Lubbock

An oversized pair of black horn-rimmed glasses stands outside the Buddy Holly Center – a tribute to the city's most famous son. A trip to Lubbock takes you to the flat High Plains of northwest Texas, to a university town with rock 'n' roll history, cotton fields stretching to the horizon, and surprisingly good wines.

Cotton, Wind, and Wide-Open Spaces

Lubbock was founded in 1890 and named after Thomas Lubbock, a Confederate officer. The railroad and, later, irrigation from the vast Ogallala Aquifer turned the region into one of the largest cotton-growing areas in the world. In 1923, Texas Technological College arrived, now Texas Tech University, which shapes life in the city. In 1970, a severe tornado struck downtown, and the city recovered quickly.

Sights in Lubbock

The Buddy Holly Center in the Depot District displays guitars, glasses, and personal belongings of the musician, who grew up here and died in a plane crash in 1959; across the street is the Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza with a bronze statue. The university's National Ranching Heritage Center brings together about 50 historic ranch buildings. The American Wind Power Center showcases a large collection of historic windmills. One particularly special spot is the Lubbock Lake Landmark, an archaeological site with traces of human settlement spanning some 12,000 years. The Museum of Texas Tech University and the art galleries around the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts round out a cultural visit.

Eating and Going Out in Lubbock

Lubbock is steak country: cattle ranching shapes the region, and chicken-fried steak with pepper gravy is a staple. Tex-Mex and barbecue are everywhere, too. The wine is a surprise: the High Plains supply most of the grapes for Texas wineries, and several wineries such as Llano Estacado and McPherson Cellars have tasting rooms in and around the city. In the Depot District, around the old train depot, and in the area around the university, you'll find bars, music venues, and breweries. The South Overton neighborhood near campus is popular with students.

Music and Culture on the High Plains

Lubbock has more music history than you might expect: besides Buddy Holly, musicians such as Waylon Jennings came from the region, and Joe Ely and the Flatlanders shaped the scene. The Cactus Theater on Buddy Holly Avenue hosts concerts and shows, and on the first Friday of every month, galleries in the Depot District open their doors for the First Friday Art Trail. Buddy Holly Hall, a modern concert hall, brings Broadway productions to the city. In the fall, Texas Tech Red Raiders football games dominate life in town, with traditions like the Masked Rider, a rider on a black horse.

Getting Around Lubbock and the Best Time to Visit

Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport has connections to Dallas, Houston, Denver, and Las Vegas. Citibus buses run locally, but a car is essential for excursions. The best times to visit are spring and fall. Summer is hot and dry, winter can be frosty, and dust storms are not uncommon on the Plains. Day trips lead to Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the U.S., about a two-hour drive to the north, and to Caprock Canyons State Park with its bison herd.