Is Amarillo Boring? Debunking the Panhandle Myth

Let's be honest here, if you grew up in the Amarillo area, there is a certain way you feel about it. You might be the one who loves it and couldn't imagine moving anywhere else. You could also be the one who can't wait to move away and try something new.

From the Windy City to the Wide Open Skies

I started elsewhere and ended up in the Amarillo area after moving here at a young age. I really didn't know much about Amarillo or even Texas, for that matter. I spent more than a decade of my life in Chicago, Illinois, before we suddenly moved here.

I’ll admit, at first, I was resentful. I was used to walking to the ballpark, Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox, with my friends at a pretty young age to catch a game or get autographs. I never thought I would end up finding a connection or home here in the Amarillo area; I was wrong.

Debunking the Myth: Finding Things to Do in Amarillo

The funny thing about Amarillo is that it doesn't show you all of its cards at first. You have to spend some time here to actually realize how much is really happening here. I will say that Amarillo ends up having a lot more personality than we give it credit for.

Let's just say that I hear a lot of people complaining that there is nothing to do. That is in no way true. If you can't find something to do, you are not trying. Every weekend you can find fun activities to do. Whether you are looking to head to Sixth for a show or looking for fun family activities, there is usually a full calendar to choose from.

A Sports Town: Backing the Sod Poodles and Beyond

There are teams to back all year long from the Amarillo Sod Poodles, Wranglers, Warbirds, and Bombers. Then we have college sports throughout the year with both West Texas A&M and Amarillo College.

Melissa Bartlett

The Soul of the City: Food, Community, and Friendliness

Don't get me started on the food scene, I mean it doesn't matter what you have a taste for, there is a place in Amarillo to try. You can find a local hole-in-the-wall or a chain restaurant all over town.

Why Amarillo is More Than Just a Stop on the Highway

And of course, there’s the community. Amarillo still has that small-town friendliness where people hold doors open, strike up conversations, and show up to support local businesses and events. It’s the kind of place where traditions stick around, and new ones are constantly being created.

Of course, Amarillo still has the wide open skies. We have the Cadillac and Slug Bug Ranch to welcome travellers on either side of I-40. We have the Amarillo winds that spark up conversation all over town. It’s a city that feels big enough to have plenty to do, yet small enough that it still feels like home.

So yes, I used to think Amarillo was just a stop along the highway. Now I know better. If you stick around long enough, you realize Amarillo isn’t just somewhere you pass through; it’s somewhere people choose to stay.