Dalhart: Cultural History, Rodeo and Nature

Dalhart can be explored through several distinct themes: the history of Dallam and Hartley Counties, performing arts and rodeo, and nature and recreation at Lake Rita Blanca. These highlights give your plans a clear direction without telling the same story: the museum focuses on history, the theater on productions, and the lake on trails and wildlife.

History, Theater and Events

Permanent and rotating exhibits at the XIT Museum cover Dallam and Hartley Counties. The museum’s mission is to preserve and share the history of these two counties and the XIT Ranch. The exhibits focus on the counties, while the broader mission also includes the XIT Ranch. The museum is therefore a starting point if you’re interested in regional history, bringing together both permanent displays and changing presentations.

The historic La Rita Performing Arts Theatre is located in downtown Dalhart and hosts a variety of theater and music productions by amateur and professional artists. The building was constructed in the 1920s by W.L. (Wally) Hamilton. Here, the history of the building meets a program of performing arts and music. Depending on your interests, you can focus on the building’s history or on the different types of productions held there. For specific performances, the dates of each event are what matter.

XIT Rodeo & Reunion is an annual event in Dalhart that celebrates the heritage of the American Wild West. Dalhart has hosted the XIT Ranch Reunion and Rodeo since 1936; the event takes place in August. This makes the rodeo a recurring occasion, distinct from the year-round themes of the museum and theater. If you’d like to plan your trip around it, check the specific event dates for your travel year.

Another historic point of interest is the Dallam County Courthouse, which is listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Together with the history represented by the XIT Museum and the La Rita building, it provides a separate point of interest for anyone interested in historic places and buildings. The courthouse’s designation is a specific distinction; by itself, it says nothing about an events program.

Lake Rita Blanca: Trails and Wildlife

Walking trails run along the lake shore at Lake Rita Blanca City Park. Their route connects the park’s nature and outdoor recreation to the water. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including scaled quail and northern bobwhite, bald eagles and Chihuahuan ravens, as well as mule deer, swift foxes, and gray and red foxes. Trails along the shore and wildlife watching are therefore distinct nature themes: one focuses on the path by the lake, the other on the species found there. Use of Lake Rita Blanca City Park is limited to day visits.

Another recreational option is the Rita Blanca Disc Golf Course at the Rita Blanca Coliseum. The course has 18 holes. This makes it a distinct, clearly defined activity alongside the lakeside trails: visitors interested in disc golf will find the specific course size and location here, while those who want to focus on nature and wildlife will find those themes at Lake Rita Blanca City Park. The two highlights can thus be distinguished by the kind of experience you want from your visit.

Dalhart in the Regional Context

Dalhart is a stop on the Quanah Parker Trail, which is part of the Texas Plains Trail Region. This adds a broader regional context to the local themes. For orientation, you can distinguish between two scales: the specific places and activities in Dalhart itself, and Dalhart’s role within the trail and the wider Texas Plains Trail Region. The trail connection offers an additional perspective on the area, while the museum, theater, courthouse, and Lake Rita Blanca identify specific topics in Dalhart.

Discover more destinations: University Park, Texline.

Return to the main travel overview: Dallam County.