Vernon (Texas)
Vernon is a city in the North Central Plains region of Texas. Years ago, the Great Western Cattle Trail passed through here, a corollary of the more popular Chisholm Trail to the east. On a more contemporary note, it was the birthplace and childhood home of Roy Orbison. It is the closest town to the Waggoner Ranch, the biggest cattle ranch in the USA under one fence.
Get in
Vernon lies on US Highway 287 between Quanah and Wichita Falls. Alternately, you can take US Highway 283 south from Altus, Oklahoma, or US 70 east from Crowell.
Get around
Like most Texas towns, you are best off with a car at your disposal.
See
- 🌍 Red River Valley Museum, 4400 College Dr. Tu-Su 1-5PM. This museum has, among other things, exhibits on the Waggoner Ranch, sculpture by Electra Waggoner Biggs, and an exhibit on Jack Teagarden, a famous jazz musician of the 1920s, 30s and 40s who was born in Vernon.
- 🌍 Wilbarger County Courthouse, 1700 Wilbarger St. Built in 1928.
Do
- 🌍 Santa Rosa Roundup, Route 183, south of town. This major national rodeo is held on the third weekend of May.
Buy
- 🌍 Dew's Custom Handmade Boots, 1819 Pease St, ☏ +1 940 552-9288.
Antiques
- 🌍 Blessings Antiques & Etc., 1727 Fannin St, ☏ +1 940 553-3766.
- 🌍 Malone's Treasures, 1409 Main St, ☏ +1 940 552-0951.
Eat
- 🌍 Lupes II, 529 US Highway 287 E, ☏ +1 940 552-2622. Some fajitas and Tex-Mex here.
- 🌍 Brown Cow Family Restaurant, 3205 US Highway 287 W, ☏ +1 940 553-3322.
- 🌍 Chicken Shack Restaurant, 3901 Wilbarger St, ☏ +1 940 552-6464.
- 🌍 Arcos Mexican Grill, 5115 College Dr, ☏ +1 940 274-3197. Serves pozole.
Sleep
- Lone Star Inn, 3110 Frontage Rd, ☏ +1 940 552-2639.
- Green Tree Inn, 3029 Morton St, ☏ +1 940 552-5421. Watch the freeway traffic zoom by from your chaise at the pool. $74 (Dec 2021).
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 700 Hillcrest Dr, ☏ +1 940 552-0200. $123 (Dec 2021).
- Hotel Vernon, 1615 US Highway 287 E, ☏ +1 940 552-5417. Some little donuts and coffee for breakfast. $65 (Dec 2021).
Go next
- Doan's Crossing, 15 miles north on Hwy 283 near the tiny community of Fargo. Six million cattle were driven along the Western Texas-Kansas trail which crossed the Red River at this point. Corwin Doan built a small adobe store here in 1881 to provide for the cowboy's needs. The building still stands today, along with a historical marker engraved with the brands of famous ranches around Texas.
- Lake Kemp, 25 miles south off route 183. This lake is popular for sport fishing.
| Routes through Vernon |
| Plainview ← Paducah ← | W E | → Jct W E → Ardmore → Hugo |
| Clinton ← Snyder ← | N S | → Jct W E → Brownwood → Austin |
| Sayre ← Altus ← | N S | → END |
| Amarillo ← Quanah ← | N S | → Rest area → Wichita Falls → Fort Worth |
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