Blake Walsh

17 Best Things to Do in Childress, TX

  • Published 2022/08/13

Childress is the county seat of Childress County, Texas.

The city gets its name from George Campbell Childress, a native of Nashville, Tennessee.

He was also the primary author of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

Established in 1887, the city was incorporated in 1890.

Childress is a growing commercial hub in the southeast Texas Panhandle region with a relaxed atmosphere.

This quiet atmosphere makes it a superb location to raise a family.

Its strategic location near major highways in the United States features a balanced mix of government agencies, retail businesses, and service sectors.

Discover the best things to do in Childress and find out why it’s called a “great place to be!”

See a Movie at the Palace Theater

Exterior of the Palace Theater

Barbara Brannon, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Palace Theater opened in 1937 to replace the original 1926 theater that burned to the ground in 1936.

When the 1980s arrived, the building had already suffered from severe deterioration.

The restoration committee of the Childress Theatre Company supervised the restoration and installation of the original neon sign in 2010.

The following years saw numerous renovations including its Art Deco facade and a roof replacement.

In 2019, the theater finally reopened.

In 2005, the Texas Historical Commission recognized the Palace Theater as a Historic Landmark.

The Palace Theater offers a secure environment for entertainment.

Likewise, it engages young people in theatrical activities, including musicals, recitals, and more!

Play at the Stoney Ridge Golf Course

Childress proudly presents the Stoney Ridge Golf Course.

This municipal course features well-maintained landscapes, modern amenities, and a delectable on-site restaurant.

Likewise, the course opened in 2008, featuring an 18-hole par of 71 and up to 6,761 yards of golf.

Numerous tournaments happen at the course, open year-round.

Everyone can play at the Stoney Ridge Golf Course, but to maximize the experience, sign up for a Country Club Membership!

Your membership gives you access to the bar, the private pool, and the elegant ballroom.

Drive Off-Road at Childress ATV Park

For the bold and adventurous, Childress ATV Park is the place to check out.

Childress ATV Park has approximately 600 acres with 16 miles of well-maintained and watered ATV trails and a dedicated motocross track.

These marked trails are long, winding loops that run through sections of prairie grasslands with several easy to intermediate hill climbs.

Childress ATV Park also provides OHV tags and enjoyable activities throughout the year.

You can go camping there since it has some amenities like shaded shelters, restrooms, and RV sites with hookups for electricity and water.

Celebrate Milestones at the Mashburn Event Center

See Childress’ small town charm and friendliness in action while you celebrate special occasions at the Mashburn Event Center!

The Event Center caters to any occasion, whether a horse or cattle event, trade fair, sports show, concert, business meeting, or a wedding.

The indoor arena exclusively uses Priefert equipment, a 240’ x 127’ dirt floor, 1200 permanent seats, laser precision technology for speed events, and custom setups to meet other event needs.

You can also find a 238’ x 130’ outdoor arena on the eastern side of the facility.

The Mashburn Event Center also features 76 horse stalls, and a 13,000-square foot climate-controlled expo hall with nine flat-screen TVs.

It also has private restrooms, a commercial kitchen, and an excellent sound system.

Travel Back in Time at Childress County Heritage Museum

Exterior of Childress County Heritage Museum

Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Childress County Heritage Museum keeps Childress County’s history alive.

The museum has preserved historical objects and recorded the county’s history since 1983.

Through their exhibits, they seek to educate locals, children, and visitors about Childress.

The museum is inside a 1935 Spanish Colonial-style post office that received Texas Historic Landmark status in 1991.

Travel back in time by visiting the Childress County Heritage Museum.

Discover the fascinating past of the Texas Panhandle community, including artifacts from the Second World War!

Spend the Night at Treetop RV Park

Make yourself at home at Treetop RV Park!

Off Highways 83 and 287, Treetop RV Park sits within a peaceful, safe community.

Camp under the shade of trees with full hookups and easy pull-through access.

If you’re passing by Childress, spend the night and enjoy a relaxing stay before hitting the road the next day!

The park is open weekly and provides overnight, weekly, and monthly stays.

Buy Custom Flowers at Catherine’s

Catherine’s is not your average florist!

Catherine’s is a reputable local business serving Childress and nearby areas, meeting all your floral needs.

The shop offers unmatched customer service, which sets them apart from others.

Whatever the event, Catherine’s, with the help of their experienced designers, will make stunning and fresh flower arrangements just for you.

Aside from custom designs, they offer classic and modern floral design types suitable for all occasions.

Explore their dish gardens, blooming plants, and lovely green plants for a present that breathes life into any space or office.

Catherine’s also provide gifts for any age, such as balloon bouquets, stuffed animals, candy and chocolates, home decor, baby items, scented candles, and many more.

Bowl at Cre8tive Lanes

Gather your family or friends for a game of bowling at Cre8tive Lanes!

This bowling alley can accommodate up to ten bowlers per lane.

You can also enjoy military discounts, including free shoe rentals.

Just show your military ID!

Do you need a venue to host your birthday celebration?

Cre8tive Lanes presents three packages to choose from.

Spend a family-friendly time at Cre8tive Lanes and enjoy some arcade, bowling, cornhole, and draft beer as well!

Hang Out at Fair Park

Fountain in the middle of Fair Park's water

Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Childress’ Fair Park has tons of amenities for everyone to explore any day!

Among the park’s facilities are a disc golf course, a public pool, and spacious picnic areas.

You can also visit a lake for bird watching and fishing, and trails for hiking and biking.

If you’re passing through Childress in an RV, check out the park’s RV Campground for an overnight stopover!

You can also find the Fair Park Pavilion, the Rotary Bowl, the Mashburn Event Center, Rodeo Arena, and the City Auditorium.

Taste Wine at 501 Winery

Stop by 501 Winery to sample their delectable wines ranging from sweet to dry and come in reds, whites, and even rosé.

Adam and Amy Bishop opened 501 Winery in 2010.

They produce wines using grapes sourced from their vineyard, the Bishop Vineyards, established five years prior.

Since 2005, Bishop Vineyards has produced wine using the Viognier, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese grape varieties.

501 Winery is inside a historic structure built in 1928.

It offers a ballroom with a stage for significant events, a meeting room, and a Mediterranean-style courtyard with chairs and fountains.

You can also join daily complimentary wine tastings.

Grab Burgers at JT’s Drive-In

Drop by JT’s Drive-In, a Childress tradition, for some good old burgers and BBQ!

Residents have voted JT’s burgers the best burgers in the city!

Not only do they serve burgers and BBQ, but the menu also extends to chicken, steak, seafood, and many more.

They’re a local favorite that’s a must-visit for visitors too.

Visit JT’s Drive-In when you get the chance, and find out what the buzz is all about.

Join a Class at the Childress City Pool

The Childress City Pool offers a variety of community events during the summer.

The Childress City Pool is a well-equipped swimming facility at Fair Park with a double-enclosed tube slide and two diving boards.

Additionally, there’s lots of space for lounge chairs, allowing parents to unwind while the children play and burn off all their energy.

Some of the pool’s summer activities are swimming classes for children, water aerobics for adults, and parties for everyone.

Childress City Pool is great for beating the heat and hanging out with the locals!

Watch a Game at the Fair Park Stadium

The grounds of Fair Park Stadium

Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Watch a game at the historic Fair Park Stadium, home of the Childress Bobcats football team.

The stadium is the second-oldest in the Texas Panhandle.

Toward the end of the Great Depression, in 1940, the Work Projects Administration built the stadium for $57,000.

On September 27, 1940, the Bobcats played their inaugural game at the stadium and defeated the Chillicothe Eagles with a 19-0 win.

The stadium features a track and turf field that they renovated in 2017.

Fair Park Stadium can hold around 2,800 people, which is ideal for huge events such as tournaments and concerts.

Dine at the Plaza Restaurant

The Plaza Restaurant offers guests excellent Tex-Mex cuisine with quality service.

With six locations in Texas and one in Oklahoma, the family-owned Plaza Restaurant has served countless customers since 1982.

Choose from your favorite classic Mexican dishes, burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and many more!

Take pleasure in their mouth-watering desserts such as chocolate cake, cheesecakes, flan, and specialty desserts like tres leches and fruit sopapillas!

The perfect way to cap it all off is an ice-cold beer, margarita, or one of their well-known plaza specialties!

Play at Extraction Paintball in Childress (E.P.I.C.)

Join an epic paintball battle at Extraction Paintball in Childress!

Located along Highway 287, E.P.I.C features a wide field to accommodate large groups.

This place is perfect for family, friends, and team-building activities!

Survive the zombie apocalypse in their Epic Zombie Hunt during Halloween, where participants battle the undead using paintball zombie tranquilizers.

You can enjoy delicious food and refreshing drinks, join a costume contest, play inside a bounce house, and win fabulous prizes.

Extraction Paintball in Childress is undoubtedly a thrilling and fun experience for everyone.

Celebrate your essential occasions at E.P.I.C.!

Shop at Amazing Grace Antiques & Gifts

If you need an unusual or one-of-a-kind gift, you should check out Amazing Grace Antiques & Gifts!

The store is a gem along 2nd Street, and it’s hard not to miss its brightly-painted structure, furniture, pots, and plants on display in front.

Since it’s close to Fair Park and restaurants in the city center, it makes for a perfect stop before heading home for the day.

Amazing Grace will catch your eye with its peculiar exterior.

However, wait until you step inside.

You’ll see many unique and interesting souvenir items, from antiques to gifts to clothing.

Step inside Amazing Grace Antiques & Gifts and see whatever fancies your interest!

Stop by the Pilot Travel Center

A restaurant at Pilot Travel Center

Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Pilot Travel Center has over 750 locations throughout the US and Canada.

This place will keep you moving with friendly services and everything you need while traveling.

Their goal is to provide travelers with comfort and the best travel experience.

Likewise, the Childress location provides high-speed pumps for diesel, gas, and DEF.

You can also enjoy overnight parking, Wi-Fi, showers, fresh food, and drinks, including the best coffee on the interstate.

It’s the perfect pit stop for long-haul drives or long-distance family trips.

The Pilot Travel Center has served travelers for 60 years and will keep helping out more in the future!

Final Thoughts

Childress is undoubtedly a great place to visit.

Growing families will love the city, with its slight town feel, small businesses, and family-friendly attractions.

Visitors should go there for a simple, affordable stay in the Texas Panhandle that offers exciting activities to do and things to see.

Make the most of your visit by checking out the best things to do in Childress!

What are you waiting for?

Book your next memorable vacation today!

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