FAIR PARK

by Clint Skinner

38. Livestock Pavilion and Arena

Located behind the Swine Building, the Livestock Pavilion was built in 1951. It began as a holding place for cattle and their owners, but expanded its role to include zebu, llamas, and longhorns. It also held cow milking demonstrations. For a period of time, an attraction called Big Tex's Barnyard allowed children to see farm products and animals. At the back of the building, there was a restaurant and a place for vendors to sell products designed specifically for farming.

In 1959, the Livestock Arena was added next to the pavilion. It contains a huge dirt-covered ring divided in half by a walkway. On both sides of the ring, wooden bleachers allow visitors to enjoy the competitions. The future of the cavernous structure remains uncertain with the current construction of the livestock center. At the far end of the arena, there is a small building that holds animals when the pavilion is full.

Livestock Pavilion and Arena
Photo courtesy Clint Skinner, February 2016

January 13, 2017
© Clint Skinner

FAIR PARK:
Fair Park - Attractions:
1. Fair Park Station
2. Main Entrance
3. Founders Statue
4. Women's Museum
5. DAR House
6. The Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial
7. Sydney Smith Memorial Fountain
8. Music Hall
9. Fair Park Esplanade
10. Centennial Building
11. Automobile Building
12. Hall of State
13. Tower Building
14. Big Tex Circle
15. Grand Place
16. Old Mill Inn
17. Magnolia Lounge
18. Hall of Religion
19. African American Museum
20. Leonhardt Lagoon
21. Dallas Museum of Natural History
22. Science Place I
23. Children's Aquarium
24. Fair Park Bandshell
25. Texas Discovery Gardens
26. WRR Headquarters
27. Science Place II
28. The Texas Star
29. Cotton Bowl Stadium
30. The Texas Skyway
31. The Embarcadero
32. The Creative Arts Building
33. Food and Fiber Building
34. Pan American Arena
35. The Woofus
36. The Swine Building
37. Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center
38. Livestock Pavilion and Arena
39. The Horse Barn
40. Fair Park Coliseum
41. Top of Texas Tower

References:
1.Bigtex.com
2.Dallashistory.org
3.Dallas Morning News Archives
4.Fairpark.org
5.Slate, John H. Historic Dallas Parks. Arcadia Publishing, 2010.
6.Tshaonline.org
7.Watermelon-kid.com
8.Wikipedia.org
8.Winters, Willis Cecil. Fair Park. Arcadia Publishing, 2010.