Discover Snyder: History, Culture and Recreation

Snyder offers several distinct points of interest for a stay: historic buildings and objects, exhibits, live performances, as well as golf and a park. If you’re looking for a hotel in Snyder, these themes can help shape your travel plans. You can focus your trip on the city’s history, culture or a recreational activity.

Historic Buildings and Railroad Connections

The Cornelius-Dodson House is the oldest residence in Snyder and was built in 1883 in the Tennessee-Cumberland style. Its construction date and style give the house both a historical and an architectural point of reference. Heritage Village offers a free, self-guided tour and includes historic and replica buildings, artifacts and exhibits. The two sites have different focuses: the Cornelius-Dodson House centers on a single residence, while Heritage Village brings together several types of historical displays as part of its tour.

The last steam locomotive of the Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railroad, Engine No. 5, is located between the Western Texas College Coliseum and Heritage Village. A 18-foot-tall bronze statue of Quanah Parker also stands on the Western Texas College campus, near the Scurry County Museum. Snyder is on the Quanah Parker Trail; the local marker is identified as Arrow No. 63.

Museum and Local History

The Scurry County Museum has three galleries: the Scurry Gallery, the Texas Gallery and the Lobby Gallery. The Scurry Gallery houses a permanent exhibition with hundreds of unique artifacts about the history and culture of Scurry County. This offers a look at the county’s history through items in the collection. Heritage Village, by contrast, also includes historic and replica buildings and exhibits. The two attractions therefore offer different ways to explore the past.

Theater and Practical Information

The Ritz Community Theatre is on the south side of the square in downtown Snyder. It presents live productions, musical comedies, film screenings and community events. If you’re interested in a particular format, you can sort the offerings by these different types of programming; check current schedules for specific performances. The Ritz Community Theatre has wheelchair seating in the front row. Ramps lead from the parking lot to the entrance.

Park, Golf and October Festival

Towle Memorial Park has picnic tables and a walking path, while Scurry County Golf Course offers a different recreational option: it is a nine-hole golf course in Snyder. The course hosts several tournaments throughout the year. The options therefore differ clearly: a walking path with picnic tables on one hand, and golf along with tournament events on the other.

The White Buffalo Festival takes place in October and commemorates J. Wright Mooar and his contributions to the county’s history. A replica of the rare white buffalo Mooar shot also stands in the Snyder courthouse square. The festival and the replica thus provide different connections to Mooar and the county’s history. If you’d like to include a festival or golf tournament in your travel plans, check the relevant dates in advance.

For the broader travel overview: Scurry County.