Amarillo Impressions (Panhandle: insurance, house, school districts)

[minniemouse]

I saw Amarillo this Summer and...for me it was very nice!
Yeah!
I have been Big Texan Restaurant e Motel.
I have seen the legendary Route 66 and all the old shops, signs..

Don't forget Palo Duro Canyon and Cadillac Ranch!




Hi guys!!!

[kt2le]

Which side of town is down wind? One side of town has all the smelly cow pens that are gag-inducing.

[catman]

It depends on which way the wind is blowing.

[JamesAbilene]

I grew up in the Panhandle. When I moved back to Texas, I chose Abilene over the Panhandle (including Amarillo and Lubbock) for three reasons:

The tornados in the Panhandle.
The snow and ice in the Panhandle.
The dust storms in the Panhandle.

I also feel like the Panhandle is isolated from the rest of Texas...especially the population centers...and is often treated like a step-child by the Legislature.

There are great people in the Panhandle, however. If you can stand the dust, the wind, and the snow, you won't find better people.

[GayleTX]

We just recently moved from that area.......had a business in Amarillo (right down from that truck stop you mentioned) and lived 20 miles east in a small town. We were there 5 (long) years. The best thing about that area is the cool summer evenings....people can get out and walk and bike comfortably - don't have to sit inside under the A/C like they do in the rest of TX in the summer. And they also have a large and excellent medical district.....it's a good place to live if you are old and /or sick. The school's are so-so.

Yes, you are right.....the west part of town is the 'right side of the tracks' in Amarillo. The east side is mainly small ag, construction and repair type shops, the two large prisons, and the big 'immigration center' (a very busy place, I might add). Amarillo Blvd is a long street in the north edge of town and most of the stores in that area of town are operated by Hispanics and Asians. I was surprised that Amarillo had a large Asian population but it apparently began after VietNam and is still growing (Catholic Family Services is very active there). And if you think the apartment rate is high.....try counting trailer houses!! It's astounding!!

[Mom2Feebs]

We have family in Amarillo. Gads. The wind never stops blowing and there doesn't seem to be many trees. It is hard for me to get used to it when we visit, being from the Piney Woods of east TX/NE Houston area. However, I love Palo Duro Canyon. Just beautiful!

[case44]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

We have family in Amarillo. Gads. The wind never stops blowing and there doesn't seem to be many trees. It is hard for me to get used to it when we visit, being from the Piney Woods of east TX/NE Houston area. However, I love Palo Duro Canyon. Just beautiful!

That's a great comparison/contrast. Houston and Amarillo most definitely are a study in contrasts and definitely a world apart.

[Cheeto]

Hey, I been to Amarillo once en route from Detroit to San Diego, stayed (and ate) at the Big Texan, neat place, got drunk at the little saloon there but they closed at like 10. Went with a trucker from TN to a strip club a few doors down (Ghetto but still had fun), ended up at another bar where everyone had cowboy hats, somehow made it back to the Big Texan, woke up right at checkout, took a dip in the Texas shaped swimming pool, and proceeded on down the road. (When you leave town, you really leave town) From what I can remember, I'll never forget Texas!

[southeasttexas]

I think the Amarillo area is great. I love the panhandle area as a whole. Yep, I stuffed myself at the Big Texan, too.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

To me, Amarillo is a wide place in the road on the way to Colorado. A good selection of hotels to stay in if your tired. I could never live somewhere that far from everything.