Where in the World is Dumas, Texas?
Part 1 of Our Colorado Odyssey
June, 2006
Facilities & Fees
Campground Name: Texhoma Park, Dumas, Texas
Campground's Website:
http://www.ci.dumas.tx.us/texhoma.htm
Last Visited: June, 2006
Number of sites (Total): 20 (plus room for about 15 more on the sides)
Electric: 20 (30 amp)
Water: Available
Dump Station: Yes
Big Rig accessible: Yes
Shade trees: No
Clean restrooms: Fair (No showers)
Pets allowed: Yes, on lead.
Tents allowed: No
Fires/Grills allowed: No
Family type: Yes
Nightly rate $: “Free Will” donation
Overall Rating (1=poor 10=excellent): I’ll give it a “9” for what it is.
Photos:
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/Albu...&a=32253169&f=
Due to limited capacity, pictures associated with this review may only be available at the above link for a short time. If you find that the link is no longer active, feel free to contact me via “Private Message” and I will do my best to e-mail the related pictures to you.
Our Trip:
Well as many know, DW and I have recently returned from a nearly 3 week tour of Colorado. It was an outstanding trip marked with some very interesting highlights and a few glitches along the way. This trip also included a number of “firsts” for us. This was our first multi-stop trip. We found that this changes how we do things and how much we set up at each stop. This will also mean that rather then writing one review for the entire trip, I will be writing 3-4 reviews to cover all the places that we visited. This was also our first time camping in a national park and we found the experience a good bit different from the state parks that we are used to. Finally, this was our first attempt at “boon-docking”. I’m not sure we would have tried this if it hadn’t been for a great deal of help from the couple who accompanied us on this trip. I will refer to them as “T” (him) and “M” (her) in the balance of this review and all reviews of this trip to follow. They are dear friends and we thank them greatly for their time and help. Good camping partners are hard to come by and they rate right at the top.
All trips have a beginning and this one started with our departure from the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area. To make it a bit easier to write and to follow (hopefully) I’m going to break this and following reviews of this trip into “days”. That said, we begin on Thursday, Day 1 and very early at that. As some may know, DW and I are accustom to departing early for these trips and this one started even earlier then most. We left our home at 2 AM and headed for Amarillo, Texas on Highway 287. Our drive was uneventful marked only by the fact that there seems to have been a great deal of improvement made to this road since the last time we traveled it. It would appear that at least in most places, the road surfaces have been redone and I found it to be much easier to drive. We made a fuel stop at the “Flying J” in Amarillo and found it to be a convenient place to stop, if busy. We also filled our fresh water tank at this stop, believing that there was no fresh water available at Texhoma Park. We later found this to be incorrect. There is water “on site” at the park so there is no need to carry it over long distances.
Dumas, Texas is located 45 miles north of Amarillo, Texas on US Highway 287. It is at the point where 287 intersects US Highway 87 giving good access to those traveling to Dalhart, Interstate Highway 25 and points north. Thus, many truckers and
RV’ers use this route. The City of Dumas has decided to use this connection to their advantage. One of the ways that they have chosen to make their city more appealing to travelers is by the construction of Texhoma Park and the addition of free
RV parking. This park is located approximately one half mile west of State Highway 287 on State Highway 87. You will find it on the north side of the highway, just east of the railroad tracks. There is a sign for the park with entrance and exit being fairly easy. The
RV sites are set back behind a playground but they are visible from the highway.
The
RV area itself is nothing but a large parking lot with a number of power posts marking each site’s location. As stated above, there are 20 sites equipped with 30 amp service. There is also room on the sides for a number of rigs that may arrive after all the “powered” sites are taken. All sites are “pull-through” making entrance and egress easy and there appears to be more then sufficient room on the lot to maneuver even the largest
RV/towed combination as long as normal care is taken. The lot is well light at night and patrolled by Dumas City Police and their Parks Department.
The front of the park is made up of a very nice lawn that is well shaded. The area contains a playground for the kiddos, a small pavilion, a number of picnic tables and “Men’s” and “Ladies” washrooms (no showers). While we were there, we noted that a pair of motorcycle riders utilized this grassy area to pitch a tent for the night. I is my understanding that this is not acceptable practice but no one interfered with them that I know of. Where the
RV lot meets the lawn you will find a source of water for your trailer, the dump station and a box for any “free will” donation you may care to make for the upkeep of the park facilities.
To the immediate west of the park, there runs a railroad line. There have been those who have complained about the noise from this line. To me, the sound of these trains coming through every 3-4 hours is sweet music. Having grown up not a block from a major rail line, I am well accustom to these sounds and usually welcome them, at least for a brief time.
Beyond the normal rules that you would expect in any camping facility, this park has one more posted rule. It is stated that you are only allowed to remain in this park for one night. Given the amount of patrolling I witnessed, I have little doubt that a longer stay would be sure to attract attention. This rule did concern us a bit. We had only intended to remain in this park for one night. “T” and “M” were scheduled to rendezvous with us some time Thursday evening. Unfortunately, they developed trouble with their tow vehicle and would not make it to Dumas prior to Friday night, if that soon. This put DW and me in a bit of a bind as we did not wish to go on alone and the rules stated that we could not stay past Friday morning. Never wishing to do something that is not proper, I found an employee of the City of Dumas Parks Department and explained our problem. He was gracious enough to grant us permission to stay the extra night while we waited for the arrival of “T” and “M”. This is wonderful hospitality on the part of the City of Dumas and you can bet that we will always remember it. “T” and “M” were able to get their tow vehicle repaired and arrived in Dumas late on Friday evening. Put us a day “down” but we much preferred to wait for them rather then going on alone.
Having driven all day Thursday, we decided to put off any investigation of Dumas until the next morning. By that time, we were rested and ready to go. Our first stop took us to the Wal-Mart Super Center on the south end of town. Nothing special but there is always something you need on these trips and it’s nice to know that there is a “Wally World” nearby. After getting a few DVD’s for any rainy days on the trip and filling the gas tank on the truck, we started to cruise back into town. We didn’t get far as the Dumas Visitor’s Center drew our interest. It is located on the east side of Highway 287 not far north of Wal-Mart. It is a new building, fronted by a number of flag poles. It is staffed and can supply any amount of information you may need concerning the area. It is also equipped with the usual array of maps and travel information that a sojourner may find helpful. We were able to acquire some very useful information concern places of interest and a great place for lunch (more about this later).
Across from the Visitor’s Center you will find the Moore County Historical Museum. At no cost you will get the opportunity to view a number of displays depicting life in the early development of this part of the state. Along with artifacts from homes and businesses, there is a display of farm equipment and vehicles dating back to the turn of the century. Below is an excerpt from Dumas Economic Development Corporation that may better describe the purpose and scope of the museum:
“Moore County Historical Museum” A "Must See!" Located at 1820 S. Dumas Ave. across from the Dumas Visitor Center and next to The Art Center. We have preserved our heritage here. You will find displays and artifacts depicting life in Moore County, Texas throughout its history here. Guided tours are available to explain each display and the history behind the item. One of the best county museums you will visit! Admission is free.”
The museum’s address and telephone number are as follows:
1820 South Dumas Avenue, Dumas, Texas 79029 806-935-3113
As stated, this is a definite “must see” and well worth the time. There will be a few pictures available to give you an idea of what to expect.
Of course, since we’re staying in Dumas, we needed to eat in Dumas. DW didn’t feel like cooking much. Being as we were still in Texas in summer time, it was still pretty warm. So we ended eating “out” for a couple of meals. Don’t care to eat at the “chains” when we’re traveling (“The Golden Arches” are about the same no matter where you go). Much prefer to see what we can find. The first place we tried for breakfast on Thursday was Albert’s Manor House Restaurant located about a block north of the Visitor’s Center. Though inexpensive and unfussy, they served a very good breakfast at a good price. We were pleased with it enough to try it again for dinner on Friday night. Got to say that we were not quite as impressed with their evening offering. Food was just adequate at this meal. Also, they seemed to be having a problem controlling flying insects in the dining area. Best I can give the place is a 5 out of 10. With a bit of effort, this place could be really good but I have a feeling that their market (travelers and truckers) is pretty constant.
After our time spent at the Moore County Historical Museum on Thursday, we were advised to try “The Alley Café” for lunch. This is one of those “phroo-phroo” places that wives always like to drag their husbands to and husbands always complain about. And like most of these “phroo-phroo” places, the food is usually very good and the husbands end up being happy they went (even though they’ll NEVER admit to it). “The Alley Café” is one of these and rates very high on the quality scale. Your lunch is ordered and paid for at the counter as you enter. You then get your chosen beverage and seat yourself. In a very short time, your meal is presented and you know for sure that you have made a wise decision. On this day DW chose an Egg Salad Sandwich and I had a Roast Beef Sandwich and a cup of French Onion Soup. We had heard that they were famous for their Chicken Salad so we shared a small bowl of it just to see how good it really was. Everything met with our expectations and went a good bit beyond. I will add that I was well pleased that I only ordered a cup of soup as opposed to a bowl. As large as the cup was, I’m not sure I could have handled a bowl and my sandwich. We did save a bit of room for desert and, as always, I could not pass up the cheesecake. DW had a cream cheese confection of some type. Both were outstanding. This place rates at least a “9” on the “Dang, that’s good!” scale. The Alley Café is located at 102 E. 7th (in the alley north of the court house). If you have trouble locating it, I’m sure any of the “locales” could steer you in the proper direction. Their telephone number is 806-934-4483. I will be including a current copy of the restaurant’s menu along with the pictures of Dumas (see “link” above).
Well, there really isn’t much more that I can say about Dumas, Texas. Seems I’ve said a great deal about a town that I was only in for about a day and a half. We did do a bit of driving around and found the city to be very neat and clean. Seems the folks are proud of their town and want to show it at it’s best. As said earlier, they want to welcome the traveler and this is just another way to do it.
We got the word that the needed part for “T” and “M’s“ truck had arrived mid-morning on Friday. It had been installed and they were expected to be leaving for Dumas shortly after noon. Even at that, they were not expected to arrive until near midnight or later. Wanting to be sure that at least two of us would be awake and able to drive the next day, DW and I went to bed early, planning on finding our traveling companions on the lot the next morning. Sure enough, their rig was parked behind ours when we got up on Saturday. We wasted little time in getting things together and hitting the road for Colorado. I don’t believe that any of us could have waited any longer! In conclusion I’ll say that Dumas, Texas may not be a destination for your next vacation. But, if you need a place to stop for the night as you travel through the Texas Panhandle, the people of this city go out of their way to make you feel welcome.
Just as we said goodbye to Dumas on Saturday, I’ll now say goodbye to those who have read through to this point. Part #2 of this odyssey will cover our drive from Dumas to Rocky Mountain National Park and our time spent there. Should be “up” in a week or so. If you enjoyed this bit of scribbling, you may want to check out “Part #2”. Until then and always,
Happy Camping!
Note: Information and site references contained in this review were current as of this writing. I apologize for any errors you may find and will attempt to correct them if notified.
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