Amarillo’s Urban Legends: What’s Real and What’s Just Rumor?

We’ve all heard stories growing up about Amarillo—some true, some passed down through generations. Even if there's no real proof, we still share them with our kids. It’s just part of the fun.

So, what is the truth? What is fiction? What is a fun tale to tell our own kiddos? We have them. How many of these have you heard? How many are you planning to pass along anyway? Oh, those campfire stories can be fun, but should always be taken with a grain of salt.

Are There Secret Tunnels Under Amarillo?

• There's a secret tunnel under the city of Amarillo. The legend is that these tunnels in downtown Amarillo connected all the buildings. The story is that it was for bootlegging during Prohibition. The truth is, there were some buildings connected, some still are, and people used them to get from one bank building to a nearby convenience store. There are also some sealed-off basement tunnels and walkways, but no verified full-fledged tunnel system. People still talk like there was.

• The old air force base is haunted, especially the hospital. We love a good ghost story. Who doesn't? A lot of ghost hunters love the air force base because there have been reports of ghost sightings, cold spots, and other things that go bump in the night. The old air force base is all but gone and now houses the likes of the Amarillo College East Campus. The main runway of Rick Husband's International Airport was once the original runway of the airbase. So there is some history, but probably not a lot of haunting.

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• There is a "bottomless pit" you can find at Palo Duro Canyon. Have you heard this? Have you tried to find it? Imagine falling into that. It wouldn't be advised. Of course, the truth is that there are many great caves to explore. There are nooks and crannies. There are plenty of places to go where not many have gone before, but a "bottomless pit"? Nothing has been found. You can keep exploring and keep scaring the kids with this story.

• You can see four states from the top of the Cadillac Ranch. This one was probably the most ridiculous one that I have heard. Yes, we have flat lands and we can see forever on a clear day, but not this. No, we can't see Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Oklahoma. There is no way. I mean, the cars aren't tall enough to get a high enough view. I don't think the kids will ever buy this one.

Have you heard any Amarillo folklore stories that we all need to know about? Is there one you want to get to the bottom of? Now is the time to let us know.