AMARILLO: What I Saw SHOCKED Me - Much Of The City's Center Is In Decay
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- Опубликовано: 17 авг 2022
- We visited Amarillo, Texas. There are numerous fun things to do and see in the city, including Cadillac Ranch, Palo Duro Canyon and the Big Texan Restaurant. The area surrounding downtown, however, is in a shocking state of decay. I wouldn't have believed I hadn't seen it for myself.
Travel Vlog 128
As someone who lives in Amarillo, downtown isn’t the hotspot on a Sunday afternoon that it may be in other cities. However, there is still things to do downtown on a Sunday. There’s the minor league baseball team that plays at Hodgetown, the relatively new baseball field off of Buchanan. There is also Crush and several other great restaurants downtown that are open on Sunday. As for the route you took on your tour of the city, you went down exactly the ring roads that are mostly businesses and such. At one point you were across the intersection from Crush which has several cars parked in front of it and Six Car Pub & Brewery is in the other half of the same building. Amarillo isn’t like most other cities. The vast majority of downtown is professional business offices and the like, so it’s not as busy on a Sunday like other cities that may have shopping and other attractions in their city centers. If you want to see downtown alive. Come down Polk St. on a Friday or Saturday night. You will see a pretty lively nightlife scene. But other than that, and a few restaurants, there just isn’t much to do there in a Sunday afternoon. I just felt that, as a resident of the city, I didn’t feel this video was a good portrayal of Amarillo overall. But someone just passing through could absolutely be forgiven for having the impression expressed in this video. If the creator would like to see downtown busy and bustling, they should visit during the week or on a Friday or Saturday night. Otherwise, it should also be known that what you can see from the interstates is only a fraction of Amarillo and what is actually here. Lol! I just feel sad that this was the creator’s first impression of exploring downtown. It’s really not as barren as it appeared this day. 😂
It should also be known that the north/northeast of Amarillo’s City Center, unfortunately, isn’t nearly as developed and nice as the south/southwest side.
Also, where he said the parking garage was empty is private property. I have my office in that building. It's not really for the public to park.
Hello from Borger!
He should have gone to check out 6th street not downtown
Plus It Was 11:22 Am Everyone Is At Church
A visitor arrived in Amarillo, the first thing he noticed was the wind. "Is it always like this?" he asked an Old Timer. "No, it will blow like this for a good while, then all Hell will break loose & that's when the wind really starts blowing."
Exactly 🤣😂
I grew up in Amarillo but now live in Dallas area. Yes, you will soon notice the wind. It is strongest in spring and comes right out of the west. Every year you will have a few days with wind up to 50-60mph. This will be on a clear, yet brown day. Every 5 years or so will have a day where it gets up to 70-80 mph for an afternoon. Then every 10-12 years it will get up to near 100mph. My mom worked at Bell Helicopter and on one of those days they kept every one in because a blowing sheet of aluminum could cut a person in half. All that said, I still loved living in Amarillo.
So true. Little known fact: Amarillo is more windy than Chicago.
@@b1beautysupply 😂 Chicago isn’t called the Windy City because of the wind
I moved 2 hours north, in the Oklahoma panhandle. The wind is so fierce there and it blows 12 months a year. It was horrible!
Being someone who grew up in Amarillo and one who still visits often, you have to realize something about the people from Amarillo. We are very traditional. On Sunday mornings, most people are in church. If you had gone to a church parking lot, you would have seen it full.Then most people spend time with their families. Also, Amarillo is a zoned city: businesses and homes are not mixed.
I too was born there in 1956 but unfortunately my family had to move to Irving in 1968. I have great memories of the town, which still feels like home to me. I hope to retire there in the next couple of years. I went to Olsen Park Elementary and still have friends that also attended there. We are I connected on Facebook. My first book is currently being edited by an award winning author and editor who lives there and offices in down town.
Are they going to make a playwright production of it ? @@TexasTinyHomesRock
Thank you for saying almost exactly what I was going to say! The guy doing the video is from McKinney and you couldn't pay me to live in that madhouse. I grew up in a small town outside of McKinney and it used to be very poor in a lot of Mckinney out to Frisco. Dallasites and Californians have taken over that area and it is waaaay too crowded. I am in my 50's and we used to do charity work with our church all over the area as it was very poor. I graduated from Texas Tech and lived in Canyon for a while and I would take the Panhandle and South Plains over DFW area any day. We now live over 60 miles east of DFW and have a big ranch and it's beautiful but the people do not come close to the people of the plains. I think we will eventually buy another ranch out there for retirement as it's so peaceful out there.
As someone from Amarillo I can say most people aren't traditional and literally are just not in the downtown area on the weekends. Downtown Amarillo is not the heartbeat of the city
You mean most people go to a building where there are told who to vote for and who to hate. Then the Pastor goes home in the fanciest car in town and spend lots of money the gullible give him.
I used to live in a town similar to Amarillo. So glad I left as soon as got out of high school.
I moved from Amarillo to Sacramento, CA in the ‘90s. Believe me this looks wonderful : clean, no trash, no tents blocking the sidewalks and no drug zombies everywhere. Good job AMARILLO!
Right down the street from you. Stkn way worse. All the homeless are in ca, good benefits.
Hah. This looks like a zombie apocalypse compared to Sacto.
EXACTLY. come to CA and you appreciate this quiet and openness.
give you a update 9 months later The homeless are migrating to Amarillo.
Same thing in san fran. One of my coworkers had to go there for the company we working for. He spoke of the filth, homeless, and trash and dirty needles on the walkways.
The wind never stops in Amarillo!
Dodge City is windier. Lol.
Those wind mills were not turning.
@@JG-tt4sz we are top ten windiest city in the us lol
Drove by a farm just outside Amarillo once and saw a chicken lay the same egg three times.
That wind along U.S. 40 starts just East of Flagstaff Arizona and doesn't stop until the middle of Oklahoma. (Formerly Rt.66) After all the really bad windstorms we usually wind up with a whole new set of patio furniture.
I have lived in Amarillo for about 75 years. I think the biggest problem the city has is our management. They come from the rich property owners, and they own most of that downtown area you show in your video. They are not interested in helping the working class but if you have several million dollars and move here, they will hook you up.
The main issue with Amarillo, as you stated is the management, but mainly the mayor and her husband.
EXACTLY!!!!!!
Remember marshes signs?
@@Kevin-we3oz yeah, there's one of his signs in my front yard, it reads: "I still hear from the old dogs." Whatever that's supposed to mean.
@@Kevin-we3oz Yes, there are still some of them around.
I have easily learned as much in the comments as I have from watching the videos. Thank you everyone for sharing your many informative perspectives....
Was born in Amarillo, and moved to Austin in 2014. Downtown Amarillo is not super busy on Sunday mornings because it’s a lot of people either sleeping or they go to church in the morning. Plus, it depends on which part of downtown you’re in. And yes, Polk Street is the main drag. Also, you should go down sixth Street which is over route 66 which is amazing. If it is still there, the Nat used to be an old swimming pool that was covered up in the evenings and became a dance hall. Last I was there it was an antique store with a little café.
The absence of trash and people nodding off on the sidewalks is refreshing. Kudos to Amarillo. When I lived in Denver, the favorite saying was that if you wanted to get away from the crowds on the weekend go to downtown Denver. It’s primarily a M-F business district. Amarillo appears much the same. Your walking tour showed a very nice city. Thanks!
what the hell kind of cope is this? if you want to live on a farm go live on a farm
That's because the Downtown Maffia(rich land owners,) have pushed homeless on into the city. Homeless everywhere now. On every intersection. Tents some places...it's getting bad. An city isn't doing anything because Mayor Nelson an Council except Stanley..are ignoring the prob. They just want to sell their dilapidated building/land or help someone who owns that...an get homeless out so buyers will buy. Pathetic. Need new Council an Mayor big time. I didn't vote for Nelson an they put vote in May when they know people don't vote then. Nov is more voting.
I hate to disappoint you but we have that problem too but he was not on those streets, @Moses Supreme. We have a growing population of homeless down there too. We have trash problems like other cities.
I live in Denver. I don't know what you are talking about. There is a lot of activity on weekends in Denver. Many people live there in very expensive housing, not to mention the existence of the major sports venues, restaurants, and the many cultural venues. But you probably never took advantage of any of those.
Absence of trash? My you haven't been around Amarillo much litter city
I grew up in Amarillo, born there. We went back last year for my 45th high school reunion (Go Dons!) It's gotten a lot better downtown, it used to have a lot of empty buildings. Around downtown is the "flight" places, where people used to live but left for the suburbs. There are some beautiful homes just south of downtown, the residences of the "cattle barons" that ran the town. The homes around Amarillo College are big and nice. Most of the money moved out west and southwest of downtown.
The thing that shocked me was the lack of the big elm trees. Amarillo had a bad drought a few years ago and it killed many of the old trees. Thompson park looks nothing like I remember, it killed many of the trees the kids of Amarillo planted in the 1930s. They've replanted but it will be years before it gets back, if ever.
I still love the city, even having been gone for over 30 years. I still have friends living up there, and I will be back up there again for reunion.
Go Dons!!!!!!
Thank you Charlayne for your great hand 1st Experiences having been born & lived in Amarillo. I really am liking & learning more about positive things about Amarillo. Thank you for your great comment.
very good and informative
I agree. I lived in Amarillo in the early 80's and again in early 2000's. It's not a good depiction of downtown early on a Sunday morning! You probably went to school with my ex husband Rutledge.
@@rhondawilson7750 the city is the armpit of Texas
Was born and raised in Rillo moved away in 2015. The only time downtown was hopping was when I was a little kid in the 80s. Thank you for showing me my hometown, I was feeling homesick this evening lol.
I was born and raised just South of Amarillo, in Canyon, Texas. My family had ~10,000 chickens and we supplied a LOT of places in Amarillo with eggs and chickens, including the Amarillo Air Force Base (which later became an "international" airport). I have a LOT of fond memories of the "big city". My uncle, who lived in Umbarger, Texas, ate at the Big Texan and ate for free... I left the area in 1970, went to Vietnam, and never looked back... Thanks for the memories!!!
You went to Vietnam, and you came back to tell us this story. God Bless you and thank you for your service.
There was a turkey farm maybe had chickens too south of Amarillo on Washington St. It burned back in late 60's I think. Was that your place?
@@mikentx57 No sir... We lived in Canyon (about 18 miles South of Amarillo). I remember a turkey farm closer to Amarillo, though. Man, THAT brought back some memories... 😄
My sister lives in Canyon as we speak right by that little Bee Farm i love that place i told my wife that would be our retirement place in 2023.
Wanna do you-tiube video ?
🤔
We left Amarillo in 1994. It was our old stomping ground. Not only was the 72 oz steak was available, but , you could get a free birthday meal by proving it was you birthday. My uncle that I lived with, helped build the tallest bank building. During our time, Cadillac ranch car were clean, unpainted. We both graduated from Tascosa High school 1981, and 1983. We were married after she graduated. I've been gone so long, that I don't Amarillo very well, anymore. Thanks for the look at my old stomp grounds.
I've lived in Amarillo since 1976.
It's a place of contrasts. The Haves live south of I-40. The Have Nots have generally lived north of I-40, but that's steadily been changing as property owners die off and renters take over.
Our weather here is another example; hot, dry and windy in summer and below freezing with a wind that cuts right through you in winter.
We nearly always get that one last, late freeze that keeps peaches and apple trees from producing and necessitates planting gardens later than most places.
That "big empty building"you saw downtown is our civic center, which is pretty outdated and was recently up for a vote to be expanded and renovated. That was voted down by the majority because we can't afford more taxes to pay for it.
Those in charge are trying to force it through regardless of that majority vote.
Amarillo has a pretty big homeless problem, and there are beggars at many busy intersections always.
I voted against that ball field. I wanted a no-kill animal shelter. Amarillo also has a horrible problem with the unwanted pet population.
The Haves will tell you this is a great place to live and to raise your children. The Have Nots know better. It's a place that caters to the wealthier and mostly turns their gaze away from the poor.
Maybe it's that way everywhere, I don't know.
I grew up just north of downtown. I remember there used to be shopping there; a five and dime, White & Kirk, Woolworths. There were diners and a bakery...
Big box and the malls changed all that.
Now we have that monster of a ball field many of us didn't want and have zero use for, and not much else.
Downtown is filled with offices, a few clubs and places to eat, the homeless and empty buildings they break into when it gets so cold.
Doesn't sound to me as if the crime rate has been properly reported. For a place this size our crime is disproportionate.
That's an honest assessment from a long-time resident who's closer to being one of the Have Nots than the Haves.
Thank you for the insightful comment.
You are telling the truth about everything maybe one day someone will wake up at least 300 pets die a month your ideas are really good
@@brendamullins7491 ❤
We are doing our best to do our part in this house. Five dogs, all rescues, and fostering two more for who knows how long. Seems people are dumping their poor pets worldwide due to cost of living increases. We feed the neighborhood stray cats too.
@@judyavant67 ❤
Do have a lot of Toronto or storms??? Is it a good city for a family man with three kids ?? How is the job market? How rent ???
It's a hotel from the 20's. The Herrington, a beautiful old building, we have pride in. Love that place inside it's unbelievable lovely.
Born in Amarillo in 1951 and lived there till 1976. My mother was a secretary in the Santa Fe building you showed and my father was an engineer for Santa Fe Railroad for 33 years. Downtown has never been a significant Sunday gathering point. As others have pointed out, most folks are in church till noon and then spend time with their families on Sunday afternoons.
I live here in Amarillo. I can tell you that if it weren't for our mayor, we'd probably be able to have a better downtown area. Instead, she decided to spend $45.5 million on the ball park. That money could have went to fix our buildings and streets in the downtown area. If you want to see areas that are busy in Amarillo, especially on a Sunday, go a little further south of I-40. That's where everyone will be.
The ballpark decision was made under the previous mayor and was voted on by the people of Amarillo.
Actually it was voted on behind closed doors
Are the buildings downtown privately owned? Why should the government be fixing up private property??
Um, excuse me, but the stadium was already voted on and in the works before Ginger Nelson was elected. I agree that it is a waste of money though
Y'all embarrassing
Downtown is very, very quiet on Sundays as most places are closed. It’s typically very busy on Friday and Saturday. The large residential areas are in the southwest parts of the city. Downtown is used for businesses, and the baseball stadium is a big feature so the population is more sparse at around 2,500 people per square mile compared to the southwest part of the city at about 6,500 people per square mile. Also to reiterate, since downtown is dedicated largely to office buildings and restaurants that are closed on Sundays so it of course will be sparse at noon on a Sunday.
Seen the same deserted landscape in many a small town and city even during a weekday. Even driving around the suburbs, not a soul to be seen. What y'all do in the States, just sit at a keyboard all day, live life via that device and never venture outside? Why are stores and restaurants closed on Sundays? What do tourists do on Sundays then if they want to enjoy a meal? So thankful for Lord Spoda for taking us foreigners on a trip across the nation, as a part from a few places that are spectacular, to visit the whole country is now looking like a total waste of money. I'm better off staying at home and travelling around my own country where there is life and social interaction. USA, the land of the dead and deserted.
Don't count on it staying that way they will change zoning for apt buildings and soon your new business is housing people.
@@judyavant67 it might be busy traffic wise, but in most of the video's he has presented through big and small centres, hardly a soul on foot, not even in the parks. That is what I don't understand. Folks don't even visit shopping malls anymore, with so many centres dying or closed, so leads me to the realisation that everything is done online.
I'm wondering if most people are at church as well?
@@harrygoldun5779 you really don't come to Amarillo to tour. If you are here it's usually bc it's for business or you are passing on your way to a better destination. You either get breakfast, go to the flee-market, or stay home and BBQ. Other than that not much to do.
From someone living in Amarillo in the 90s it's not been the city I could be since the military and oil left. Now the repair is still years from being taken care of. The refinery land won't be habitable for decades still. All you can do is be kind. Make someone smile that's what makes a town great.
Military left. Says it all.
I've been a subscriber for quite a while now and this is one of the videos I truly enjoyed. I like it when you show yourselves on camera, not just narrate things behind the camera. I hope you do this format more often and I also hope you do interviews with the locals so we can hear their perspectives about the current state of their town or city.
At one time Amarillo downtown was very busy. Polk street was full of shoppers and movie theaters. Then the malls developed and all stores deserted Polk. It is now only offices and business headquarters. It is sadly not as it use to be. The building you were puzzled about was the Herington Hotel where many important people used to stay.
Doesn't look like there's much to do in Amarillo ! 🤷♂
@@dankelly5150 there isn't
Boo. Your just a South sider.. North side is where it's at. Yall may have fancy stuff. But yall can't hang with north side.
Downtown has over 2,000 people every weekend... it's crazy packed on weekend nights
Amarillo is home and I love it here. A large part of our population attends church on Sunday morning. The city has programs to help the homeless get back on their feet, they are having some success at that and I applaud them for that.
I am thinking to move there from Portland Oregon?? How is the job and crime???
I said the same thing. A lot of people go to church there on Sunday.
Its not uncommon for cities in this region to look like this on a Sunday. I know most large cities dont normally do this, but a lot of our local businesses close on Sundays. Because of this, people don't do much downtown until the evening. I live in Canyon which is just south of Amarillo and the same thing happens here.
My grandfather was one of many to hand lay them BEAUTIFUL RED BRICKS . 🙏 RIP GRANDPA ERNIE .
I lived in Amarillo for about three years over 20yrs ago and loved it! It felt like a big little town.
For a "deserted" town, I found it pretty neat and clean. Could've been far worse. Some streets were beautiful. Nice murals. I was impressed by the red brick pavement in some streets. (NYC)
Those bricks were layed in the 1930s and many of those strips are in bad condition. Many streets in our downtown are also quite filthy with graffiti all over (not referring to murals). There are like 2 nice roads downtown. If you go one block over, you see abandoned homes in every direction.
The crack heads are usually very polite and stay in the alleys and leave there trash there they come out after 12 though so careful
Yeah the brick roads look nice but they're misery to drive over
OZ you're correct, but it doesn't follow this guys political and social narrative. A really weak premise, that downtown predicts the vitality of every city, absolutely incorrect. But the videos are interesting in spite of his negative agenda.
I didn't not see homeless people or lots of tents all over the sidewalks and garbage.
Thank you for taking the time to show us all the small towns. I am an over the road truck driver and see our Country from the interstate which don't get me wrong is absolutely beautiful! However with your footage I can see places that are off the beaten path.. Thanks again and safe travels to you both
Thank you for watching, Rhonda!!
I was raised in the Texas Panhandle in the 1960-70s. Schools were great and my teachers cared. Golden Rule was taught. School lunches included homemade rolls with melted honey butter if desired.
Amarillo police department officers were some of the best and the kindest when I lived there, and that’s because they were raised with good old fashioned morals.
My oldest and youngest children were born in old and the new Northwest Texas Hospital where I got excellent care.
Loved Medi Park, the zoo, and Wonderland Amusement Park, and the many restaurants and eateries.
Many great memories from Dayz gone by. Moved away from there 24 years ago. Miss the wonderful people.
I grew up in Texline, Texas 126 miles north west of Amarillo. Graduated in 71. Texline was full of successful businesses that we established after the Dirty Thirties. This was farming and ranching country. Smaller farms and ranches started selling out to bigger outfits. Out of town outfits. This started happening in early 70’s and late 60’s. More and more folded. Successful farmers and ranchers were aging and younger members of the family didn’t want to stay. As those families moved, there was no one to support the businesses. Aging business owners sold their businesses to people who had no idea how to make a business successful and the time involved. Businesses that had been there for 20 years plus, supporting each other and their neighbors are boarded up. Everything collapsed except for businesses that were passed in the family. It was very sad. The town still survives because of the family business and the school. Will it ever turn around?
I am very proud that I was raised in Texline and was active in Texline after I took a teaching position at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo. Thirty one years at PD.
Robert… I was from Booker. Graduated in 70. Bet we played football against each other.😊
Did you know the Sidwells? Tony was my theatre teacher in Lubbock. :)
@@insertmyidentityhere yes I know the Sidwells.
Hey Robert Brent from tulsa love ya bro Jesus lives
I graduated from Texline in 72, so you were in the class ahead of me, but for the life of me, your name doesn't ring a bell.
That big building is the Herring Hotel built in 1926. It is a spectacular building and I have been fascinated with it for years. I wish someone would do something with it. The current owner is trying but he has run into many obstacles including the City of Amarillo.
It is really beautiful.
I have been watching your vids for awhile now , and i am just STUNNED at the utter poverty, and the amount of cities that are basically dead. I live in a small city in Maine i thought was fairly poor but its nothing like what i am seeing in other parts of this country. Where is the help for these American cities small towns and villages? Just STUNNED. Thank you for bring these videos out so people can really see whats going on.
Have you ever read any books by Noam Chomsky?
Too much foreign aid?
As a retired long- haul truck driver who’s gone through Amarillo numerous times on I-40, I was always curious to see the downtown area.
"Let me see if I can get out of this wind"
Me every freaking day here
It's definitely a windy city.
The first time I drove cross country was in 1974 from California to New Jersey. What I vividly remember to this day was the stench of the stockyards from 40 miles out of Amarillo to 40 miles on the other side. The smell was absolutely awful.
Texas produces half of the US's cattle each year and Amarillo is the center of it all so of course you're going to smell cow poop while crossing Amarillo!
Growing up, I lived about three blocks from the stockyards in Amarillo. When the wind blew from the wrong direction, the smell was atrocious. There was also a giant refinery not far from us polluting the air as well. However, we left our doors unlocked without any worries and I had a bicycle that I rode everywhere, and since we had no garage, I leaned it against the house. I had that bicycle for years. Imagine what it would be like today if someone didn’t secure a bicycle. It would be gone in ten minutes. People were taught morals and manners. Not wanting to paint everyone with the same brush, I realize that we still have good people; however, they are few and far between, to use an old adage.
a good reason to quit eating animals....
Smell of money
@@cpkarkow663 They stop smelling somewhere between the stockyard and the grill. Once on the grill they smell heavenly. And taste delicious. No way will I ever stop eating meat.
Amarillo was once home to a very important military installation- Amarillo Air Force Base. I lived on Hacienda Drive (on the base), for four years as a young child. We relocated to Wiesbaden, Germany in 1966.
Some of the beautiful, old, unused buildings have no air conditioning or elevators. Apartment dwellers don't like walking up so many flights of stairs. Others no longer meet city building codes, and the owners refuse to invest in those required upgrades.
I’m from the Panhandle and lived in Amarillo for many years and worked downtown. Downtown Amarillo does need some work, but it’s actually a nice place to walk around.
It’s not busy on Sundays because the restaurants and stores are closed on Sundays, and a lot of downtown is corporate and industrial and are also closed on Sundays. It’s actually way busier downtown during the week.
On Sundays people are at church, shopping at the big box stores on the other side of the city, or out at the recreation parks and golf courses.
I love Amarillo, if i ever move back to Texas, i will settle there. The downtown is less busy on Sundays because people go to Church there. I esp like St Marys Cathedral. I remember the Blue Sky restaurant. Also very good cowboy boots i bought there that have lasted. Several good museums...and nearby the Palo Duro canyon w beautiful night show and dinner under the stars. Very good dash camera you have! I have made that drive many times. God Bless Texas!
Mrs. Chuck and I stayed in downtown Amarillo over the July 4 holiday period. The downtown is not all that deserted on business days, but is not crowded, either. The downtown area is very nice. Clean. No garbage, no graffiti, no weeds, no bums. However, I did see a lady of the evening hanging around outside the hotel. BTW, it’s almost always windy.
Wow!
Those mansions are truly spectacular.
Thank you.
I find downtown Amarillo starkly beautiful, and, as a somewhat antisocial native Texan, I love being able to walk the sidewalks without human interaction, really admiring the architecture and the way the sun hits the buildings. It is really clean and well maintained. That said, your excellent videos have convinced me that the very concept of "downtown" is obsolete. In the smaller towns, say Texarkana, they look like ghost towns. The big cities like Dallas are also being hollowed out as the commercial real estate crisis worsens as more people work from home. The crime and homeless blight in cities like San Francisco is so terrible, as is the fear of gun violence. When you and I were growing up, we thought it was exciting to be among other people. Now, people are really trying to avoid each other. By the way, the soil around Amarillo is yellow, too, "la Tierra Amarilla." And the Panhandle has the most awesome and terrifying thunderstorms that I have ever witnessed, especially at night. Blinding rain, dazzling lightning strikes, deafening thunder. The cold air from the Rockies collides with the warm moist air from the Gulf, creating massive thunderheads.
Amarillo down town was developed in the first half of the 20th century. Then in the 1950's urban sprawl started as people wanted more space. Lawyers and bankers are not open on Sunday morning. Loop 335 has taken the traffic out of down town. The several thousand acre medical center could not exist in the small down town area. Amarillo is a sprawling city with miles and miles of space to develop. From down town head south on I-27 and you will see 20 miles of business development. This week I will be taking wife to have her regular colon exam and she will take me for a followup for a retina check up. We are so fortunate not to have to go to Denver or Dallas.
Dude don’t knock it until you’ve lived here and really get to know our great city!
Lived there for 25 years, never heard it called "Bomb City." The PanTex plant is way out of town.
I had never heard it called bomb city either. But definitely the first thing that came to mind was Pantex.
@@sfowler3876 I don't think it started getting called Bomb City until the 2010s because of social media trends.
We were on a road trip several years ago from San Francisco Bay Area and visited Arizona, New Mexico, and finally Texas. Stayed one night in Amarillo. Ate at the Big Texan and checked out downtown the following morning. It was okay...very quiet. I think it was a Sunday morning when we looked around. Lots and lots for farms! Totally different world than San Francisco.
Yellow because of sulpher deposits which led to the discovery of the worlds largest natural occurring helium.
Been here in Amarillo all my life. It's nothing special, but I am sure there are far worse places to reside. I'm glad that you chose to put it in the spotlight. Thank you.
O common now, it's special right?
It was on George Strait album that I have heard a thousand times...lol. "Amarillo by morning".
Your welcome. Cowboy up.
Last time I was in Amarillo I volunteered at a homeless center and served Thanksgiving meals to the homeless.
My father was stationed there in the late 50's. We moved from there in 1960 to Warner Robins Georgia where he retired in 1968. I was only 7 but I can still remember the heat at that age. I totally enjoy your videos. Take care and stay safe.
I was there from 96 to 00 I was a waiter at ihopoff western. In my span there I ended up with 2 felonies and involved in 2 murders I don't ever wanna go back there
I’m from around Amarillo, where you are is the old business district, there isn’t much that happens there on the weekends. If you go around 6th street there is shopping and some hole in the wall restaurants. That’s also where the below poverty level is.
I was in Amarillo from 2017 to 2022. In this video, you visited all the worst and eerie parts of Amarillo. Amarillo is one of the most peaceful places to live. But yes, mismanagement is in almost everywhere in Amarillo. Favoritism is the only way to get jobs done!! Most cases even in the government organizations, favoritism are being practiced by violating rules and regulations.
Drove by Amarillo years ago, that night a tornado passed near by the motel we were staying in. Great video of downtown Amarillo. Strange, you never mentioned Amarillo being the helium capital of the US.
I have driven through Amarillo multiple times, never stopped. After seeing your video I don't think I ever will.
Brad Beard. You will not find people any more friendly and helpful than in Amarillo. I've lived here all my life and couldn't imagine living anywhere else!
He showed you the worst part of Amarillo it's growing small city and doesn't look like this more on southwest part of town this is Downton northeast side which is considered the ghetto part
That’s because he drove through the worst part of the city, the southern, southwestern and western parts of the city are very busy.
He literally picked the worst parts of my city to drive through so that people wouldn't want to stop. I don't know why he did, but he did.
Good we won't be broken hearted.
I am from Saudi Arabia and went to school in the USA from 1976-1981. I have travelled a lot inside the States during holidays and summer times. I wish I have done my traveling the same way you done yours. I have followed all your videos and have learned a lot,as a matter of fact more than I have learned in my stay in America.I thank you a lot for this great knowledge you guys have provided to all your followers. Thank again Mr.Spodas and I also thank to Lady Spodas for her contribution. One more thing Mr. Spodas , you really have a great taste in women, Lady Spodas is such an amazing,gorgeous and stunning looking young lady. God bless both of you.
Wow, Farraj, thank you for the compliments. You made my day!
I went to high school and college with A lot of kids Whose parents worked for Aramco.
1974-1981. (in Ojai,ca and Whittier ca)
I have driven through Armidillo for a lot of years. It is like the place I live in now. A Ghost town after they took out Norton AFB back in 1994. The only thing in Armidillo as I call it was a truck stop and a trucker bar. Back in its day it was the number one stop for truckers to stop at due to that bar that had the best country music in the US, plus trucker parking. I am a former truckers wife. I have been back and forth across the US more times than I care to count. Today I use Armidillo for gas and jump back into the Mustang and head up to Clinton, Ok for the night. Thanks for sharing all your adventures. Slowly getting through each of your video's.
Awesome! :)
Amazing to see this. I just came back from Amarillo for my wife's granddaughter high school graduation from Ronald Regan High School of over 6, 000 students. To see this downtown, floors me.
I lived in Amarillo for 3 years about 15 years ago and downtown has always looked like that no matter what day of the week it is. Everyone hangs out in other parts of the city where all the restaurants and the mall is located. Definitely a quiet ,windy City with a lot of cows and cowboys and cowgirls.
I believe you. There's no homes or apartments downtown. Of course it's going to be empty.
I lived in Amarillo for 20 + years and it hasn't changed much since I moved 14 years ago other than down town. I was fortunate enough I lived in a descent neighborhood. I still have family there so I go back and visit I don't miss it lol!
Do think it is good city for a family of 5 ????
@@attractionp.1185 Yes it is raised my kids there till they were grown I just happened move away during a divorce and moved away as unfortunate times my dad being sick and time he had. But no one has mentioned Palo Duro State Park around corner..I spent many weekends camping with friends it's still an attraction!!
@@hectorsanchez5608 Palo Duro canyon is great if you like crowds of people. Also it's not what it used to be after they ruined the water crossings with bridges.
@@woooose yes every time we go back now we are glad to go back to our small rural community. It has changed a lot the last ten years, crowded, traffic, Canyon is also so changed with expansion of West Texas A&M.
When I Lived in Tucumcari,NM in 71 to 73 those Cadillac looked their best unpainted. I hate to see them destroyed by paint.
Have you ever interviewed residents or town officials? Maybe just one question for everybody. “What’s good and what’s bad about this city?”
Brit here : I ate my first and only stack of pancakes in Amarillo; everyone in the restaurant stopped eating to watch me - my method (knife and fork, one at a time), was obviously not the same as their’s !
Let me guess: you used a knife and fork. 😂😐
I never would've expected to see big, beautiful homes with big, shady trees in Amarillo. Cool video.
Thanks for taking all of us housebound people on the trip personally I love road trips God bless you
Thank you for watching, Kathy. :)
I grew up in Amarillo. I have some wonderful memories, but the last time I went there, I just had a feeling of sadness. the people are wonderful, but there is so much poverty. My father helped lay some of the brick streets during the Great Depression and planted hundreds of trees in Thompson Park while working for the WPA.
I was born in Amarillo, but was raised in a small town about an hour's drive from there. I still live in that small town, and rarely go to Amarillo, unless I have to.
The people here are not so wonderful, just look at how aggressively everyone drives. If you're going the speed limit you're guaranteed to have someone angrily riding on your bumper every time without fail.
Unfortunately, you will find this type of behavior everywhere. I have been cussed out and screamed at for going the speed limit and for stopping when the light was yellow. I live in Fort Worth and drive in several small communities around the area. People everywhere are impatient. The times we are living in, not to mention social media, etc. are causing a lot of stress and anxiety. We must not become unkind or impatient just because others are acting badly. I believe that we should be a light to help others find their way through the darkness.
@@rebagreen5768 I agree with that 100% but people who act like that cannot be called wonderful. I have been to smaller towns where people respect each other on road and off road. Dallas on the other hand often ranks #1 in the entire country for worst drivers. So it doesn't surprise me that the small communities surrounding Dallas are just as toxic.
Thank you for your Story Reba Greene
You missed the AQHA headquarters which is the main attraction in Amarillo lol. Consider hitting the high spots through the Llano Estacado.
I live in Amarillo it’s fun for kids like the big Texan,wonderland,and kids love Dillards too! If you ever come doing the winter go to a ice skater place they are so fun!!!
As an Englishman I grew up with a love of all things American, especially the music. In 1979 I fulfilled an ambition and took a road trip from New York to Los Angeles via the southern states with a company called Trek America. It was four magical weeks, visiting unforgettable places, the highlight being the Grand Canyon. A while ago I had the idea of going on Google maps and dropping a pin into several of the towns and city’s I passed through almost forty four years ago and see how they might have changed.I must say what I saw came as quite a shock. Using street view in several places, the majority of towns appeared deserted, there was nobody around. Not only were the populace nowhere to be seen, but there was an air of decay in so many of the places that I looked up on street view. If these scenes are being repeated all over America, it is extremely worrying. I am assuming here, but I wonder if it is the population of these now abandoned towns who are living in tents on the sidewalks in cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Despite what the guy says in the video, Amarillo is not abandoned. Downtown really isn't as popular as many other cities and is mainly just for business and not much else. Additionally, most people aren't gonna be downtown on Sunday or really doing much else other than going to church, grocery shopping, eating at restaurants or chilling out at home. Go to any sit down restaurant in Amarillo on Sunday and you'll find it crowded and full of life.
I agree with Mr. Wheeler. This is a strange and creepy town all built up downtown but deserted and decay and neglect are setting in. When my husband and I drove through a year ago, we saw all the people gathered and shopping in the new malls north of Amarillo. It’s what America does now, developers keep buying and tearing up pristine land outside of towns (or cities)- and desert the inner towns/cities. The land and resources will run out but Americans don’t care - Americans are wasteful as always.
@@ye11owman29 If you read my piece, I did say “Using street view in SEVERAL places, the majority of towns appeared deserted”. I wasn’t singling Amarillo out as such. It was just that as the town was shown when the gentleman and his wife drove through it, I was reminded of my experience revisiting dozens of towns, throughout the southern states on Google maps,and comparing them with my forty plus year old photographs. I am very happy to read that you are proud to be a citizen of Amarillo.
@@vlayday Just like some Canadians.
Most of the country is decaying, the poputation is aging and not being replaced and the infrastructure requires Tens of million of people to repair which they don't have, and Trillion of dollars. It can't be done. A decaying empire. this is what it looks like.
I graduated from NORTHWEST TEXAS HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NUSING, in 1979… there wasn’t much downtown back then . There was the Moon Palace.. a dance hall that all the nurses would go to on Fri and Sat nights! Asleep at the Wheel and similar would play! Oh the times we had!!! Best time of my life!!!!
Those panhandle towns do not have to much to do but they have those brick streets. My grandparents retired in Childress, for 10yrs then moved to Wyoming. I noticed your were on Interstate 25 in Colorado, going by Trinidad. My parents grew up in Trinidad and there is a lot of history and historic buildings there.
The historic district is really something with those beautiful homes. It's always fun when Nicole comes on. I'm glad she didn't get paint on her clothes. 😊
Well for one it's Sunday. Most normal people sleep in on Sunday and don't usually go out to well afternoon. Unless you're a church type. Also Sunday is a day for staying in and watching sports or just relaxing at home. And I can't believe that you're 57 years old. Wow. Surprised you're out that early on a Sunday morning.
actually the disassembling is at pantex near panhandle Texas but slot workers live in Amarillo
I am a native Californian who drove across country three times from California to Tennessee. I stopped in Amarillo always and loved it people were extremely nice. Same with Shamrock Texas. Texas is the best. Want to move there
The Big Texan was always on my bucket list and when I moved into the area for work, I went there and it far exceeded my expectations. Great service, food and atmosphere.
It's because all the business's and housing is on the other side of coulter, has been for the last 29 years. It's the same thing with Lubbock. I remember downtown Lubbock was packed with traffic, they actually had made 4 lanes, now it's almost like a ghost down where it's at.
Thank you for taking me to Amarillo Texas for I've never been before. I don't need to put it on my travels bucket list.
I moved there in 1994 and came by bus via College Station. Got there around 1am and stayed with a friend. Worked at Hertner's Camera for a while. I was instantly welcomed by the young community. I was 22 at the time. Had some of the best years of my life there. Then came to find out that one of my best friends lived in Canyon and was in the musical Oklahoma down at the Palo Duro Canyon ampitheater. Not a lot to do, but we figured it out.
I drove R66 back in 2019 (so pre-pandemic) and could not believe how lifeless it was
Born and raised, returned from being in Las Vegas for a year and a half. Amarillo has a lot growing pains that must be attended to. The public has no trust for city government (for good reason), so many projects get dropped. Simply put, their eyes were bigger than their stomachs. I spent much of my adult life frustrated with these issues. It’s a nice relief when you move away, even for a few months. Personal interests are the driving force for political careers and projects. Honestly, I gave up. I now place focus on capturing history of other places, ones who would appreciate my work. But to see another’s (outsider’s) perspective had confirmed my frustrations.
I.p.o
Me too. Excited to leave this area. I’ve lost a lot of myself here.
The downtown looks vay pretty and super clean. Maybe downtown Amarillo is the exception to your usual Sunday encounters, could be quite busy the rest of the week.
I left Amarillo in 1982 to go off to the Navy and never looked back. The place was what I describe as the South armpit of the world. It’s a horrible place to raise kids. There isn’t anything for teenagers to do which leads to many problems. The whole down is like the downtown area. Desolate as all hell. I do remember cruising Polk street back in the day. Those were fun times.
Thank you, hugely relaxing and informative. And, of course, thought-provoking. Greetings from Pembrokeshire.
I noticed the old brick paved streets you see so often in older Texas towns. It's certainly a nice clean town. I'm beginning to wish I had gone down town the times I visited the area.
Yes @Brenda F, it is in Montana too in the older Western towns. Love the red brick roads!!
I can't comment on Amarillo since I've never been there. But I do know that a lot of cities have abandoned their dense downtowns in favor of suburban big-box stores with huge parking lots and low density. The result is limited pedestrian traffic, waste of money on excessive infrastructure, and low return on taxes.
Yep. That is exactly what has happened to many cities and towns. Walmart has been killing downtown businesses for years.
A very burocratic/effective way by in tuning it ! 🇺🇸
Nice to see that cabover hauling that big blade! Just catching this one. Great photos
I lived in Amarillo on 16th and Polk about 9 blocks away from the "tallest Building", in a cool old apartment bulding across from the old Herrington Mansion. OH those were good old days. Don't let them fool you, sir. Their was a lot more going on Down Town, then. But those were the 1970's. And Amarillo has struggled with the lack of life down there since then. Through booms and busts! I agree with you, sir. A city with a "center" has more of a sense of community. I really thought for a while they were going to turn Amarillo around about that ONE AND ONLY FLAW about it. But guess not. And what really upsets me about it is the reasons for it.!!! Amarillo is , and has always been divided by 2 counties! Potter County for the north half. And 'Randall' County, in the south half of Amarillo.
The Potter half has a stonger desire for a busy down town. But Potter is the poorer of the 2. 'Randall County has the money. But most of them don't want THEIR money going into a County they don't live in. And couldn't care less about "Potter's Down Town", OR rather "The North Side"! (Notice Potter County Courthouse Down Town) It's a long story of RICH AND POOR. !!!
None of my business anymore. But I still have a right of opinion. And after retiring in Tucson; I can tell you we wish we had the office space Amarillo has. Our Down town has dinky buildings. So if Amarillo doesn't want them anymore; put them on wheels and give them to us!
Thank you for the common sense comment, Ted.
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip, oh no. Thank YOU for putting this together and showing the whole country some of Amarillo's biggest problems. I can honestly tell you there were many of Amarillo's civic leaders that could have lived a lifetime without seeing this! For example-- the major homeless problem! And what's deliciously rich is you did it accidentally! (I may get scorned. But they're souls freezing in the Winter cold!)
I grew up in Canyon. I always tell people that Pali Duro Canyon was my backyard. My dad was an anthropologist and had a key to the main gate so we went there any time we wanted, day or night.
Canyon kids were always softer than Northside kids in Amarillo. Yall are preppy. We were more druggy. But it was so much fun I miss PD
I was born in Canyon - grew up in Hereford - Palo Dura Canyon is my very favorite place to go!!! As well as the awesome museum in Canyon. So sad to see many of the towns fading away ☹️
I was in Amarillo recently, and worked there in the mid-80s. The downtown then -- like almost all American downtowns -- was about as hollowed out as it is now. I'd say that on balance, given the new ballpark and the Polk Street restaurant and nightlife district, it's a little more vibrant than it was then.
i've been there via freight trains x greyhound. yardworker in a ten gallon hat told me 'howdy' as i got off a unit x before too long at gas station, someone had bought me a bus ticket. great people in yellow texas! on my greyhound layover i walked around looking for beer stores. took a longer than you'd think time [texas has lots of beer stores usually] x lots of horse statues painted crazy.
I absolutely love the State of Texas. I was stationed at FT. Hood back in 89-92. I travel back several times a year to visit some great friends.
We hit Amarillo on our cross country road trip in March - we hit Cadillac Ranch & Palo Duro - but found Amarillo to be very interesting in itself - we have some very fond memories of Amarillo! Mosty, the friendliness of the people. We drove down I believe 6th Street, the portion of route 66 and saw some of that area as well! Keep making memories & adventure on! ~Karen & Shannon WOY
Walmart has a huge presence in Amarillo.
I use to drive a big truck across the country n I am from Pennsylvania and when it was time for me to be off to go home I asked my dispatcher to let me take my time off in Amarillo for I love the town and the people if I move to another state that’s exactly where I would move to ! I love Texas myself !!
I love your videos. You make me want to travel again. My husband and I used to go places but he died in 2008.
I use to live in Amarillo 30 years ago and it looks the same. Amarillo is a quiet country town and most people would not be downtown on a Sunday morning, they would be at the mall and the shopping areas. The people are very friendly there. I now live in New York and would do anything to live in Amarillo. Thanks for the video, it took me back to some good memories.
Love your Story Lamont Jenkins. I live in Michigan. And can't wait to live hopefully in Texas again. I always keep Reminiscing of Texas though.
Thank you Tammy, I hope you make it back safely to Texas.
Thank you Lamont Jackson.
The abandoned building was a hotel. They used to give invitation only tours and take you all the way to the rooftop and tell you the history. When world war 2 was going on they had a drafting office for your physicals on the bottom floor. They had a little bar and country singers would play there. My dad said he had seen Bob Wills play there. The architecture is amazing and I’m so blessed I got to tour it. I heard someone was supposed to remodel it but that was years ago. I hope they do something with it.
First of all I have enjoyed all your Texas videos. I grew up in Amarillo and thought the world of it. Salt of the earth people. It's sad what failed leadership and mismanagement has done to the city.
thank you for sharing Amarillo beautiful
My mother was born in Amarillo in 1929 and she loved it there