There Is A Unique Man-Made Wonder Hiding In This Small Town In Texas
By Katie Lawrence|Published November 29, 2023
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
From the world’s largest pair of cowboy boots to Cadillac Ranch, there are tons of quirky roadside attractions in Texas that make long car rides more fun. One of our favorites is Paisano Pete, located in the small town of Fort Stockton. He’s the world’s second-largest roadrunner, and you simply have to get your picture taken in front of him soon.
Fort Stockton is a fairly small town of roughly 8,500 located along I-10 in Pecos County.
The town originally served as an Army post in the mid-1800s, and by the early 20th century, it had become a thriving hub for sheep and cattle ranching. It was served by the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, whose depot now serves as the town's visitor center.
Today, Fort Stockton mostly serves as a stopping point for highway travelers - but underneath the surface, it offers much more than meets the eye.
From an old jail to a cemetery for soldiers to even the remnants of the original fort, there's so much to see and do here than most people would expect.
Constructed in 1980, Paisano Pete was the world's largest roadrunner for many years before New Mexico built a larger one in 1993. That hasn't phased the residents of Fort Stockton, however (Pete is their mascot, after all) and they still love him now as much as ever.
Paisano Pete is 11 feet tall and 22 feet wide. He's the brainchild of Gene Cummings, who was mayor at the time.
The town may be so desolate that tumbleweeds can be seen blowing across the street, but it's also home to one of the neatest roadside attractions in Texas.
Have you ever seen Paisano Pete? What are your favorite roadside attractions in Texas? Check out our previous article to learn more about Big Bend Ranch State Park, which isn’t far from Fort Stockton.
If you need a place to stay in the area, I can’t recommend the Gage Hotel in nearby Marathon enough.
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