Dalhart, Wide Open Spaces
The Northwest Corner of Texas
Located 83 miles northwest of Amarillo in the far northwestern corner of the Texas Panhandle, the City that started out as “Twist Junction” ultimately took its name from its stretch across two counties, Dallam and Hartley, the first of which established Dalhart as its seat.
The community of approximately 8,500 residents also sits at the crossroads of Highways 87, 385, and 54 in the center of a Tri-State area, 46 miles from eastern New Mexico and 56 miles from the northwest Oklahoma Panhandle. Here, residents enjoy wide-open spaces and full calendars fueled by family-friendly amenities.
The city features five parks, including athletic fields and courts, hiking trails, a skate park, a swimming pool with a popular splash and play feature, and an 18-hole disc golf course.
Along FM 281, an ATV/dirt bike track takes off-road enthusiasts along several acres of bumps and curves, and over on Hwy. 54 West, private country club Twisted Elms boasts an 18-hole golf course with scenic views.
Those who prefer to explore the wilds have easy access to the Rita Blanca National Grasslands, an expanse of over 93,000 acres managed by the United States Forest Service that offers hiking, hunting, horseback
riding, off-roading, and bird watching, where locals will tell you to visit in winter to see thousand of birds enjoying the water.
XIT Rodeo and Reunion
Local history also lives on in the annual XIT Rodeo and Reunion each August, a three-day festival that feeds free BBQ to more than 20,000 people and features nightly rodeo competitions and entertainment.
Other signature events include the Downtown Christmas Parade and Lighting, the community’s Fourth of July fireworks show, trick-or-treating at downtown businesses at Halloween, and the annual Kids Fishing Derby hosted each spring.
For year-round fun, the Dust Bowl Bar & Grill is a popular Dalhart destination offering 12 lanes of bowling and a collection of arcade games.
For those who prefer libations to recreation, a visit to the Vingo Vineyards Winery may be just the ticket. The family-owned and operated winery dedicated to growing grapes on the northern plains bottles their own wine called Yoder Cellars and recently opened a tasting room in the town’s historic old post office.
Dalhart is also an amazing place to get your EATS on! From Mexican food to Chinese food and BBQ in between! There are some fantastic places to test your palette. A few of the local favorites are Hodies BBQ, The Grill, X10 Restaurant, Red Baron, Taqueria Dalhart, El Sabor, La Espaniola, Cattleman & 39’s Stockyard Cafe, Twisted Elms Sports Bar&Grill. There are also numerous fast food places as well!
Agriculture, Aviation & Industry
The City of Dalhart has an unemployment rate of just 3.5% and has seen the job market increase by 3.3% in the past year. That growth is expected to continue with projections anticipating a 36.4% increase in jobs within the city limits over the next decade, outpacing the nationwide average of 33.5%. The median income in Dallam and Hartley counties has also steadily risen in recent years.
Although Dalhart’s economy primarily consists of agriculture, including crop production, livestock feeding, dairy industry, and other supporting industries, the community boasts a diverse workforce and a wide variety of locally owned businesses.
Large employers include the Union Pacific Railroad, Texas Department of Corrections, Dalhart Independent School District, Hilmar Cheese Company, and Coon Memorial Hospital.
Load up the family and prepare for #TAKEOFF. Thunder Over Dalhart not only brings you the most thrilling aerial entertainment but also features vendors, bounce houses, car shows and so much more!
So whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or just simply looking for a day out, Dalhart is sure to please!