zoo, picnic area and a lake.  Wonderland Park  NE 24th and U.S. 87  Amarillo  Texas  (806) 383-4712  Over 30 attractions and 25 rides. The park features the Texas Tornado, raging rapids, flumes and the double-loop steel roller coaster. The park also has a train, minature golf, arcade games and food.