Hall County: Music History, Architecture and Trails

For a trip to Hall County, music history, architecture and named routes offer different points of interest. In Turkey, Bob Wills and several historic sites take center stage; Memphis offers a different architectural perspective with its courthouse and churches. The trail descriptions specify endpoints and distances, and the Kent Creek Trail description also mentions activities and birdwatching.

Bob Wills and the Music History of Turkey

A tall, upright monument within the city limits of Turkey honors former musician Bob Wills, widely known as “The King of Western Swing.” Bob Wills grew up after his family moved to Hall County and lived north of Turkey. The Bob Wills Museum in Turkey preserves instruments, stage clothes, photographs, recordings, personal memorabilia and other artifacts documenting his career and the history of Western Swing.

The first Bob Wills Day was held in Turkey in 1971. Since then, the festival has been held on the last Saturday in April; in 2020, the celebration was moved to October 10, and in 2021 it was canceled. If you plan to connect your trip with Bob Wills Day, check the event dates before making plans.

Historic Buildings and Local History

The Phillips 66 Service Station in Turkey, which opened in 1928, was the company’s first facility of its kind in Texas. The building is almost entirely intact and designed in the Tudor Revival style. Hotel Turkey is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lacy Dry Goods served the Turkey community for more than 100 years and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2024. The store specialized in textiles and clothing production; its merchandise included fabric, thread, wool and patterns.

The former Turkey High School is also part of the town’s architectural history. Amarillo architect E. F. Rittenberry designed it as a brick building with English Gothic details. The former school building has been preserved as a center for community offices and events. Dreamland Cemetery, also called Turkey Cemetery, is designated a Historic Texas Cemetery.

In Memphis, local history is also linked to distinctive architecture. The Hall County Courthouse is a current courthouse in the Classical Revival style; two earlier courthouses preceded the present building. The second building of the First Presbyterian Church of Memphis was completed in 1911. Round-arched windows, a domed roof and Neo-Classical Revival details characterize the church. The First Methodist Church of Turkey was founded on September 8, 1891; when it was founded, it was called Elizabeth Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Trails, Distances and Route Connections

The Kent Creek Trail runs 10 miles from Quitaque East to the Turkey Depot and can be used for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The trail continues to Turkey and offers opportunities for birdwatching. Birds include Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, other flycatchers, Painted Buntings, Indigo Buntings and seed-eating birds; turkeys can be seen on the trestle bridges.

The other named trails also have clearly described endpoints: the Oxbow Trail runs 10 miles from the Turkey Depot to Tampico Siding. The Grundy Canyon Trail runs 12 miles from Tampico Siding to Parnell Station; the Plains Junction Trail runs 10 miles from Parnell Station to Estelline. At 12 miles, the Grundy Canyon Trail is the longest of the four routes mentioned, while each of the other three is 10 miles long. The southern route of the Ozark Trail passed through Childress, Estelline, Tampico, Turkey, Quitaque, Silverton, Tulia, Nazareth and Dimmitt. An obelisk at the Ozark Trail site in Tampico has been designated a State Archeological Landmark since 1999.

Getting Around on the Roads

Memphis, the county seat of Hall County, is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 287, State Highway 256 and Farm to Market Road 1547. In Turkey, Texas State Highway 86 runs through town and forms Main Street. From there, the road runs 30 miles east to Estelline and 53 miles west to Tulia. These details distinguish the road layout in Memphis from the distances along Highway 86 in Turkey.

Discover more destinations: Turkey, Donley County, Lamb, Ellis, Travis, Somervell County, Houston County, Hutchinson County.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.