“Texas” Outdoor Musical
A horseman carrying the Lone Star State’s flag atop a 600-foot-high cliff heralds the beginning of “Texas,” Amarillo’s beloved 50-year-old outdoor musical. Each summer, inside a natural basin of the second-largest canyon in the United States, the struggle between the farmer and the rancher resurfaces with song and dance.
The show, which is appropriate for all ages, features fictional characters set amid the historic backdrop of the Texas Panhandle in the 1800s. Groups absorb the realities of early Texas settlers through music, dance and incredible special effects that use fire and water. A fireworks show ends the show each night.
But groups need not stop there; the drama’s setting inside the Palo Duro Canyon State Park encourages many groups to add a tour of the 800-foot-deep canyon for its colorful panoramas, wildlife and varied history.
“When you visit there, you can do two things at once: see the canyon and the drama,” said Eric Miller, director of communications for Visit Amarillo. “The staff at the state park go out of their way to welcome a group. It’s a beautiful place to be at any time of the year. But to be down there and see the play, that’s wonderful.”
Ranger-led tours illuminate the park’s 250 million-year-old geological history, as well as its more recent Native American connection. After exploring the park, guests can enjoy a chuck-wagon barbecue dinner and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Pioneer Amphitheatre before settling back to enjoy “Texas.”
Horseback Riding at Los Cedros Ranch
Sitting in a saddle rhythmically swaying to a horse’s steady stride affords an experiential connection to Amarillo’s cowboy heritage. Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West guides groups looking for an authentic Lone Star adventure on horseback rides across Amarillo’s quintessentially Texas landscape.
“You are riding across the relatively flat panhandle, and then all of a sudden there is the rim of the canyon, and it’s breathtaking,” said Miller. “It’s an incredible experience to ride up to the rim of a canyon. Folks will talk about that forever.”
The ranch touches the rim of the massive Palo Duro Canyon, so riders not only engage their senses during a horseback ride but also encounter majestic canyon vistas. Groups can choose from one-, two- and three-and-a-half-hour guided rides that cater to both novice and experienced riders.
The tour company chooses only the most well-mannered quarter horses and cattle horses for the rides. Travelers too nervous to attempt a ride can still enjoy a Wild West experience at the ranch with alternative options, such as horse interactions, roping demonstrations and photography tours that can coincide with horseback riding excursions.
Groups can also enjoy a catered chuck wagon meal at the ranch with Western fare and cowboys singing by the campfire.
For more information contact Visit Amarillo at 1-800-692-1338 or go to www.visitamarillo.com.
