Discover Scurry County: History and Culture

Scurry County offers a focus on history, culture, and recurring events for trip planning. Several historic sites are located in Snyder, along with museums and recreational opportunities. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether you’re mainly interested in exploring historic sites or planning your stay around an event date.

Historic Homes, Exhibits, and Collections

The Cornelius-Dodson House is the oldest residence in Snyder and was built in 1883 in the Tennessee-Cumberland style. Scurry County Heritage Village features historic and reconstructed buildings, artifacts, and exhibits. It offers a free, self-guided tour through history; check local visitor information before your trip.

The Scurry County Museum has a collection of more than 16,000 artifacts and offers special events throughout the year. The Scurry Gallery is a permanent gallery showcasing Scurry County through dynamic exhibits and hundreds of unique artifacts. If an event is the reason for your trip, check the specific date in advance.

Historic Sites in Snyder

In downtown Snyder, the Downtown Walking Trail offers a self-guided tour featuring 14 historic markers. The Quanah Parker Trail’s arrow number 63 is in Snyder. A statue of Quanah Parker stands on the Western Texas College campus. These sites offer different perspectives: the walking trail leads to historic markers, while the trail and statue each highlight Quanah Parker in their own way.

Deep Creek flows through Snyder and is connected to the county’s white buffalo story. William Henry “Pete” Snyder founded a trading post on the banks of Deep Creek in 1878. The oil industry was also of great importance to the local economy, particularly after the discovery of the Canyon Reef Field north of the city in 1948. Together, these facts offer different historical points of reference: the trading post by the river and the later importance of the oil industry.

Events and Recreation

The annual Scurry County Rodeo takes place in mid-July and celebrates the county’s ranching heritage. White Buffalo Days features food, crafts, and music in Snyder’s town square. Separate from this is the White Buffalo Festival, held every October to honor Mr. Mooar and his contribution to the county’s history. For these recurring events, check the dates and program for your trip.

The Western Texas College Coliseum is used for rodeos, sporting events, community programs, and special events. Since event schedules can change, it’s worth checking the dates before planning your stay around one. If you’re looking for a different kind of recreation, Snyder is also home to the Scurry County Golf Course, a nine-hole golf course. The Ritz Community Theatre offers wheelchair seating in the front row.

When planning, it makes a difference whether an annual event determines your travel dates or whether you’re planning your trip around historical themes and recreational interests. If you’re visiting for the rodeo or festival, confirm the relevant dates before looking for a hotel in Scurry County.

Discover more destinations: Snyder, Jasper County, Eastland County, Kimble County, Rains County, Ochiltree County, Donley County, Harrison County.

See the main travel overview: Texas.