Pampa

Pampa is the second largest city in the High Plains region of the Texas Panhandle. Pampa hosts the Top o' Texas Rodeo each year in July, which brings competitors from Texas and the surrounding states to Gray County. The White Deer Land Company Museum, which showcases ranching exhibits, is in downtown Pampa. In 2020, it was home to 17,000 people.

Get in

Get around

There is really no public transportation here, so you will need a car. Should you somehow find yourself here without one, there is one call taxi service:

See

Battle of the North Fork of the Red River

In September of 1872, in an area a few miles south of Pampa near McClellan Creek, a detachment of the US Army surprised a large village of Kotsoteka Comanches, killing more than 50 and capturing the rest. The battle marked a turning point in the Texas Indian wars, as it was the first time the whites had struck at the heart of Comanche territory. A Texas Historical Marker on Highway 70 marks the approximate site of the battle.

  • Freedom Museum USA, 600 N. Hobart. Tu-Sa noon-4PM. This somewhat ambitiously named museum hosts a modest collection of war memorabilia and strives to keep alive the memory of the Pampa Army Air Base, a pilot and mechanic training facility which existed during World War II. 
  • Little Red Schoolhouse, Highway 70 North at FM282 (just north of town at the intersection with the airport loop). This one-room schoolhouse was built and used during the 1930s. You can't go inside, but it's worth stopping by for a photo. 
  • Prairie dog town, 116 South Cuyler St (next to a large pond near the intersection of Texas 273 and Loop 171 on the southeast side of town), ☏ +1 806 669-8041. A large colony of prairie dogs as well as various species of larks and hawks can be seen here. 
  • 🌍 White Deer Land Museum, 112 South Cuyler St, ☏ +1 806 669-8041. Tu-F 10AM-3PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. This museum is housed in the 80-year-old restored Land Office Building. It contains many artifacts of the early pioneers and the Western heritage of Texas and Gray County. Guided tours. Free. (updated Dec 2022)
  • 🌍 Woody Guthrie Folk Music Center, 320 South Cuyler St, ☏ +1 806 669-3241. Center dedicated to the story of the folk music legend who began his musical career here, buying his first guitar in Pampa in the 1930s. The center is located in the old Harris Drug store which was brand new at the time, and sells souvenirs and memorabilia celebrating the famed musician. 

Do
  • Chatauqua Celebration (Central Park). Labor Day. On the first Monday in September every year. Booths, food and entertainment. 
  • Pampa H2O, 1400 North Sumner, ☏ +1 806 665-5730. Small water park with pools, water slides, and a lazy river. $5. 
  • Top-O'-Texas Rodeo, ☏ +1 806 669-0434. One of the best PRCA events in the Texas Panhandle. Held every August. 
  • White Deer Riding Club Rodeo (in the nearby community of White Deer). Held the last weekend of every July. 

Buy

Pampa has a number of crafts and antiques shops. For basic necessities, United supermarket on north Hobart is the main grocery store in town. There is also a Wal-mart Supercenter on the north end of Perryton Parkway.

Eat
  • China Dragon, 1307 N. Hobart, ☏ +1 806 665-8286. 
  • Coney Island Cafe, 114 W. Foster, ☏ +1 806 669-9137. A classic diner, popular with the locals. 
  • Dyer's Bar-B-Que, Highway 60 West, ☏ +1 806 665-4401. 
  • Jay's Drive-In, 924 Alcock, ☏ +1 806 669-2722. Fine chili dogs and shakes. 
  • The Plaza, Coronado Center. Popular Mexican food restaurant on North Hobart. 
  • Texas Rose Steakhouse, 2841 Perryton Parkway, ☏ +1 806 669-1009. 

Drink
  • Sandy's Pub, 2218 Alcock St, ☏ +1 806 665-0600. Local watering hole with live music on weekends. 

Sleep

Camping and RV parks

Go next
  • Black Kettle National Grassland, northeast about 55 miles on Texas highway 60 (Look for the turnoff about 10 miles beyond Canadian). Part of Cibola National Forest. While most of this park is in Oklahoma, this separate 576-acre park includes Lake Marvin, providing a beautiful relaxation spot for any Panhandle traveller who misses seeing lots of trees.
  • McClellan Creek National Grassland, 18 miles to the south on highway 70, 580 497 2143. Part of Cibola National Forest, this park has passable campground facilities and RV hook-ups, and offers fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities. Be cautious of rattlesnakes.
  • Lake Meredith, at Fritch, has good boating facilities and is a popular fishing spot.
  • Perryton, north of highway 60, has a museum with exhibits on the Panhandle Plains Villagers of pre-colonization times.
  • Square House Museum, in Panhandle, 30 minutes west on Highway 60.
Routes through Pampa
Amarillo ← Panhandle ←  W  E  → Canadian → Enid
Ends at ← Perryton ←  N  S  → Jct W E → Clarendon → Sweetwater
Dumas ← Borger ←  W  E  → Wheeler → Sayre
END ←  N  S  → McLean → Jct


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