A big oil boom in Big Lake, Texas
Few Texas cities were impacted by the oil industry in the way that Big Lake was. Known as “the birthplace of the Permian Basin,” Big Lake’s economy was forever changed when the Santa Rita well struck oil in 1923, transforming this once small West Texas town into one of the largest oil-producing regions in the state. Today, the oil industry continues to bring jobs and new developments to this tight-knit rural city an hour west of San Angelo. “We have quite a transient workforce population,” says Jimmy Barton, a 50-year resident and executive director for the economic development corporation. “During a big oil boom, we’ll have approximately 15,000 people come through.” With local schools, a healthy retail base and recreational spaces available to everyone in the community, locals stand by their slogan, “Living’s great in Big Lake.”
2nd Street shops, restaurants and boutiques
Most shops and restaurants are located to the south along East 2nd Street. Los Cazadores is a local sports bar and pizzeria with Mexican cuisine such as tostadas and enchiladas, while Sugar Creek Grill serves freshly grilled hamburgers and sweet potato waffle fries. Local dining also includes a variety of small Mexican restaurants and fast-food chains, with Lowe’s Market serving as the local grocery store. Small businesses include specialty stores such as the 4 Pedals Flower Shop and Twisted Pearly Pear Boutique. The 1st Plaza Shopping Center is the newest retail addition to Big Lake that finished construction in 2024. “A lot of our retail sales are passer-throughs – men here for work that buy gifts to take back home to their families,” Barton says.
Traditional homes with affordable price points
Single-family homes are situated across city blocks north and south of the main highway. Smaller homes are built with brick and stucco with chain links and wooden fences and will have lower prices from $50,000 to $200,000. Moderate-sized traditional homes with patios, guest houses and up to half-acre lots are more common in the city and vary between $200,000 and $350,000. There are also many three-star hotels in the downtown area that the temporary workforce uses for short-term housing.
High school football, memorial parks and rodeo
The biggest park in Big Lake is the Reagan County North Park, which has a playground, swimming pool and rodeo arena where bull-riding competitions are held. There’s another playground directly south in the Josh Mitchell Memorial Park, which was named after a former deputy who fell in the line of duty in 2012, as well as Bertrand Park, which is located right next to the Bethlehem Baptist Church. Fans also like to rally for their Fighting Owls at James H. Bird Memorial Stadium during the fall. “Football is everything around here,” Barton says. “Every Friday night, the stands are packed, and win, lose, or tie, we’re out there til’ we die.”
Newly updated Reagan County Schools
Reagan County Schools are based in Big Lake and serve around 800 students within the county. Reagan County Elementary has a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a B-minus rating on Niche, while Reagan County Middle has a B and a newly upgraded campus as part of a 2022 bond package. Reagan County High School has a C-plus and is getting new sports fields, classrooms and technology as part of that same bond package.
Concho Valley Transit to San Angelo
Big Lake has two main roads between U.S. Highway 67 and Texas State Highway 137. While there aren’t any public transportation options, the Concho Valley Transit provides fare-free rides over 70 miles east to San Angelo. The Reagan Hospital District has its own pharmacy and is open for 24 hours.
