Harvey House Is a Gem
Published Aug 07, 2009
Wine tastings, gourmet dinners and live theater create a wonderful atmosphere in the refurbished historic Harvey House in Slaton.
Designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 2007, the Harvey House is a two-story mission-style inn built in 1912 on the Santa Fe Railroad line that features four jewel-toned bedrooms and a dinner theater.
In March 2009, the dinner theater brought to life the history of the Harvey Girls in an original play by the same name. The play transports the audience back to a time when the Slaton Harvey House bustled with activity as train passengers stopped for a delicious meal served by the efficient Harvey Girls.
Loaded with historic charm, today’s guests might even spot the ghost of a Harvey Girl giving out cigars.
Ho, Ho, Howdy!
Wear your spurs in Spur and sport your shamrocks in Shamrock.
These two High Ground towns offer unique festivals in December and March.
Enjoy December’s Cowboy Christmas Ball in the Exhibition Barn in Spur. Spend a Saturday at the historic Palace Theatre visiting with Santa or experience a real western Christmas with live nativity, campfires and cowboy carols at the Spirit of the West Santa Land.
Once spring begins to revive the clover, head on over to Shamrock for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival, an event that began in 1938.
It’s a World of Wonder
More than 50 years ago, Paul and Alethea Roads realized their dream of building an amusement park. Now, children from across the region can Shoot the Chute, take the Pipeline Plunge, go on a Fantastic Journey and experience the Texas Tornado during a visit to Amarillo’s Wonderland Park.
Wonderland is the third-largest amusement park in Texas. Open April through Labor Day, the park is operated by the Roads’ daughter, Paula, and her husband, P.D. Borchardt.
One of their daughters, Rebecca, is now the comptroller.
This family-owned business is a family-oriented destination. Bring a picnic and spend the day.
Retire to the Good Life
The good life isn’t a dream; it’s a destination.
And it can be found in The High Ground. Three High Ground communities have received the GO TEXAN stamp of approval as inaugural designees in the state’s Certified Retirement Community program.
Canyon, Odessa and Tulia are three of a mere handful of Texas cities that formally meet the desirability qualities demanded by today’s retiree. Factors considered for certification include strong scores in livability, health care, entertainment, the arts, volunteer opportunities, recreation and proximity to metropolitan markets.
Reigning Retail
Who says you can’t have superior retail in a rural community? Certainly not the people of Perryton, or the folks with Radio Shack.
That’s because in terms of volume, Perryton’s Radio Shack is the No. 1 Radio Shack in the nation – for seven years running. Why? According to owner Kerry Symons, it’s a combination of factors. “It’s a great town, and we have great people who work here,” he says. “Our store looks cool and I want to say we give good service.”
In business for 13 years, the Perryton Radio Shack offers 10,000 square feet of prime showroom space right on downtown’s Main Street.
We’re No. 1
High school football is big in The High Ground, and it doesn’t get much bigger than this: Stratford, Canadian and Muleshoe all made Texas football history in December 2008, when they became the first schools from one region to simultaneously win state championships in their respective divisions.
For Stratford, it was the first time in 72 years that one team claimed three state titles in the same decade.
Throughout the region, thousands of fans flock to high school stadiums on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons to see their favorite teams battle on the gridiron.
Hunters’ Paradise
The cackle of a long-tailed rooster as it erupts from cover and claws for altitude is irresistible to pheasant hunters.
Both birds and hunters are out in full force the first weekend of December, doubling the size of many communities in the region on the opening weekend of pheasant season.
Many communities claim they are the Pheasant Capital of Texas, but it’s clear that the real capital is The High Ground region. The climate, terrain and farming cycles make it a perfect place for pheasant hunters.
Texas’ Kind of Toy
What Texas child wouldn’t want his own cattle operation?
That’s just the dream that comes true when Jerry Sims – better known as The Happy Toymaker – fills an order. Mini portable corrals, Quonset barns with swinging doors, branding irons, trailers and semitrucks are all built to scale, giving little ones hours of imaginative play.
No detail is overlooked in offering kids an early peek at life as a cowboy. A computerized plasma torch in Sims’ Happy Shop personalizes each set to rope ’em in.
Rest Your Weary Heads
The hotel industry continues to thrive in The High Ground region because of folks like Rob Meyer, a 17-year hospitality veteran.
As owner and operator of the Arbor Inn and Suites in Lubbock, Meyer attributes The High Ground’s successful hotel industry to owners who “put their hearts and souls into running their establishments.”
He says the economic success is due to wise and conservative investment and a steady economy supported by Texas Tech University and the agriculture sector.
It all adds up to a good night’s sleep.
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