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- The Texas You’ve Always Dreamed Of
By Abie Cox, Director of Communications for Visit Lubbock
Standing on the plains of West Texas, as you feel the warm breeze on your face, you will be surrounded with the pioneering spirit that tamed this land known as Lubbock. The dancing yellows, oranges and purples of a West Texas sunset ease even the busiest mind. Witnessing nature is only one of the many reasons to visit the Texas you’ve always dreamed of.
On March 16, 1909, Lubbock officially became an incorporated community and the celebration of being a new town began. Soon, it became the center of commerce, medicine, education and entertainment for all of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico and was appropriately labeled the “Hub of the Plains.” Now, Lubbock residents are planning for a year-long Centennial Celebration which began in March 2008, and will culminate with a party and Lubbock legends concert in March 2009, featuring Lubbock-grown entertainers past, present, and future.
Unlock the secrets that give Lubbock a unique spirit; from down-home country dining to unrivaled shopping and outdoor fun, Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University, Buddy Holly and a legendary ranching and music heritage.
Texas Tech University is the largest comprehensive higher education institution in the western two-thirds of the state of Texas and also attracts visitors to Lubbock. With its red tiles blazing beneath boundless West Texas skies and a public art program ranked among the nation’s 10 best, Texas Tech’s beauty will jump out when you drive onto campus.
Less visible, however, are Texas Tech’s other assets. The proud new host of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society, Texas Tech houses 28,000 students and a world-quality faculty. Noted scholars and lecturers visit the campus throughout the year for presentations to students, faculty, staff and the public.
Throughout the year, the University also offers a wide selection of theater, music and dance performances and, of course, Big XII sporting events.
West Texas musicians forever impacted the music scene and Lubbock’s own Buddy Holly played a major role. The West Texas Walk of Fame featuring the Buddy Holly statue is a larger-than-life tribute to the legendary Lubbock musician. Two-step along the West Texas Walk of Fame honoring West Texas music legends including Waylon Jennings, Mac Davis, Roy Orbison and Tanya Tucker.
Follow Buddy Holly’s life in Lubbock as you take the Buddy Holly Historical Tour. See the church Buddy attended, the radio studio he performed in, his grave, high school and more.
Continue the celebration of Buddy Holly’s life and achievements at the Buddy Holly Center. Visitors can see artifacts including Buddy’s own Fender Stratocaster guitar, his famous glasses, photographs, a songbook used by Buddy and The Crickets, recording contracts and more. The Buddy Holly Center also features the Lubbock Fine Arts Gallery, a 2,500 square foot gallery dedicated to the presentation of changing contemporary visual arts programs.
West Texas music, with its inimitable style and sound, attracts acclaim—and tourism interest—from around the world. There is no better place to discover and hear this music and explore its cultural heritage than Lubbock’s Depot Entertainment District. At the heart of this downtown destination is The Cactus Theater, an iconic Lubbock landmark transformed in 1994 from an abandoned movie theater into a state-of-the-art performance venue. The Depot Entertainment District has grown to include venues for entertainment, arts and cultural programs. An award-winning microbrewery, boutiques, art studios, restaurants and live-music venues are part of the exciting mix.
Watch nature’s clowns experience the trials and tribulations of everyday prairie dog life. At Prairie Dog Town, in Mackenzie Park, the whole family will get a kick out of observing these little critters in their natural habitat. Prairie Dog Town was the first protected prairie dog colony of its kind and began with four dogs and two burrows. A recent renovation brought enhancements including a pavilion and viewing area, bus parking, interpretive signage and more. When visiting the prairie dogs, bring carrots or cookies to share!
Visit one of our numerous ranches in and around the city of Lubbock where you can see a working ranch, experience a chuck wagon dinner, ride horses, explore the grounds and feel the true West under your boots.
Other popular attractions in Lubbock include the Museum of Texas Tech University, an internationally-recognized museum that houses collections in the arts, humanities and sciences; the American Wind Power Center, a museum for the American-style water-pumping windmills located on 28 acres; Mackenzie Park, Lubbock’s largest recreation area featuring a golf course, amusement park, equestrian trails and more; the National Ranching Heritage Center, a site where the story of ranching in North America is told through the preservation of 45 authentic structures displayed on 16 acres; and the Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater, a unique, hands-on museum featuring interactive science exhibits and a domed screen that lets the audience feel like they are a part of the movie.
With a growing population of more than 215,000, Lubbock is carving out a dominant role in the West Texas landscape. Already home to a thriving agribusiness culture, an eminent university system, and a regional medical powerhouse, Lubbock is forging a new reputation as a fertile setting for revolutionary enterprise and technology.
Led by the economic development entity, Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, Inc., Lubbock, Texas is expanding, generating activity and positioning for the new, next level of growth. Lubbock is emerging into a fast-growing metropolis and has already expanded its horizons.
The past few years, Lubbock EDA has been successful in the development of business parks that accommodate businesses in all industry levels and strategically position Lubbock to be a forerunner in the site selection process. As foreign companies look towards America to expand their global market presence and decrease transportation costs, Lubbock is an ideal option for them.
Consisting of 29 lots on 548 acres of land just south of the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, the Lubbock Business Park provides immeasurable potential to the Lubbock community and region. The availability of multiple transportation infrastructures with the nearby road, rail and air options make for an attractive location for businesses looking to expand in the Southern and Midwest regions of the United States. These options allow for flexibility within the businesses’ distribution operations.
The Lubbock Business Park is an exciting project for Lubbock EDA and the City of Lubbock. A countless number of jobs will come from companies investing on the land which will in return improve the quality of life of the regions’ residents. With two U.S. companies already preparing for construction, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Standard Bag Manufacturing of Oregon, the business park is starting to take shape and show the fruits of our labor.
The Lubbock RailPort is the second land development project that Lubbock EDA has taken on recently. The RailPort is a 301 acre parcel north of the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport that provides companies the opportunity of having a national rail system at their back door. Lubbock EDA, understands that in today’s business world it comes down to how efficient you can deliver and how effective you perform for your customers. Lubbock has always had the appeal of a central U.S. location and is leading the way in strengthening this asset.
Another vital area of focus for Lubbock EDA is the implementations of workforce development initiatives. A community and region-wide effort has been launched to enhance education and training, and creating programs to be proactive to sustain a healthy economy. Through partnerships, Lubbock EDA has been able to increase coordination and collaboration between the many valuable workforce development programs and services in the region. The efforts of Lubbock EDA are aimed at ensuring that training and education are more fulfilling to the needs of business and industry and that the region’s workforce has more opportunities and the proper accessibility to quality education, training and educational resources.
Lubbock EDA strives to embrace new ideas and develop new strategies into working assets for businesses of today and beyond. We are your resource for success.
Discover Lubbock’s blend of unstoppable economic development and one-of-a-kind attractions including award-winning wineries, championship golf courses, eclectic assortment of restaurants, unique shopping, internationally recognized museums and more as you visit the Texas you’ve always dreamed of…Lubbock.
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