Pecos: History, Melons and Sports

Pecos offers several ways to connect with a destination: interactive history galleries, stories about old routes, baseball and a distinctive cantaloupe tradition. Rather than focusing on just one topic, you can consider which of these facets you’d most like to shape your stay. This mix makes Pecos interesting for anyone who wants to explore culture and local history alongside sporting experiences.

History in Galleries and Along Old Routes

The West of the Pecos Museum has more than 50 rooms with interactive history galleries. The size of the exhibit leaves room for a range of historical topics; the interactive galleries also offer a different experience from simply viewing individual exhibits. The museum is also a historically recognized landmark in Texas. If you’re especially interested in the town’s history, it offers a specific focus for planning your trip.

Pecos’ development as a transportation hub is also part of the town’s history. Important cattle and wagon routes shaped this history, including the Butterfield Overland Mail Route. These names reflect the role transportation links played in Pecos’ development. Emigrants' Crossing offers another notable connection to river crossings: it was one of only three fords along a 60-mile stretch of the river. The number illustrates just how rare such crossings were along that particular stretch.

Historic buildings include the Orient Hotel and its saloon. The saloon was built in 1896 from red sandstone from the Pecos Valley. The Orient Hotel itself was opened in 1907 by its owner, R. S. Johnson. The two dates relate to different parts of the building’s history: the construction of the saloon and the opening of the hotel. Anyone interested in architecture and local history can explore these details as a separate thread alongside the museum exhibit.

Sports, Melons and Local Discoveries

Sports offer a different focus. Cyclone Ballparks is a modern outdoor baseball complex with five fields. The complex hosts youth and amateur tournaments, competitions and other events with participants from West Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. For baseball fans, this is a specific reason to explore Pecos from a sporting perspective. The West of the Pecos Rodeo is another sporting attraction: all rodeo events take place at Buck Jackson Arena.

The sweet cantaloupes Pecos is known for are another local specialty. The annual Cantaloupe Food Show celebrates the Sweet Pecos Cantaloupe, which originated in Pecos and Reeves County. The program includes creative melon displays and judged recipes. The event takes place on Saturday afternoon at the West of the Pecos Museum. It brings a regional food theme together with an event format; anyone interested in food and local traditions can take this into account when planning a trip.

Another way to discover public art is the Pecos Boot Trail, a public art project by the Pecos Chamber. The project includes a guide and collecting stamps at the participating organizations or businesses. Anyone who submits a fully completed guide to the Pecos Chamber can exchange it for accommodations in Pecos Proud prize. Collecting stamps gives your visit an extra activity, while the artworks provide a reason for individual discoveries.

Which focus suits your trip?

For the broader travel overview: Reeves County.