The Falls of Wichita Falls, Texas

Location: Lake Arrowhead State Park (el. 915 ft); Wichita Falls, Texas

(all pictures taken with Nokia Lumia 929 Cell Phone)
(click pictures to enlarge)

The only thing I ever heard about Wichita Falls, Texas was from my father. He spent a little time here when he was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base. Anytime he was asked about the place, he would just say, ",,,it was cold as a well diggers a$$". Kids now a days probably don't know what a well digger is and why his a$$ is mentioned. Oh well, things come and go. Of course my father was talking about a "Blue Norther". Texans will tell you the term originates in Texas and is usually associated with the panhandle of Texas. That may be true, but I have heard the term in other places of the country and from other people. My mother would say those other people must be Texas transplants. :). I do not plan to be here if a blue norther is scheduled to blow through this area. Liberty has wheels and they work just fine going south to warmer weather. The forecast for the panhandle looks good with the lowest temperature predicted to be a nightly low of 40 degrees on the 18th.

The view out the door of Liberty

Wichita Falls really came into it's own when the Fort Worth/Denver railroad passed through here in the late 1800's. It created a means to ship cattle and crops out to markets around the country. The town grew and was ready for the first of several oil/natural gas booms to hit the area. Oil was discovered around here in 1918 and companies such as Texas Company, Guffey Oil Company and Magnolia Oil were born. Of course we know them today as Texaco, Gulf and Mobil.

The original waterfalls that gave the town its name were washed out about 100 years ago. In 1986, city leaders decided to rebuild the falls. I visited them and they are nice as far as waterfalls in this area are concerned. The park in which they are located is very pretty and is located in a large bend of the Wichita River. You have to walk about a mile round trip to get to the falls, but it is a nice walk with pretty surroundings. The temperature was nice and it was peaceful with only a few people around.

The beginning of the path leading to the falls.

Lazy squirrel laid out spread eagle while chewing on an acorn

Benches were spaced along the path with a small bridge over a creek.

The man-made Wichita Falls.

Side view

The path running alongside the Wichita River. The city did a good job with this park. It was peaceful and quiet. Nice.

Still no one close by. 

I leave here tomorrow and head to Copper Breaks State Park. The tow is only about 120 miles but I expect the landscape to change again to more of a dryer, rugged nature. We will see.

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.