At 20 feet long and 11 feet tall, Paisano Pete is the world s largest roadrunner. Old Fort Stockton , a frontier military post established in 1859 and abandoned in 1886, has many of its original buildings of adobe and hand hewn limestone still standing. The Lamesa-Dawson County Museum and Art Center features home furnishings, pioneer tools, and ranch and farm equipment from early days of settlement. Exhibits by local artists can be enjoyed in the historic Dal-Paso Hotel at 306 South 1st Street. A new addition features modern accommodations with authentic western styles, beautiful gardens and a pool.
Visitors enjoy traditional Texas fare in the restaurant.
The Marfa Mystery Lights , first reported by early settlers in 1883, still defy explanation. A historical marker at the prime viewing area, nine miles east of the city on U.S. 90, gives detailed information of early sightings. The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum , the largest and most elaborate petroleum-oriented museum in the world, contains a collection of antique oil field equipment and a marine diorama. The Museum of the Southwest offers a smorgasbord of interest areas, including art, archeology and astronomy, and the Children s Museum gives kids a hands-on learning and fun experience with art and science. The sky s the limit at the Marian Blakemore Planetarium located on the grounds of the museum.