Lubbock

Lubbock County was founded in 1876 and named after Thomas S. Lubbock, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and subsequent Confederate officer. Mr. Lubbock didn't have any particular ties to the area; but the area bore his name because a state administrator penciled in names of counties on a crude map of the Panhandle - at random. The modern town of Lubbock was not established until 1890 when old-Lubbock and the smaller town of Monterey struck an unusual alliance and merged the two communities, a deal most likely initiated by rival town promoters hired by area ranchers and merchants to lobby Ft. Worth & Denver for a rail depot. The site of Monterey was chosen in lieu of the new township's name, Lubbock. Old-Lubbock's residents relocated to Monterey just south of the Yellowhouse Canyon, dragging the Nicollete Hotel with them on rollers. Lubbock became the county seat in 1891 and incorporated as a city in 1909.

In 1923 Texas Technological College, now known as Texas Tech University, was founded after a contentious bid war among several area cities including Amarillo and Plainview. The city of Lubbock was a mile away from the only campus building during its first session.

A category F-5 tornado cut an 8-mile (13 km) gash through the city on the evening of May 11, 1970, resulting in $125 million in property damage and the loss of 26 lives. The devastation received international news coverage and was among the first natural disaster recoveries to be documented on television. The coordinated effort served as a model for disaster recovery research and planning. The destruction of several thousand homes effectively ended segregation throughout the city.

• Elevation: 3256 ft (992 m)

Lubbock is the largest developed area atop the Llano Estacado plateau. The area, when first explored, was a featureless grassland, and, according to legend, Spanish conquistadors drove large, brightly-colored stakes into the ground to plot their position. The region was later named Llano Estacado, translated loosely as "staked plains" or more accurately as "palisaded plains". The first settlers encountered banditos or native Comanche who would often hold new arrivals for ransom. The portion of the Caprock Escarpment just east of Lubbock is known as Ransom Canyon.

• 🌍 Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB  ^IATA) (5 mi (8.0 km) north of downtown). Southwest Airlines, United Express, and American Eagle serve the small airport. Air travel to Lubbock will most likely require a connecting flight in one of the airports with direct service to Lubbock. American flies to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and United flies to Houston (Bush) and Denver. Southwest has nonstop flights to Las Vegas, Austin, and Dallas Love Field. 

Cab fare to the Downtown area or Texas Tech is $13 to $18. Fare to the hotels along the south and southwest beltway range from $20 to $25. Royal Coach offers posted rates from the airport into the city. The fare is based on a zoned map ranging from $6 to $24, depending on your destination.

Lubbock is easily accessible by car. US 62/82, US 84, I-27, US 87 and TX 114 are well maintained roadways which allow for easy driving in and out of the city. A modern beltway, TX Loop 289, offers a quick shortcut around the city's notoriously absent congestion.

TNM&O is the local Greyhound affiliate and offers connecting lines to all major U.S. cities. Arrivals occur most often in daylight, while a majority of the departures occur at dawn or dusk. The TNM&O terminal also serve as its corporate offices. The closed Bus Stop Diner, on the 13th St. side of the terminal, is rumored to be haunted by the city's transients. TNM&O administrators blame the dust.

Lubbock is developed along a large scale grid. North-south streets are labeled A-Z Downtown and progress to city and state names moving west. East-west streets are numbered from 1 to 150 or so. Streets north of Downtown follow the names of colleges and universities, while those east of Downtown are flowers and trees. Block ranges, house numbering and street names are consistent throughout the city and most follow alphabetical order. All major roadways are 1 mi (1.6 km) from each other in either direction and are uniformly straight.

• The intrastate I-27, which connects Amarillo and Lubbock, terminates south of the TX SR 289 interchange.
• The interchange of 66th St., US 84 and I-27 was once the site of a notorious intersection called The Circle. Avenues A, H, Q, Tahoka Rd. and Slaton Rd. converged in a three lane vaulted hub a half-mile in diameter. Avenues Q & A were not realigned after the I-27 project covered most of Avenue H. The remaining intersection is still very tricky at the northeast corner.
• TX SR 289, often called The Loop or 289 by locals, can be congested along its southwest portion during business hours.
• Construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway will cause severe disruptions near Texas Tech University and Downtown.

The city's public transit authority, Citibus, operates fixed bus routes throughout the city. The system relies on a pulse-based schedule which originates at the Downtown Transfer Plaza. A one-way trip is $1.75, and a day pass is $3.50. The drivers operate electronic fare boxes and do not carry change. Most routes pass through Texas Tech University and the two medical centers. The city is quite large so using the transit may be inconvenient.

The city's only taxicab service, Yellow Cab, is very reliable and offers reasonable fares. Reserving pick-up times is recommended. Plan your trip before calling, as the dispatchers are often extremely busy. It is best to offer your mobile phone number when arranging a pick-up. Drivers will phone you when they are a few blocks away. Yellow Cab also carries several thousand contract passengers everyday so be prepared to wait up to 45 minutes in the late afternoon or early morning. 806 765-7777, Available 24 Hours/day.

• 🌍 Bayer Museum of Agriculture, 1121 Canyon Lake Dr, ☏ +1 806-744-3786, toll-free: +1-877 789-8335, fax: +1 806-744-1734. Tu - Sa 10am to 5pm. Founded in 2001 as a cooperative by local agricultural leaders to preserve the area's history. Also the permanent home of the Lubbock County Historical Collection. The collection ranges from household trinkets to farm equipment and implements. $5. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 American Windmill Museum, 1701 Canyon Lake Dr., ☏ +1 806 747-8734. Tu-Sat 10AM-5PM. Offers a unique experience into the history of wind power from the Old West to today. The center has restored 120 windmills which survived the scrap drives during WWII. Most are scattered along the 28-acre (11 ha) grounds shared by the American Museum of Agriculture. The center operates the city's first wind-turbine which powers the center, the neighboring museum, and 40 homes adjacent to the grounds. $7.50 Adults, $6 Seniors/Veterans, $5 Children (5-12). (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Avenue, ☏ +1 806 775-3560. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. The Buddy Holly Center occupies the renovated Ft. Worth & Denver South Plains Railroad Depot. Houses touring and permanent exhibits focusing on music history, local artists and special programs. A giant-size replica of Buddy Holly's trademark glasses rest on the grounds. The center is the anchor for the Depot District. Adult $8, senior (60+) $6, child 7 - 17 $5, student (with college ID) $5, child (6 and under accompanied by family member) and Active Duty U.S. Military free. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, 511 Ave. K, ☏ +1 806 762-8606. Th-Sa 11AM - 5PM. Home to several performing arts ensembles and theater troupes. The Underwood's galleries feature local artists. The facility includes a performance hall, meeting spaces and a sculpture garden. The Underwood pioneers hands-on workshops and an innovative class series. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Silent Wings Museum, 6202 N I-27, ☏ +1 806 775-3049. Tu - Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. The Silent Wings is dedicated to the glider pilots who trained in Lubbock and nearby Plainview during the second World War. The museum occupies the old Lubbock Regional Airport terminal which was abandoned after the 1970 tornado. Adult $8, senior (60+) $6, child 7 - 17 $5, student (with college ID) $5, child (6 and under accompanied by family member) and Active Duty U.S. Military free. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Science Spectrum, 2579 S. Loop 289, ☏ +1 806-745-2525. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Sun 1PM-5PM. An interactive science museum with over 250 permanent exhibits and touring exhibits throughout the year. The Science Spectrum is well-known throughout the area and very popular during weekends. The OMNI domed theater is in the same facility. Adult $8, child or senior $6.50; with OMNI ticket: adult $13.50, child or senior $10.50. (updated Jun 2020)

The City of Lubbock operates some 75 parks throughout the city. Most border a system of playa lakes which the city uses for flood water retention.

• 🌍 Mackenzie Park, 301 I-27, ☏ +1 806-775-2673. Open 24 hours. Lubbock's premiere park with prairie dog town and trails in 248 acre setting, adjacent to Joyland Amusement Park on NE side of town. 
• 🌍 Clapp Park/Lubbock Garden and Arts Center (42nd St. & University Ave), ☏ +1 806 767-3724. M-Sa 9AM-5PM (varies). The Lubbock Garden is situated in small complex including the Memorial Rose Garden and St. Paul's on the Plain in Clapp Park. Safety City is a playground which sits along the south end of the park near 48th St. The small city is used to teach elementary school children about traffic safety. 
• 🌍 Huneke Park/Lubbock War Memorial (84th St. & Nashville Ave), ☏ +1 806 794-9006. The memorial opened in 2004 after years of lobby by local veterans. The monument consists of thousands of memorial bricks donated by survivors, veteran's families and friends. The memorial is popular at night because Huneke Lake has three illuminated fountains colored red, white and blue. 
• 🌍 Maxey Park/The Kenetic Wind Sculpture (24th St. & Quaker Ave). Maxey Park is a popular park adjacent to Covenant Lakeside Hospital. There are several public use buildings, a large playground, and a seating area with open grills for outdoor cooking. The Kenetic Wind Sculpture sits in the northwest corner of Maxey Lake. Most locals call them the Totem Poles. Bruce Taylor, designed the sculpture in 1992, and claimed during their induction they are supposed to be cotton fiber molecules. 

The Texas Tech University university campus is 2 mi² (5 km²) of mixed-use buildings, rich landscape, a natural rangeland preserve and a student-run golf course. The campus is renowned for its Spanish-style architecture. Walking the campus early morning or late afternoon are best to avoid the throngs of students. Park in the surrounding neighborhoods for free or on campus for $1 to $2 per hour. There are greeters posted at most entrances who will offer directions and instructions for using the electronic meters. On the campus grounds are several outstanding buildings and amazing artwork. A few hours worth of walking is well worth it. Be sure to visit Memorial Circle, Student Union & University Library, English & Philosophy Complex, Sports Complex and Urbanovsky Park.

• 🌍 The University Seal & Fountain (University Ave. & Broadway). A 12-ft (4-m) red granite sculpture depicting the symbols for home, school, church and state. Graduates traditionally have their picture taken next to the seal in full gown with friends and family. 
• 🌍 Park Place (College of Human Sciences). Sculpture garden by Glenna Goodacre installed in 1999. The sculpture's seven pieces depict the seven stages of human life in honor of the College of Human Sciences. 
• 🌍 Will Rogers & Soapsuds, Memorial Circle. 10-ft bronze statue of Will Rogers and his famed horse. The student body voted during its installation in 1950 to turn the horses posterior towards Texas A&M University in College Station- traditional rivals. The statue is wrapped in red crêpe paper by the Saddle Tramps, a student organization, before home football games and black crêpe after national tragedies. 
• 🌍 Student Union Building, Sculpture Garden and Library (15th St. & Boston Ave). A paved walkway between the newly renovated Student Union Building and Library features several memorial pieces and the controversial Whirlwind series which continues into the Student Union. The foyer and main reading room of the Library also house several sculptures and paintings. 

• International Cultural Center, 601 Indiana Ave, ☏ +1 806 742-2974. An extension of the Libraries of Texas Tech which focuses on audio/visual studies and education. The center's libraries contain a far-reaching collection of foreign language film and music. 
• 🌍 Southwest Collection (15th St. & Detroit Ave), ☏ +1 806 742-3749. The Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library houses the Archive of Turkish Oral Narrative , Vietnam Archive, Sowell Collection and the West Texas Historical Association. The building is behind the gazebo-sculptures at 15th & Boston Ave. and north of the Agriculture Pavilion. The building is marked but tucked away from the intersection. Current exhibits: Ro Wauer: Reflections of a Naturalist; Darwin Bicentennial; 200 Years of Spanish Newspapers. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 University Library (15th St. & Boston Ave), ☏ +1 806 742-0737. Main library on campus and the largest research library in the region. The building was designed to resemble a bookshelf, but the red brickwork and tall white arches give the library a distinctive radiator appeal. The Institute for Studies in Pragmaticism is on the 3rd floor. (updated Jun 2020)

• 🌍 Lubbock Lake Landmark, 2401 Landmark Ln, ☏ +1 806 742-1116. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, M 1-5PM. The landmark is a natural history and archaeological preserve on the northwest corner of the city. Visitors can take a three-mile walking tour of the grounds. The landmark documents and preserves evidence of over 12,000 years of continuous human occupation in the region. The facility is designated a National Historic and State Archaeological Landmark. 
• 🌍 Moody Planetarium (4th St. & Indiana Ave), ☏ +1 806 742-2442. The 78-seat planetarium features a talk radio-style show called WSKY, hosted by Dr. Cosmos. Seating is limited. There is an observatory available to the public at dusk most nights. $5. 
• 🌍 Museum of Texas Tech University (3301 4th St), ☏ +1 806-742-2490. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Founded in 1929, the museum is a major center of scientific research and houses the Diamond M Fine Arts Collection, portions of the Southwest Collection and a newly construction research center. Current exhibits 2020: Art & Evolution of the Guitar, Land Arts of the American West, Reflections Made Of Memories James Watkins, Chess. Free. 
• 🌍 National Ranching Heritage Center (3121 4th St), ☏ +1 806 742-0498. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. A historical park adjacent to the Mmseum containing several dozen authentic ranch buildings and exhibits on ranching heritage and the livestock industry. The center is often populated by players depicting life in a late 19th-century ranching town. Free. 

Texans love a good party, and Lubbockites are no exception. Lubbock plays host to some of the most-attended outdoor events in the country. Most of these events are not well-known outside the area, and are blessedly free of tourists.

• Lubbock Arts Festival. April, 2nd or 3rd weekend. The largest arts festival in the region combining fine arts, arts & crafts, food and music. The festival traditionally features an exhibit of Texan studio art. Sponsored by the Lubbock Arts Alliance and local businesses. The event grows in popularity each year with 20 to 30,000 attending. $15. 
• 4th on Broadway. Independence Day. The largest free festival in Texas! Every year over 100,000 people will walk along the 1/2-mile (800-m) portion of Broadway blocked off for the street fair. At dusk the festival moves into the canyon for concert and fireworks. The Lubbock Youth Symphony Orchestra is featured during the fireworks. Space and parking are at a premium, especially in the evening. Free. 
• National Cowboy Symposium. September, 1st weekend. A modest gathering of 20,000 to 50,000 enthusiasts celebrating the prototypical cowboy. Features music, lecture series, cook-offs and horse show. $15. 
• Fiestas del Llano. September, 2nd or 3rd weekend. Cultural festival which focuses on Hispanic history and traditions. Between 10 and 20,000 attend this festival each year. The folk-dance and conjunto banda competitions are very popular. $5. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Panhandle-South Plains Fair. September, Last Week. The nine-day festival is one of the largest regional fairs in the nation. As many as 300,000 people have been known to tread the fairgrounds during fair week. The carnival midway and concerts are the most popular, especially in the evening. Parking is an absolute nightmare. Take a taxi, but be prepared to wait. $20 & parking $5-15. 

Lubbock is prone to fits of severe weather, but the relatively stable climate year round has allowed a small local winery industry to flourish.

• Cap*Rock Winery, 408 E Woodrow Rd, ☏ +1 806 863-2704. An award-winning winery south of Lubbock. 
• Llano Estacado Winery (FM 1585 & US 87 (3 mi (5 km) East)), ☏ +1 806 745-2258. What began as an experiment by biologists at Texas Tech, has become a successful, self-sufficient winery. Wines from Llano Estacado are considered a flagship for Texas wines. The winery will host tours. Call for schedule. 
• Pheasant Ridge Winery (I-27 at Exit 15 (3 mi (5 km) East)), ☏ +1 806 746-6033. A new and very promising winery north of Lubbock. 
• McPherson Cellars (17th & Texas in the Depot District). The premiere winery. 
• La Diosa Cellars (In the Depot District). A unique, boutique winery. 

• 🌍 Joyland Amusement Park, 500 Canyon Lake Dr (Mackenzie Park), ☏ +1 806 763-2719. Varies. A small park with plenty of carnival-style rides, and a tram line. The park features the Sandstorm (new for 2020) and Galaxi coasters and X-Factor thrill ride, among others. Schedule varies, but open most weekends from spring to fall. $6.75 general admission; $23 regular armband, $19.75 juniors/seniors. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Lubbock Water Rampage, 6602 Marsha Sharp Fwy, ☏ +1 806-771-5953. Daily noon - 6PM. Water park with two 400-ft slides, wave pool, lazy river, etc. $25.00 per person (Tube & Taxes Included) $18.50 per person after 4PM (Tube & Taxes Included). (updated Jun 2020)

• 🌍 Ballet Lubbock, 5702 Genoa Ave, ☏ +1 806 785-3090. M-Th 9AM – 6PM, F 9AM – noon. Founded in 1969, Lubbock Ballet is the only ballet company with a pre-professional school in the region. The company's annual staging of The Nutcracker with the help of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra smashes attendance records each year. Lubbock Ballet hosts several events and competitions throughout the year. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Cactus Theater, 1812 Buddy Holly Ave, ☏ +1 806 762-3233. The 400-seat Cactus opened in 1938 as a second-run theater. The unique venue closed after television and the drive-in fad in the late 1950s cut audiences to a bare minimum. Local notable, Don Caldwell, re-opened the Cactus in the early 1990s as a center for live music in the Depot District. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, 601 Avenue K, ☏ +1 806 762-1688. The LSO was established in 1945 when the city's superintendent of schools demanded each school have an orchestra teacher and a band teacher. The men and women recruited to teach were the first members of the LSO. In 1967 the LSO was reorganized as a professional organization. The orchestra maintains an extensive music score library. (updated Jun 2020)
• OMNI Theater, 2579 S. Loop 289, ☏ +1 806 745-6299. Call for showtimes. The only large-format theater in area, and its well-known 60-foot (18-m), 160-degree panoramic screen. Before each screening, a light and sound show shows off the theater's 80,000-watt sound system, featuring music from local composers. $5-10. 

• Texas Tech Red Raiders. Red Raider sports maintain year-round popularity in Lubbock, offering football, baseball, basketball, and a host of other sporting contests. The football team plays its home games from September to December at Jones AT&T Stadium, and the men's and women's basketball contests are held at United Supermarkets Arena. 

• Jumbo Joe's. Various locations. Pretty good hamburgers. While there are many locations in town, the one at 1520 Avenue Q definitely has great burgers and usually runs a $1.99 burger and fries special. 
• 🌍 Spanky's, 811 University. The best burgers in town, and most known for their famous "fried cheese". Spanky's has two levels to handle the fairly busy lunch hour. Even when busy, the service is quick and friendly. 
• 🌍 La Malinche, 1105 2nd Pl. Open for breakfast and lunch on Wednesday-Monday. This Mexican Restaurant is the definition of "hole in the wall," but the food is delicious, cheap, and the locals love it (especially the homemade tortilla chips). 
• Rosa's Cafe. Various locations. A good place to go if you are in a hurry. Rosa's is a fast food/sit down Mexican food restaurant that is a favorite and frequented by many locals. 

• 🌍 Cotton Patch Cafe, 6810 Slide Rd. This joint has a hometown feel with some Texas cooking. 
• Orlando's, 6951 Indiana Ave and 2402 Avenue Q. Everything at Orlando's is unique and exciting. Their minestrone soup is out of this world, as well as so many more of their fantastic dishes. 
• 🌍 Abuelo's, 4401 82nd St. The original location of a hugely successful restaurant that serves delicious Tex-Mex. Expect a wait for tables on most nights. Great standard fare of enchiladas, tamales, tacos - but also some interesting and delicious gourmet specialties such as grilled shrimp wrapped in bacon, etc. Also, highly recommended sangria swirl margaritas! 
• 🌍 Ruby Tequila's, 8601 University Ave. Some of the best Tex-Mex in town. The sunset fajitas are by far the best item on the menu. 
• 🌍 Giorgios Pizza, 1018 Broadway St (just east of the NTS Tower). M-F 10AM-6PM. This place has some of the best pizza and calzones in town. The food is terrific, and the service is great, as you will be greeted as "my friend" even though George has never met you. It is home to the Texas-sized pizza which is the largest pizzas in the city. 
• 🌍 One Guy from Italy Pizza, 1101 University Ave. An excellent restaurant known for its hand-tossed pies and large calzones. The original location has been a favorite of hungry Tech students for decades. 
• 🌍 Thai Thai, 5018 50th St. The restaurant serves up some tasty food. Be sure to get a Thai tea to wash it down. 
• 🌍 Thai Pepper, 3702 20th St. Another good Thai restaurant. Try the Pad Thai. 
• 🌍 Choochai Thai, 2330 19th St. This is excellent Thai food, but if you like your food spicy, stick with the mild or medium varieties. Ordering your meal "spicy" or "extra spicy" is not for the faint of heart (or stomach). The cook is usually very good about making sure that you really want it the way you order it. 
• Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q, 4930 South Loop 289 #300. Delicious brisket, turkey, chicken sausage, and ribs - served with your choice of creamed corn, cole slaw, beans. Fun atmosphere with shared picnic-style tables and self-serve condiments and beverages. 
• 🌍 Mesquite's Sports Bar & Grill, 2419 Broadway. Known region-wide for its slow smoked briskets, pulled pork sandwiches, and top-notch steaks. The onion rings are also a local favorite. They also offer a wide variety of Tex-Mex favorites such as burritos and chimichangas. 
• 🌍 Tom and Bingo's BBQ, 3006 34th St. Tom and Bingo's has some of the best BBQ sandwiches ever. Make sure to stop by this great place during lunchtime as they close once all the meat has been served for the day. 
• Evie Mae's Pit Barbeque (Evie Mae's), 217 US-62, ☏ +1 806-782-2281. Wednesday - Saturday 11am - Sell Out. Barbeque joint. (updated Apr 2023)

• 🌍 Stella's Restaurant, 6015 82nd St Suite #1, ☏ +1 806-785-9299. One of the city's fine dining restaurants. The bread they give you before the meal is delectable, and they have many interesting Italian concoctions.