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 Odessa
started out like many West Texas towns, as a water stop for the Texas and
Pacific Railroad in the late 1800s. Farming and ranching were the main
occupations until the discovery of oil in the 1920s turned Odessa into the
headquarters for the vast petroleum industry of the Permian Basin.
Odessa is home to the World's Largest Jackrabbit. Jack Ben Rabbit has become an
Odessa landmark. You will find Jack at 802 N. Sam Houston.
Odessa is also home to a couple presidents with the last name of Bush. And a
couple First Ladies with the last name of Bush.
In the Presidential Museum you will find the only museum in the U.S. dedicated
solely to the office of the President. You can visit the Bush home, which is
located on the grounds of the Presidential Museum, and see the little two
bedroom, one bath home where George H.W. Bush, Barbara and son, George W. lived
in their early days in West Texas.
On the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin you will find a
replica of Stonehenge.
A short distance Southwest of Odessa you can look at the Odessa Meteor Crater.
The crater is around 550 feet across and 6 feet deep. It used to be deeper, but
the 20 or 30 thousand years since the meteor desert winds have blown sand into
the original 100 feet deep crater. The Odessa Meteor Crater is the 2nd largest
in the U.S. and the 6th largest in the world.
If you like your critters more lively than the World's Largest Jackrabbit you
can go to Prairie Pete Park and watch the residents of a prairie dog town.
Globe of the Great Southwest is a theater on the Odessa College campus modeled
after the original Shakespearean Globe Theatre.  Shakespeare
plays run throughout the year, along with other plays and comedies.
White-Pool House is Odessa's oldest structure. It is a 2 story brick house built
in 1887. Picture of the White-Pool House were used to lure settlers to Odessa.
Now it serves as a museum.
WHERE TO STAY IN ODESSA
K-Bar Ranch Hunting Lodge where guests stay in a 12-bed bunkhouse. Mellie Van
Horn's Place used to be a boarding house for school teachers. Now it is a 16
room inn with a dining room that can seat 55. The MCM
Grande Odessa, known as "The Grande," is also referred to as the
"Fundome." You can also stay at the MCM
Elegante Odessa, which is the only 4-star hotel in West Texas.
WHERE TO EAT IN ODESSA
Barn Door Steakhouse
and Pecos Depot specialize in steak, with seafood and Tex-Mex
also on the menu. The Peco Depot Lounge, which is attached to the restaurant, is
Pecos' original Santa Fe Railroad depot, built in 1892. Even if you are not a
teacher you can eat at Mellie Van Horn's Place, voted best new Odessa restaurant
when it opened. Jack Jordan Bar-B-Q is known for its spicy barbecue. Both Odessa
and Midland have a La Bodega Mexican restaurant with its chile relleno being its
claim to local fame. Dos
Amigos Cantina is in an old horse stable. Along with Tex-Mex with a New
Mexico style twist you will find live music and bull riding.
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