# 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

* US-60 connects to Pampa from Amarillo, about an hour to the west/southwest, and from Canadian to the east.
* TX-70 connects with Perryton to the north, and has important connections to the south with I-40 near Groom (30 minutes), and with US-287 at Clarendon, for those coming from the Wichita Falls or Dallas-Fort Worth areas.
* TX-152 leads into town from the northwest, from Borger (30 minutes), Dumas (75 minutes) or Dalhart

## Get around

There is really no public transportation here, so you will need a car.

## See

* 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.
* 35.5353-100.96131 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)
* 35.533392-100.9598222 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.
* Trash & Treasure Shop, 1431 N Hobart St, ☏ +1 806 669-6601.

## 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.
* Jay's Drive-In, 924 Alcock, ☏ +1 806 669-2722. Fine chili dogs and shakes.
* The Plaza, 1201 N Hobart St #3d (in Las Pampa Square). Popular Mexican food restaurant on North Hobart.
* Texas Rose Steakhouse, 2841 Perryton Parkway, ☏ +1 806 669-1009.

## Sleep

* AmericInn Lodge and Suites of Pampa, 1101 N. Hobart, ☏ +1 806-665-4404, pampa.tx@americinn.com.
* Best Western Northgate Inn, 2831 Perryton Parkway (Hwy. 70 North), ☏ +1 806-665-0926.
* Black Gold Motel, 12029 East Frederic, ☏ +1 806-665-5723.
* Holiday Inn Express, 3119 Perryton Pkwy (I-70 North near the hospital), ☏ +1 806 665-9500.
* Hampton Inn & Suites of Pampa, 2820 North Perryton Parkway, ☏ +1 806 669-1555. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Offers business-class accommodations with deluxe lodging amenities, free breakfast, free Internet, swimming pool, and meeting facilities

### Camping and RV parks

* Urban Hidden Acres RV & Mobile Home, 1708 W. Kentucky Ave, ☏ +1 806-665-6217, annettegoodson@cableone.net.
* Spring Meadows RV Park, 1300 W. Kentucky / S. Barnes, ☏ +1 806-663-1322, willoughby@pampa.com.
* Hobart St. Park. Operated by the City of Pampa. No reservations required.
* Recreation Park, Hwy. 60 East (at Recreation Park), ☏ +1 806-669-5750. Operated by the City of Pampa.

## 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.