17 Weird Things To Do in Amarillo (2025)

Updated 5/29/25

Ever wonder why there are so many weird things to do in Amarillo—and who’s behind them?

 The first time we drove through Amarillo, it was hot and dusty. As we passed the stockyards, I learned what 10,000 cows smelled like—and it wasn’t pleasant. I told Robb I never wanted to come this way again.

But travel has a funny way of turning “never again” into “let’s go back.” Friends convinced us to give it another shot—this time with a stop at Palo Duro Canyon and a few of Amarillo’s weirder attractions. Turns out, they knew us better than we did.

We found a town full of buried Cadillacs, floating mesas, haunted history, and strange roadside stops that make you question what’s real—and who thought it up.

Now, every time we head west, we try to route ourselves through this freaky, fascinating town. Amarillo’s weirdness has a way of pulling us back in.

17 Weird Things to Do in Amarillo: Strange Stops You’ll Never Forget

What follows is a roundup of the strangest, funniest, and most unforgettable stops we’ve come across in Amarillo. Some are legendary. Others feel like secrets. And a few… well, you just have to see them to believe them.

Amarillo isn’t just another Texas pit stop—it’s a living museum of oddball art, offbeat attractions, and eccentric history. From giant legs in a field to helium-filled time capsules, this place has a personality all its own.

These are the weirdest, most wonderful stops we’ve encountered—and the stories behind them are just as unusual as the sights themselves.

1.  Helium Monument – A Time Capsule with a $10 Bet on the Future

At first glance, a monument to helium might sound like something only a chemist could love. But in Amarillo, it makes perfect sense.

In the early 20th century, Amarillo became home to the Federal Helium Reserve, thanks to massive underground stores of the gas in this part of the Texas Panhandle. The government tapped the region to supply helium for blimps, scientific research, and later, space exploration and military tech.

For decades, Amarillo was literally the helium capital of the world.

So in 1968, to mark the 100th anniversary of helium’s discovery, the city unveiled the Helium Centennial Time Columns Monument—a stainless-steel, four-column structure with time capsules sealed inside each leg.

Each capsule is scheduled to be opened at a specific point in time: 1993, 2018, 2068, and the last, way out in 2968. Inside that one? A bank passbook with a $10 deposit, left to grow for a thousand years. Assuming we still use banks. Or money.

It’s nerdy, ambitious, and just the right amount of absurd. Which, honestly, makes it perfectly Amarillo.

2.  Amarillo Railroad Museum – Where Model Trains Meet Cold War Secrets

From the outside, the Amarillo Railroad Museum looks like it’s just for train buffs—and to be fair, it does have some great model layouts and historic railroad gear inside. But the real reason most stop isn’t for the engines or cabooses. It is for something sitting just outside the main building: a faded, unassuming railcar known as the White Train.

And it’s not just any train.

During the Cold War, this government-operated train quietly moved across the country, transporting nuclear weapons from the nearby Pantex Plant to secure military sites around the U.S. It earned the nickname “The White Train” because of its original paint job—a bright, almost cheerful white that made it look harmless.

But activists knew better. They called it the Death Train.

As protests grew and the train became a moving target for anti-nuclear demonstrations, the government began repainting the cars in different colors to avoid detection and public scrutiny. What began as a symbol of American might was slowly disguised as just another freight line.

Today, what’s left of the White Train sits behind a chain-link fence—no velvet ropes, no museum placard, only rust, paint, and Cold War silence. A piece of history parked in plain sight.

Sometimes the quietest things carry the loudest past.

3.  Pantex Plant – The Most Dangerous Place You’ll Never Tour

You won’t find a gift shop. You won’t find a visitor center. And unless you’ve got top-level clearance, you’re not getting past the fence.

Still in operation today, Pantex is the United States’ primary nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility. It’s where warheads are built, taken apart, maintained, and sometimes quietly retired. It sits just 17 miles outside Amarillo, tucked into the flat Texas plains—and it’s been doing its work, mostly in silence, since the 1940s.

During World War II, the land was first used for conventional munitions.

However, after the war, the government required a location far from coastlines, surrounded by open space, and protected by a willing workforce. Amarillo said yes, and the Pantex Plant became the nerve center of America’s nuclear arsenal.

Today, the plant remains heavily guarded, fenced off, and is largely unspoken of in casual conversation.

Most people drive by without realizing it’s there. Those who do know? They tend not to talk about it much.  But its presence is huge. Literally and symbolically.

It’s the reason Amarillo became home to the White Train, the reason anti-nuclear protests once made headlines here, and the reason the city’s past and present are tied—however quietly—to the atomic age.

Pantex casts a long shadow over the Panhandle. It’s invisible from the road, but it’s always there. Watching. Waiting. Working.

And no, you can’t tour it. You’re probably better off that way.

4.  St. Anthony’s Abandoned Hospital
 Faith, Fear, and an Exorcism

We’re not ghost hunters. But if Amarillo had a building with the kind of energy that makes your skin crawl, it was the old St. Anthony’s Hospital—later known as High Plains Baptist.

When we first saw it, the building loomed like a relic from a different century—tall, stone-faced, with windows that seemed to watch you back. For years, it sat vacant in the heart of the city, drawing everyone from urban explorers to late-night daredevils. People said they heard voices. Lights flickered. Cold spots lingered. But one story stood out: the exorcisms.

Between 1909 and 1931, during a time when mental illness was poorly understood, there were 76 documented exorcisms performed within these walls.

The hospital’s Catholic roots and the era’s limited psychiatric knowledge contributed to these intense rituals. Some say it was Amarillo’s own version of The Exorcist. Others believe it was a tragic misunderstanding of mental health.

Either way, the legend grew. For decades, the hospital stood as a physical reminder—an unsettling one—of Amarillo’s haunted history.

Recently, the site was purchased for redevelopment into a housing project, and much of the original structure may not survive. But even as it gets sanded down and rebuilt, you can’t help but wonder what stories those walls still remember.

We never went inside. But we stood at the fence once, on a gray, windy day. And for just a second, the air felt too still. Too quiet. Like the building was holding its breath.

5.  Richard Daniel Baker Peace Park

Driving along Route 66, just east of Amarillo, you might spot something unexpected: a large peace sign rising from the prairie, surrounded by a circle of pedestals bearing dates and messages. This is the Richard Daniel Baker Peace Park, also known as the Stoner Patriot Peace Garden of All Faiths .

Created by Richard Daniel Baker, a local farmer and retired telephone repairman, the park is a personal tribute to peace and unity. Each pedestal marks a significant date in history, inviting visitors to reflect on the events that have shaped our world. The park blends symbols from various faiths and philosophies, emphasizing a message of universal harmony.

While not widely known, the Peace Park offers a quiet space for contemplation amidst the vast Texas landscape. It’s a reminder that even in the most unassuming places, one person’s vision can create a lasting impact.

6.  Amarillo Botanical Gardens – Growing Beauty Where It Shouldn’t Exist

We probably would’ve laughed if you asked us to picture a botanical garden in Amarillo. Not because the Panhandle isn’t beautiful, but because it’s the kind of place where the wind can knock over your coffee, your dog, and your will to live—all in the same afternoon.

And yet, just behind the medical center, the Amarillo Botanical Gardens bloom defiantly—like a full-color dream planted in the middle of the Dust Bowl.

The story starts in the 1920s, when a group of gardening enthusiasts—yes, in Amarillo—formed a club focused on landscaping and beautification. It wasn’t easy. The ground was dry, the climate harsh, and the odds were long. But after weathering the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and decades of development, that club grew into something permanent: a full-fledged public garden.

We haven’t made it inside yet, but what we’ve seen from the outside is enough to spark curiosity. Locals rave about the mix of native plants, seasonal beds, and the glowing tropical conservatory that lights up like a greenhouse spaceship at night.

But what makes it weird—in the best way—is that it shouldn’t exist here. This isn’t a garden built for Instagram. It’s a slow, determined response to a harsh climate by people who looked around at bare dirt and said, “Let’s grow something anyway.”

Even just standing near the gates, it feels like a quiet rebellion. And on our next trip through town, it’s at the top of our list.

7.  Jack Sisemore RV Museum – Chrome, Campers, and Cross-Country Dreams

You might not expect one of the country’s best RV museums to be tucked behind an RV dealership in Amarillo—but that’s exactly where it is. The Jack Sisemore RV Museum is a private collection built out of passion, not profit, and it’s an absolute time warp for anyone who’s ever dreamed of the open road.

Inside, you’ll find rows of vintage RVs and campers, each lovingly restored and set up with era-accurate furniture, decor, and travel maps. There’s even a tiny kitchen staged like it’s ready for supper, right down to the plates on the table. It’s not just a display—it feels like you’ve walked into someone’s vacation, frozen in time.

You’ll see everything from shiny Airstreams to early motorhomes, including the actual RV used in the Robin Williams movie RV, and the rig once owned by the first family to ever full-time travel across America. For those of us who’ve logged thousands of miles in our own rigs, it hits differently. You see the roots of something you’ve lived.

And that’s what makes it more than just a museum. It’s a rolling history of American wanderlust—a love letter to families chasing sunsets and state lines with a coffee pot strapped to the counter.

8.  Bill’s Backyard Classics – A Museum Where You Can Take the Exhibits Home

This isn’t your average car museum—and it’s definitely not just for looking. Bill’s Backyard Classics features over 100 restored vintage cars, from muscle cars to pickups, all lined up in a warehouse-style setting that smells like grease and nostalgia.

But what makes it unusual is this: some of the cars are for sale.

You’re strolling through rows of lovingly maintained classic vehicles, then suddenly realize, with a raised eyebrow and a peek at a hand-written tag, that you could actually drive one home. It’s a collector’s paradise… with a twist.

They don’t make a big fuss about what’s available and what’s not. So if something catches your eye, bring your checkbook (or at least a very persuasive voice of reason). Because this is one of the few places where a “just browsing” visit might end with keys in hand.

It’s a gearhead’s dream and a road tripper’s curveball—part museum, part showroom, all Amarillo.

9.  Amarillo Historical Museum – One Man’s Obsession, Amarillo’s Memory Box

We didn’t make it inside this time—it was closed when we rolled through.  But from everything we’ve heard, the Amarillo Historical Museum is the kind of place that sticks with you.

Tucked into an unassuming building near I-40, this museum isn’t polished or corporate. It’s a labor of love, curated by a local historian who’s made it his mission to collect and preserve Amarillo’s quirks, characters, and forgotten corners.

Inside, you’ll find old jail cells, moonshine equipment, and vintage signs from long-gone businesses. There are rotary phones, cattle brand records, and more mannequin heads than we were prepared for. It’s the kind of place where you can turn a corner and find a forgotten newspaper from the 1930s… or the original layout for the first Orange Julius stand in Amarillo.

This isn’t curated for comfort—it’s a little messy, deeply personal, and full of soul. It more like the attic of someone who’s lived in Amarillo for a hundred years and never threw anything away.

From what we’ve gathered, the museum is best experienced when the owner is there to walk you through it himself. He’s known for giving impromptu tours filled with stories, sidebars, and the kind of local lore you won’t find on any plaque.

If you want to understand what makes Amarillo tick, this might be the weirdest, most wonderful place to start.

10.  The Nat – Big Bands, Buried Pools, and a Ghost Who Might Be Partying

You wouldn’t expect to find one of Amarillo’s weirdest landmarks on a busy stretch of Route 66, but that’s exactly where you’ll find The Nat—short for The Natatorium. Built in 1922, it started as a public indoor swimming pool. Fancy, upscale, and a little unexpected for the Texas Panhandle.

By the 1930s, swimming was out and swing was in. So instead of tearing it down, the owners just drained the pool and built a dance floor over it.

Suddenly, The Nat became one of the hottest big-band venues in the region. Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Tommy Dorsey all played there. You could literally jitterbug on top of a concrete pool basin.

Today, the building houses an antique mall filled with vintage clothes, furniture, vinyl records, and oddball treasures, layered with a sense of history that feels baked into the walls. You can shop for rhinestones in the same space someone once dove into a pool. It’s weird. It’s wonderful. It’s Amarillo.

And of course… there’s a ghost.

The most often-told tale is about a woman in a white dress stained with blood red. People have claimed to see her drifting near the attic or on the upper level. There were no records of a murder—so the story goes that she was a party girl, having fun at a dance, and simply spilled red wine on her dress. She wasn’t a victim. She was a vibe.

Not all ghosts are scary. Some linger for the party.

11.  The Big Texan Steak Ranch – Where Gluttony, Gimmicks, and Giant Steaks Collide

You can spot it from the highway—bright yellow walls, towering signs, and a parking lot full of out-of-state plates. Welcome to the Big Texan Steak Ranch, Amarillo’s most famous attraction and a place that doesn’t whisper “Texas”—it screams it with neon, longhorns, and meat sweats.

It’s best known for the 72-ounce steak challenge. The rules are simple: eat the whole thing—steak, shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad, and roll—in under an hour, and your meal is free. Fail, and you pay. But here’s the twist: you do it on a stage in the middle of the dining room while strangers cheer (or cringe) as the clock ticks down.

But the Big Texan isn’t just about steak. It’s a roadside circus dressed as a restaurant.

There’s a shooting gallery, an ice cream parlor, a microbrewery, and a gift shop that could clothe a small rodeo. Their custom-painted limousines with longhorns on the hood are legendary—some say a few now rest beneath the property, having been retired to the Texas soil like cowboy royalty.

They’ve even turned their property into a full-blown travel compound, with a themed motel and an RV park right next door. So yes, you can eat your weight in steak and then walk—or waddle—back to your room or rig without leaving the parking lot.

And now? It’s home to Slug Bug Ranch. The five nose-dived VW Beetles, once fading into the Conway prairie, have been relocated to the Big Texan parking lot—cleaned up, reburied, and open for tagging. It’s weird, wonderful, and honestly, it fits right in.

Everything here is big, bold, and a little ridiculous. And that’s exactly why we love it.

12.  Cadillac Ranch – Art, Iron, and a Spray-Painted Revolution

It’s one of the most iconic—and undeniably weird—roadside attractions in the U.S. Ten Cadillacs, tailfins and all, buried nose-first in a Texas field off I-40. From a distance, it looks like a colorful car crash.   Up close, it’s a layered mess of spray paint, rust, rubber boots, and wild energy.

The idea was born in 1974, when an experimental art collective from San Francisco called Ant Farm came up with a concept: take a lineup of Cadillacs from different eras and bury them nose-first in a field, at the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was meant as a critique of American excess, car culture, and disposable consumerism.

Enter Stanley Marsh 3, Amarillo’s local eccentric millionaire with a flair for the surreal. He loved the idea. So much so, he gave them a plot of land just west of town and bankrolled the whole thing. Cadillac Ranch went from concept to reality in the middle of nowhere, almost overnight.

But here’s where it gets fun: the public was never told to stay back. In fact, visitors were—and still are—encouraged to interact. Spray it. Tag it. Leave your mark. Bring your favorite color and turn the past into a new canvas. It’s chaotic. It’s constantly changing. And that was the point.

Marsh loved the disorder. He believed that art should be messy, public, and alive. Cadillac Ranch became his playground for that belief—and for decades, it’s stayed just weird enough to be unforgettable.

If you go, expect wind. Expect fumes. Expect paint on your shoes. And expect to leave with a little less in your can and a little more in your memory.

13.  Ozymandias on the Plains – Giant Legs and a Not-So-Subtle Jab at Lubbock

It’s hard to miss: two giant stone legs, planted in the middle of a Texas field, standing barefoot except for a pair of oversized socks. There’s no torso. No arms. Just the bottom half of what might’ve been a ruler, a titan, or a particularly confident statue.

The piece is called Ozymandias on the Plains, a nod to Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem about the crumbling remains of a once-great king. You know the one—“Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”  It’s a poem about pride, power, and how even the biggest, most important people eventually fall apart and get forgotten.

But this being Amarillo… there’s a twist.

Legend has it that this strange sculpture—funded and backed by none other than Stanley Marsh 3—was also a dig at Lubbock, Amarillo’s long-standing rival to the south. The statue faces directly toward Lubbock, and many believe it was deliberately designed to look like it’s mooning them.

Yes, mooning. As in, “Here’s what we think of you, Lubbock.”

Some say Marsh was poking fun at what he saw as Lubbock’s attempts to appear more cultured or cosmopolitan. Others say it was just classic Marsh—strange, provocative, and open to interpretation. Either way, the socks were a later addition, supposedly because people were uncomfortable with the original nudity. The compromise? Put socks on it.

Because, of course, that fixes everything.

Like Cadillac Ranch, it’s not fenced off. You can walk right up to it, snap a photo between the legs, and try to figure out whether it’s high art, a prank, or both. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe not even Marsh knew.

But one thing’s for sure: only Amarillo would proudly plant a pair of stone legs in a pasture and call it a monument.

14.  The Dynamite Museum – Street Signs That Ask the Wrong Questions

There’s no dynamite. And there’s no museum. But at one point, there were over 1,000 street signs scattered across Amarillo—each one weirder than the last.

This was the Dynamite Museum, an ongoing public art project kicked off in the 1990s by none other than Stanley Marsh 3 and a group of local mischief-makers and artists. Instead of street names or directions, the signs featured strange phrases like:

“Road Does Not End”

“Hope is a Naked Dance”

“Lick the Lake”

“I Have Traveled Far and Feel Nothing”

They were designed to look like real city signage, which made them even more confusing—and brilliant. You’d turn a corner in a quiet neighborhood and BAM: a sign telling you to Obey the Ficus or Go Home and Think. Some were mounted on stop sign poles. Others were bolted to fences or stuck in alleys. They weren’t mapped. They weren’t explained. They just… showed up.

It was weird. It was funny. And it made you stop and think—even if you weren’t sure what you were thinking about.

Over time, most of the signs were removed or fell into disrepair, but a few still exist. They’re like little time bombs of confusion and creativity, tucked into Amarillo’s side streets and parking lots. You won’t find them on TripAdvisor. But you might catch one out of the corner of your eye and think, Wait… what did that just say?

That was the point. Art that disrupts your day for just a second. Something useless, absurd, and unforgettable.

And in Amarillo? That kind of weird still feels right at home.

15.  Floating Mesa – A Sky Trick
You’ll Miss If You Blink

In the desert just northwest of Amarillo, there’s a mesa that looks… wrong. Like it’s levitating. Floating. Just hovering out there with a chunk of air between its top and the ground. And it’s not a glitch in the Matrix—it’s Stanley Marsh 3’s doing, of course.

In the early 2000s, Marsh had a strip of white metal sheeting installed just below the top rim of the mesa. The idea? To match the sky so perfectly that it would create an illusion, the top of the mesa would look like it had broken off and was suspended in midair.

He never finished it. Never fully explained it. And never really cared if people got it or not. It’s a half-finished prank… or maybe a half-finished masterpiece.

On the right kind of afternoon, when the light is just right and the clouds leave you alone, it works. The top of the mesa floats. You do a double-take. Then maybe another. And then you laugh, because what else are you supposed to do when a millionaire decides to mess with geology?

There are no signs. No parking lot. No selfie spot. You have to know it’s out there—and be lucky enough to catch the illusion.

It’s art. It’s weird. And like everything Marsh touched, it walks the line between brilliant and completely bonkers.

16.  Paramount Recreation Club
Amarillo’s Hidden Speakeasy

We’re big fans of speakeasies—the hunt, the atmosphere, the story behind every door. We visit them all over the country, and this one is high on our list for the next pass through Amarillo.

The Paramount Recreation Club is a true underground speakeasy tucked beneath The Barfield Hotel. You won’t spot a neon sign or roped-off entry—just clues if you know where to look.  (Here’s a hint: look for the double revolvers and follow the trail of bullet markers to the discreet entrance.

It’s designed to feel like stepping into another world—one with strong cocktails, moody lighting, and the kind of ambiance that makes you want to whisper even when you don’t have to.

We only discovered it thanks to Yellowstone, when Beth and Rip ducked into a mysterious bar in downtown Amarillo. Turns out that scene was shot right here. And from what we’ve seen and heard, it’s every bit as cool as it looks.

Whether you’re a craft cocktail lover or love the thrill of finding something secret, this spot seems worth the search.

17.  Palo Duro Canyon
Beauty, Shadows, and Howling Coyotes

Okay, so technically Palo Duro Canyon isn’t in Amarillo—it’s about 30 minutes southeast—but it had to make this list. There’s nothing else like it in the region, and honestly, it’s one of the weirdest, most breathtaking places we’ve ever stumbled into.

We didn’t expect to find this here. Driving through the flat, dry land outside Amarillo, you’d never guess that the second-largest canyon in the country is just over the ridge. You don’t just see it—you feel it. And it’s a little eerie in the best way.

Most canyons this size are viewed from above. You take a photo, lean over the edge, and that’s it. But Palo Duro is different. The road winds down to the canyon floor, where you can drive, hike, or camp inside the folds of red rock. You’re not looking at the canyon—you’re in it, feeling surrounded and small.

Coming from the flatlands of the Mid-Atlantic, Robb and I had never seen anything like it.  Sure, we’ve been to the Grand Canyon and it blew us away, but Palo Duro Canyon is different.  Maybe it’s because it is so unexpected.

As the sun went down, the shadows stretched and crept across the rocks. It got quiet—then came the howls. Coyotes. A whole chorus. I’d never heard that sound in real life before. Not like this. It was wild, beautiful, and just unsettling enough to feel like we’d stumbled into some old legend.

There are no signs or gimmicks here. No manmade spectacle. Just nature—massive, ancient, and strange in the best possible way.

Where to Stay in Amarillo

If you’re looking for something that fits the weird vibes, we recommend:

The Barfield Hotel – Downtown charm with a hidden speakeasy tucked below street level.  Luxury accommodations which are perfect for a romantic getaway in Amarillo.

The Big Texan Motel – Walk from your room to the steak challenge, and sleep off the 72 ounces in true Western style.

Glamping in Palo Duro – Canvas tents with real beds, starry skies, and howling coyotes.

Where to Eat in Amarillo

Even Amarillo’s food scene has its quirks:

Golden Light Cafe – The oldest burger joint in town, with stories baked into the walls.

Yellow City Street Food – Bold flavors and big attitude. Nothing boring on the menu.

The Big Texan Steak Ranch – Over-the-top in every way. Just go. Trust us.

Ready to Explore More of Amarillo?

This post focused on the quirky side of town, but Amarillo has plenty more to see, eat, and do.

Check out our full travel guide:👉 The Ultimate Guide to Amarillo, Texas

And if you’re planning a trip, we can help! We create custom itineraries tailored to your interests, travel style, and time frame. Let’s make your next road trip unforgettable.

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Thanks for tagging along on our tour of the weird things to do in Amarillo. Got a favorite we missed? Shoot us a message—we’re always up for something strange.

Travel Safe and Adventure Often,

Maureen and Robb