Big Spring
Around Big Spring
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Town and around · Texas · 30k people
Big Spring
Big skies, warm hearts, and the open road.
Big Spring High School Steers redHoward College blue
Welcome to Big Spring—where the oil patch meets the old cowboy spirit. Come for the spring, stay for the people and the wide-open skies.
Clubs for Big Spring
No clubs for Big Spring yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Big Spring. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Big Spring. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- The Big Spring The natural spring that gave the town its name, now a city park.
- Big Spring State Park Scenic mesa-top park with hiking trails and panoramic views.
- Hangar 25 Air Museum WWII-era airfield museum with restored aircraft and exhibits.
- Settles Hotel Historic 1930s hotel, an iconic downtown landmark.
- Heritage Museum of Big Spring Local history museum in a former post office building.
- Big Spring Municipal Auditorium Art deco venue hosting concerts, plays, and community events.
- Outdoors Hike Big Spring State Park
- Outdoors Fish at Comanche Lake
- With kids Hangar 25 Air Museum
- With kids Big Spring State Park
- Evenings Honky-tonk bars
- Evenings Local sports bars
- Locals love Honky-tonks
- Locals love Barbecue joints
Through the year
- Big Spring Cowboy Reunion July Rodeo, parade, and western heritage celebration held every July.
- Howard County Fair Summer County fair with livestock shows, carnival rides, and food booths.
- Big Spring Art Walk Fall Downtown art and music showcase with local vendors and live performances.
- Hangar 25 Air Show Spring Aviation display and flyovers at the air museum.
- Big Spring Christmas Parade December Holiday parade through downtown with floats and lights.
Semi-arid West Texas climate: hot summers, mild winters, and low humidity. The best times to be out are spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are perfect—mild days and cool nights.
Getaways
- Midland, TX Permian Basin hub with museums, dining, and the Bush family legacy.
- Snyder, TX Small-town charm and the Scurry County Museum.
- Odessa, TX Oil town with the Globe Theatre and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum.
- San Angelo, TX River walk, historic Fort Concho, and a lively arts scene.
Local flavour
Rooting for Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars
Eat and drink
- Chicken fried steak A West Texas staple, often served with cream gravy.
- Tex-Mex enchiladas Classic cheese enchiladas with chili con carne, a regional favourite.
- Whataburger A beloved Texas fast-food chain, a local go-to.
Where people go
- Honky-tonks Dance halls and bars with live country music, common in West Texas.
- Oil pump jacks Iconic nodding donkeys scattered across the landscape, a symbol of the oil economy.
- The Big Spring The natural spring and park that give the city its name, a local landmark.
Heritage and traditions
Big Spring is proud of its West Texas oil and cowboy heritage, rooted in the historic spring that gave the town its name and the vast Permian Basin that fuels its economy.
This time of year in Big Spring
- Hunting season Fall/Winter Fall and winter bring deer and quail hunting, a cherished local tradition.
Say it like a local: “Y'all” — You all (plural)
Landmarks with a story
- Howard County Courthouse A 1925 Beaux-Arts building in downtown Big Spring, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Scenic Mountain A prominent hill offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding plains, a local landmark for generations.
Food traditions
- Venison chili Hunters often turn their deer harvest into a hearty chili, a staple at community gatherings and family dinners.
- Cowboy coffee Made by boiling ground coffee in a pot over a campfire, this strong, gritty brew is a ranch tradition.
Music and arts
- Cowboy poetry A tradition of reciting verse about ranch life, often featured at local gatherings and festivals.
- Honky-tonk music Country and western music played in local bars, reflecting the oil and cowboy culture.
A little history
- 1881 Founded with the arrival of the railroad
- 1920s Oil discovered in the Permian Basin, sparking a boom
- 1930 Settles Hotel built, becoming a landmark
- 1940s WWII-era airfield established, later home to Hangar 25 Air Museum
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Rodeo events
- Outdoors Stargazing under clear West Texas skies
- Outdoors Off-roading on ranch roads
Locals speak with a classic West Texas drawl, stretching vowels and dropping 'g's. Spanish words like 'compadre' occasionally mix in, and oil field jargon such as 'rig' and 'derrick' is common. The accent is friendly and unhurried, with a strong sense of Southern hospitality.
Only here
- The Big Spring itself, the natural spring that gave the city its name.
- Oil pump jacks dotting the landscape, a constant reminder of the region's economy.
- The Settles Hotel, a historic landmark with a storied past.
- Scenic Mountain's panoramic views of the plains.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for hot, dry summers and cold, windy winters—layering is key.
- Learn to love the wind; it's a constant companion.
- Try a chicken fried steak at a local diner—it's a regional staple.
- Get used to oil field traffic on highways; be patient with trucks.
- Don't be surprised by tumbleweeds rolling across the road.
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Nearby
Every areaColorado CityTexasBig skies, warm people, and the pulse of the West.MidlandTexasTall city, wide skies, and the pulse of the oil patch.SnyderTexasHeart of the oil patch, soul of the plainsOdessaTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patchAndrewsTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patch.SweetwaterTexasWhere the wind blows freeSan AngeloTexasWhere the river meets the rangeLubbockTexasFlat lands, big skies, and a whole lot of Texas heart.
Big Spring, TX. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.