Odessa
Around Odessa
Photo: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Texas · 170k people
Odessa
Locals say Permian Basin · “The Tall City”
Where the desert meets the oil patch
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Welcome to the Permian Basin, where the desert meets the oil patch. You'll find friendly folks, big skies, and a love for Friday night football. Whether you're here for the energy industry or the sandhills, you'll feel at home.
Clubs for Odessa
No clubs for Odessa yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Odessa. 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 Odessa. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Ratliff Stadium Home of the Permian Panthers and Odessa Bronchos, famous from Friday Night Lights.
- Ector County Coliseum Home of the Odessa Jackalopes hockey team and major events.
- University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) Public university with a growing campus and events.
- Odessa College Community college with a notable sports program.
- Monahans Sandhills State Park Giant sand dunes in the desert, great for sledding and stargazing.
- Odessa Meteor Crater One of the best-preserved meteor craters in the U.S., with a museum.
- Outdoors Sand sledding at Monahans Sandhills
- Outdoors Stargazing in the desert
- With kids Visit the Odessa Meteor Crater museum
- With kids Sand sledding at Monahans Sandhills
- Evenings Honky-tonk bars with live country music
- Evenings Country dance halls
- Locals love Honky-tonks
- Locals love Rodeo arenas
Through the year
- Permian Basin Fair & Expo September County fair with rides, livestock, and food.
- Odessa Rodeo July PRCA rodeo at the Ector County Coliseum.
- Crane County Fair August Small-town fair in Crane with local exhibits.
- Permian Basin Oil Show October (every other year) Biennial energy industry expo.
- Monahans Sandhills Rodeo June Rodeo held near the sandhills.
Odessa has a hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal, with mild temperatures and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “Permian”
- Refers to the Permian Basin and the high school.
- “Bronchos”
- Odessa High School teams.
- “Panthers”
- Permian High School teams.
- “Sandhills”
- The sand dune area, especially Monahans Sandhills.
Getaways
- Midland Visit the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum and the George W. Bush Childhood Home.
- Big Spring See the Big Spring State Park and the historic Hotel Settles.
- Pecos Check out the West of the Pecos Rodeo and the Pecos River.
- Carlsbad Explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Local flavour
Teams
- Odessa Jackalopes NAHL
Eat and drink
- Chicken fried steak A West Texas staple
- Tex-Mex Border-style enchiladas, tacos, and chili con carne
- Frito pie Chili, cheese, and Fritos served in the bag
- Whataburger Texas-born burger chain, a local favorite
Where people go
- Oil fields and pumpjacks Iconic nodding donkeys across the Permian Basin
- Honky-tonks Country dance halls and live music venues
- Rodeo arenas West Texas rodeo culture
- Desert parks Dunes, mesas, and arid landscapes
Heritage and traditions
Odessa is proud of its oil-rich heritage and the rugged, independent spirit of the Permian Basin, where Friday night football and the desert landscape are central to local identity.
This time of year in Odessa
- Friday Night Lights Fall High school football games in the fall, a community ritual.
- West Texas Jazz Party October Weekend of jazz performances in Odessa.
Say it like a local: “Good ol' boy” — A term for a rough, unrefined person, often used affectionately.
Festivals
- Permian Basin Fair & Expo September Annual fair with rides, livestock shows, and concerts.
- Odessa BBQ Showdown April Regional barbecue competition and tasting event.
- Odessa Arts 'Art in the Park' Spring Outdoor arts and crafts festival with live music.
- Crane County Fair August Small-town fair with rodeo, carnival, and community events.
- Odessa Cinco de Mayo Celebration May 5 Community celebration with food, music, and dancing.
- Las Posadas December Christmas procession reenacting Mary and Joseph's search for lodging.
Landmarks with a story
- Odessa Meteor Crater A 550-foot-wide impact crater, a unique geological landmark.
- Presidential Museum Houses a collection of presidential portraits and artifacts.
- White-Pool House A restored 1887 Victorian home, the oldest in Odessa.
- Monahans Sandhills State Park A 3,840-acre park of sand dunes, a natural wonder.
- Ector County Coliseum A multi-purpose arena, home to the Odessa Jackalopes and events.
- Ratliff Stadium A 19,000-seat football stadium, iconic for Friday night lights.
Food traditions
- Chicken fried steak A Texas staple, often served with cream gravy, found in local diners.
- Tex-Mex Hearty plates of enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas with a West Texas twist.
- Frito pie A concession-stand favorite, often served at football games and fairs.
- Whataburger The beloved Texas fast-food chain, a late-night ritual for locals.
- Barbecue Slow-smoked brisket and ribs, often at community cook-offs.
Music and arts
- Tejano music A blend of Mexican and American influences, popular in local dance halls.
- Country music Honky-tonk and outlaw country, with live music at local bars.
- Western art Paintings and sculptures of cowboys and landscapes, showcased in galleries.
- Oilfield photography A niche art form capturing the industrial beauty of the oil patch.
A little history
- 1920s Oil discovery in the Permian Basin
- 1927 Odessa incorporated as a city
- 1959 Permian High School opened
- 1936 Odessa Meteor Crater discovered
- 1957 Monahans Sandhills State Park established
Rivalries
- Odessa High vs Permian High Crosstown football rivalry, the 'Permian Basin Super Bowl'.
- Odessa vs Midland Friendly city rivalry over oil, sports, and bragging rights.
- Monahans vs Crane Small-town rivalry in high school sports.
- Game day Friday Night Lights
- Game day Odessa Jackalopes hockey
- Outdoors Sand sledding at Monahans Sandhills
- Outdoors Stargazing in the desert
- With kids Sand sledding at Monahans Sandhills
- With kids Ratliff Stadium football games
Locals speak with a West Texas drawl, dropping 'g's and using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.' Spanish words like 'compadre' and 'que onda' are common, reflecting the strong Hispanic heritage.
Only here
- The Odessa Meteor Crater is the second-largest in the US, right in the city.
- Ratliff Stadium is one of the largest high school football stadiums in Texas.
- The Permian Basin produces more oil than any other region in the US.
- Monahans Sandhills are a 200-mile-long dune field, a desert oasis.
New here? A few tips
- Expect extreme heat in summer and occasional cold snaps in winter; always carry water.
- Traffic is light compared to big cities, but watch for oilfield trucks on highways.
- Try a chicken fried steak at a local diner and a Whataburger for late-night cravings.
- Learn to say 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'—it helps you fit in.
- Friday night football is a big deal; attend a Permian High game at Ratliff Stadium.
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Part of Midland area
Nearby
Every areaMidlandTexasTall city, wide skies, and the pulse of the oil patch.AndrewsTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patch.MonahansTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patchBig SpringTexasBig skies, warm hearts, and the open road.SeminoleTexasBig skies, warm hearts, and the smell of cotton and crude.Big LakeTexasBig skies, warm hearts, and a thousand stars.PecosTexasDesert skies, warm hearts, and the sweetest cantaloupes.HobbsNew MexicoWhere the desert sky meets the oil patch.
Odessa, 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.