It’s been a little while since I’ve gone out on a drive so this past Saturday seemed to be the perfect day. My only request was to get out of DFW metroplex. It turned out to be the best day to do it as it was so glum and dreary outside (you can obviously see this from the pictures below).
Destination: Wichita Falls, TX.
Time: About 2 hour drive from my apartment.
Ye Haw!
Some of the sights you will see between Fort Worth and Wichita Falls,
Ok – all the sights,
Lots of super long trains, various windmills and oil rigs.
In some places, especially the picture below, it reminded me of southern Quebec traveling near St. Sebastian where my grandfather grew up. Long, straight, pretty much flat stretch of road surrounded by fields.
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this in a past post but if you are ever wondering where you are in Texas, just look for the water tower. Just about every town has one. The only issue is some towns are few and far between but if you’re lost, it’s only a minor detail, right?!
So when I left the metroplex area it was pretty gloomy and the more we headed northwest, the weather started to clear up but more often than not, I found myself just staring at the clouds. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen clouds like this. Maybe I’ve never paid that much attention but they looked like soft waves in the sky that just went on until the very edge of the sky where they seemed to just, stop.
When we reached the end of the cloud system, the clouds just seemed to string out.
This picture kind of creeps me out because it looks like there is an eye in the top left corner but it was just so crazy looking up there.
Back to the drive…. so we finally reached Wichita Falls. How did I know?
I’ve been told before that there isn’t much in Wichita Falls so I hadn’t really prepared to check out any specific places but luckily I had brought a book with me about “weird” destination in Texas.
Wichita Falls sits in the lower North East corner of what is considered the Texas Panhandle. It falls two hours from Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and is near the Sheppard Air Force Base. Originally founded by Choctaw Indians, the white settlers came into the area in the 1860’s and is now home to about 110,000 people.
A noteworthy event in Wichita Falls is the
Hotter Than Hell 100. This is a 100 mile bike race – wait for it – in August. I mean, who the hell comes up with this? It’s 100 in August! I think the name fits it perfectly even though I’ve never been to this event. If I didn’t think I would die or if I could have a personal assistant following me around with a sprinkler, ok more like a hose, I would probably consider attempting this feat.
Here is your fun fact – Although it is named Wichita Falls, a “falls” can not be found in this town. Back in the 1886’s the “falls” was destroyed in a flood along the Wichita River. In the 1980’s the town created an artificial falls that is 58 feet high and recirculates water. The origin of names I tell ya!
I wasn’t prepared, otherwise I would’ve caught a better glimpse of the falls.
First, we drove around…
This seemed to be one of the “big” factories in town. (Above)
High five for recycling!
Wichita Falls has a ton of old buildings. We drove by a few that had some art work businesses.
This is downtown. After leaving Fort Worth I thought it was so tiny but then I thought about Vermont and it wasn’t so tiny anymore.
For a Saturday afternoon, I was wondering where all the people were in this town.
“Is there anyone out there?!”
It was a ghost town. Folks of Wichita Falls, is it always like that?
I think we saw more homeless people than actual people venturing out (and the people we saw were police leaving their station.)
The area we ventured to would probably be considered the historical district.
There was the building above, one across the street and a train to the right.
I was trying to research the above building and all I could come up with were paranormal activity information.
For those who are interested…. add this to your list.
I love the brick streets!
Again, no people.
This is a building we saw on our way out. I believe it is the Post Office and the entrance is gorgeous!
Look at the detail!
Next to the Hamilton Building, you will find a wild horse!
This is the Artifact Emporium.
This was our little treasure on the trip. I loved this place and it kind of fell into our laps so to speak.
I loved it so much it’s getting its
own post! Look for it later this week!
Along with water towers, many Texas towns also hosts very old court houses. Some of them have such detail in their architecture and may even be quite creepy to look at. This wasn’t one of them.
Our final stop – Midwestern State University.
Maybe if school was in session it wouldn’t have felt like such a ghost town.
The campus was really nice.
We didn’t stay long in town. Maybe an hour or so. Considering we weren’t very prepared and there were hardly any people out and about. We were soon on the road again.
Somewhere between Wichita Falls and Fort Worth, we saw this on the side of the road.
Made me laugh anyway. Maybe that’s why this cowboy looks kind of upset.
“On the road again, I just can’t wait to get on the road again!” – Willie Nelson
The skyline on the way home was gorgeous. It looked never ending.
If it was just a little darker, it would be a sea of lights over the horizon!
Just a little glimpse of the world. Its at our fingertips!
