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Abilene Hotels



ABILENE, TEXAS

"The Star of Texas"

Taylor County Seat, West Texas / Texas Panhandle

32° 27' 0" N, 99° 45' 0" W (32.45, -99.75)

Junction of Hwys 20, 80, 36 (East-West) &
83, 84, and 277 (North-South)

149 miles W of Fort Worth
40 miles E of Sweetwater
148 miles E of Midland through Big Spring on I-20
24 miles S of Anson, 55 miles N of Ballinger on US 83
52 miles NW Coleman on US 84
89 miles NE of San Angelo on US 277
ZIP codes 79601-08 79697-99[6]
Area code 325
Population: 125,182 (2020)
117,063 (2010) 115,930 (2000) 106,707 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Abilene Hotels


Abilene Tx - 1883  Bird's Eye View
Bird's Eye View of Abilene, Texas. 1883 Toned lithograph
Click on image to enlarge

Courtesy of Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

Abilene, Texas Topics

  • History in a Pecan Shell
  • Abilene Landmarks
  • Abilene Chronicles & People
  • Abilene Vintage Postcards
  • Taylor County Courthouse next page
  • Taylor County (towns, ghost towns, vintage maps, etc.) next page



  • History in a Pecan Shell

    Buffalo Gap had been the county seat when Taylor County was organized in 1878. Business men somehow convinced the Texas & Pacific railroad that their land was flatter, or otherwise more suitable for a laying tracks and Buffalo Gap was left where it was. One of these same business men suggested they name it after Abilene, Kansas. And so it was.

    Abilene was then promoted as the "Future Great City of West Texas." Lots were sold in 1881 and on January 2, 1883 it became the county seat.

    Abeline TX Cotton Scenes - Cotton wagons, pstmrk1909
    1909 postcard courtesy William Beauchamp Collection
    Abilene Vintage Postcards

    Abilene, Texas Landmarks include:


    The historic downtown is north of the railroad.

    Abilene Texas 1914 Taylor County Courthouse
    - Terry Jeanson, January 2007 photo
    Old Taylor County Courthouse

    Taylor County Courthouse

  • Taylor County Courthouse

  • Old Taylor County Courthouse (1914) - 300 Oak Street. This was the County's third courthouse. The first was in Buffalo Gap when it was the county seat. The second, which strongly resembled the Albany Courthouse was razed to make room for this one.

  • The Grace Museum - 102 Cypress Street. The former Hotel Grace, later the Drake Hotel, was built in 1909.A recent 4.8 million dollar restoration has given Abilene one of the finest restored hotels in the entire state.
  • The Wooten Hotel
    Now Abilene Towers (Right)
    302 Cypress Street.
    Built in 1930 and paid for in cash by grocery magnate H.O. Wooten, whose home is also on the historic landmarks tour.
  • Wooten Hotel, Abilene Texas

    Abilene TX - Paramount Theatre

    Paramount Theatre
    Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014


  • The Paramount Theater - 352 Cypress Street. Also built in 1930, it was no coincidence, but was part of a plan by H.O. who had the captive audience in his hotel.

  • Elmdale - A ghost town within Abilene city limits

  • Windsor Hotel now Cypress Building, Abilene Texas
    Windsor Hotel - 174 Cypress, Abilene
    The original Windsor Hotel was built in 1890 and is the oldest commercial building in Abilene. It featured arched openings on the second and third floors and a 16-foot high balcony with ornate iron decoration. The 1997 renovation returned the facade to its original hotel look, now called the Cypress Building. - Steve Johnson, May 2007


    Boyd Building - 1292 N. 1st, Abilene
    Built in 1925, the Boyd Building is one of Abilene's premier examples of an early service station. The original station was Gulf Refinery Company, No. 3, and was later taken over by the C. H. Boyd and Sons Tire Co. - Steve Johnson, May 2007


    Abilene TX - Paramount Theatre old neon sign

    Paramount Theatre old neon sign
    Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014



    Majestic Theater Abilene Texas
    Majestic Theater
    1986 photo courtesy Billy Smith
    More Texas Theatres


    Abilene TX - The Grace old neon sign

    The Grace Hotel Old Neon
    Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014



    Abilene TX 1909 Hotel Grace
    The 1909 Grace Hotel
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, September 2017


    Abilene TX 1930 Abilene Courts Ghost & Neon Sign
    The 1930 Abilene Courts ghost & neon sign
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, September 2017


    Abilene TX - Ponca Motel
    Ponca Motel
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, September 2017


    Abilene TX Royal Inn
    Royal Inn
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, September 2017
    More Rooms with a Past | Texas Old Neon


    Abilene, Texas - Coca Cola sign
    Old Coca-Cola sign
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, 2005
    More Coca-Cola | Texas Old Neon


    Abilene TX - Bull Durham Tobacco Ghost Sign
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, September 2017
    Abilene Old Neon, Ghost Signs & Landmarks


    Abilene Tx - Jacob's Ladder Sculpture
    Jacob's Ladder Sculpture
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009


    Abilene Tx - Jacob's Ladder Sculpture
    Jacob's Ladder Sculpture
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009


    Abilene Nearby Destinations:


    Texas WWII Camp Barkeley gate

    Photo courtesy Mike Price, 2007

    Camp Barkeley
    One of the nation's largest military camps of WWII
    11 Miles SW of Abilene
    Now Dyess AFB


    Fort Phantom Hill Building TX
    Photo courtesy Mike Price, 2007
    Fort Phantom Hill
    14 Miles N of Abilene


     Buffalo Gap , Texas Texaco gas station
    Buffalo Gap Historic Village
    Photo courtesy TXDoT

    Buffalo Gap

    The former county seat is fourteen miles south of town on Hwy 89. Buffalo actually migrated through this gap in the Tonkawa mountains. Famed for being a scenic oasis in West Texas, Buffalo Gap also has the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. The village consists of 20 restored buildings including the old Taylor County Courthouse and Jail. 325-572-3365

  • Taylor County Towns

  • Abilene State Park and Lake Abilene :
    Off Hwy 89 South of Buffalo Gap
    150 Park Road 32
    Tuscola TX 79562
    325/572-3204
    http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.htm


  • Lake Clyde - 5 miles south of Clyde. 25 miles east of Abilene. On the headwaters of the Pecan Bayou.
    http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.htm


  • Lake Leon - On the Leon River in Eastland County, 68 miles east of Abilene
    http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.htm
  • Hwy 351 Northeast 35 miles to Albany
  • Hwy 84 South 52 miles to Coleman

    Abilene Tourist Information
    The Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau -
    Located in the beautifully restored T & P Depot.
    A downtown walking guide is available and a booklet of historical landmarks is for sale.
    1101 North First Street. 1-800-727-7704
    website: www.abilene.com/visitors

    Abilene Hotels > Book Hotel Here




  • Abilene Chronicles

  • William H. Frizzell's First and Last Speech by Mike Cox
    Twenty-seven-year-old William H. Frizzell had the honor of being the only person legally hanged in Taylor County.

  • Dixie Pig by Mike Cox

  • March 15, 1881, Abilene is born Cartoon by Roger T. Moore



  • People

  • Bulldog Turner by Clay Coppedge
    Legendary pioneer football player Clyde Douglas Turner.

  • Wild West Auld Lang Syne by Mike Cox
    City Marshal John J. Clinton and his six-shooter salute to New Years in Abilene

  • Drugstore Cowboys by Clay Coppedge
    Peddling snake oil


  • James J. Johnson Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
    Oct 14, 1959: James J. Johnson started his record setting 24 hours of golf (363 holes) at Abilene Country Club.


  • 8000 Mile Walk Across the US Backwards Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
    October 24, 1932: Plennie Wingo of Abilene completed his 8000 mile trip of walking backward across the U.S.

  • Walking Backward 8000 Miles Across the U.S. Cartoon by Roger T. Moore

  • Abilene, Texas Old Postcards


    Pine Street
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene, Texas - Cotton waiting to be weighted
    Cotton "waiting to be weighted."
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Spillway, Lytle Lake, Abilene, Texas
    Spillway, Lytle Lake, Abilene
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene, Texas - South First & Chestnut Streets
    South First & Chestnut Streets
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene Texas street scene,  postcard
    Abilene Texas Pine Street
    L - Abilene street scene - North Third Street looking West
    R - Underpass and Pine Street looking north

    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene TX - First Presbyterian Church
    First Presbyterian Church
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene TX  - 1st Baptist Church 1920s
    First Baptist Church Auditorium and Educational Building
    1920s Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
    More Texas Churches


    Abilene TX - Alexander Building Ca. 1920
    Alexander Building Ca. 1920
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    TX - Abilene High School Building
    Abilene High School Building
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
    More Texas Schoolhouses


    Abilene TX - Cowden Hall, Simmons College 1911
    Cowden Hall, Simmons College
    1911 Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene TX - McMurry College
    McMurry College
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene TX - McMurry College
    McMurry College
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene TX - Hotel Wooten
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
    Hotel Wooten
    Now Abilene Towers
    302 Cypress Street.
    Built in 1930 and paid for in cash by grocery magnate H.O. Wooten, whose home is also on the historic landmarks tour.
    More Rooms with a Past


    Abilene TX Grande Lodge
    Grande Lodge
    Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Abilene TX - El Corral Motel 1940s
    El Corral Motel
    1940s Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
    More Rooms with a Past

    Abilene, Texas Forum

  • Tacoma Calling Abilene
    Dear Texas Escapes, I was wondering if anyone remembers the drug store that used to operate as Cooks Drugs in Abilene. It was located, I believe, on South 7th close to the intersection with Willis Street. I would like to know if it still exists although I am sure it's long gone. I spent many summers in Abilene at my grandparents on the corner of South 6th and Willis. This was back in the 1960's. Back then we use to go to Cooks to their soda fountain and had "real" Cherry Cokes. I would love to see a picture of the existing structure and other structures close by to the Ole Cooks drug store. - Carl Pederson, Tacoma, Washington, September 04, 2006



  • Take a road trip

    West Texas | Texas Panhandle

    Abilene, Texas Nearby Cities & Towns:
    Albany | Baird | Breckenridge | Anson | Sweetwater | Coleman
    See Taylor County

    Book Hotel Here:
    Abilene Hotels | More Hotels

    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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