Cactus is a worker’s town in the Texas Panhandle
Cactus is just as much “a little town of honest people” today as it was nearly 30 years ago when country singer Waylon Jennings wrote those words. A rural community in the Texas Panhandle, Cactus was originally an ordinance town that made ammunition for the U.S. Military during World War II. After the JBS meatpacking plant was established on the west side in 1973, it brought 3,000 employees to the area and a wave of development that included new houses, businesses and apartments. “It’s tiny,” Keller Williams real estate agent Marissa Martinez says. “Most people live there for employment.” While the area is dealing with a housing shortage, workers call Cactus home because of its low cost of living, acreage and strong industrial base.
Older parks with new recreational investments
As the city's biggest employer, JBS has invested heavily into Cactus' recreational offerings. In 2022, the company contributed $500,000 to build a new aquatic center and splash pad in Cactus Park northeast. It also has new volleyball and kickball courts alongside a new $400,000 baseball diamond that debuted in 2024. “They’re big on adult baseball leagues,” Martinez remarks. Cactus also has a couple of playgrounds between Castro and Stone Parks.
Land sales and apartments courtesy of JBS
Cactus has very few homes available on the market. Single-family homes are situated closest to the highway and have brick and wood siding with fences and gravel driveways. Home values range from $120,000 to $280,000. Most homeowners moving into the area will purchase land to build their own houses on, costing between $40,000 and $90,000 an acre before construction. In 2014, JBS invested $8 million to develop a 156-unit low-cost apartment complex managed by the company to house its workforce.
Dumas schools and Amarillo College
Children who live in Cactus are zoned for the Dumas Independent School District, which has a B-plus on Niche. Cactus Elementary School, the only school in the community, has a C on Niche. “They have a brand-new elementary school,” Martinez says. “This year was their first year in it.” Middle schoolers continue their education at Dumas Intermediate and Junior High, both of which have B ratings. Dumas High School won a soccer state championship as recently as 2022 and has a B. Amarillo College also operates an auxiliary campus in Dumas, where students can earn two-year degrees.
One highway between Oklahoma and Amarillo
Highway 287 is the main road that runs north and south through the city. The Texas-Oklahoma border is 35 miles north of Cactus, while Amarillo is over 60 miles south. The Moore County Hospital district is 13 miles south in Dumas and is open for 24 hours. The Panhandle Transportation Group offers rides to surrounding communities ranging between $3.50 and $35 depending on the distance.
Limited retail with more dining options in Dumas
There aren’t many restaurants inside the city limits itself. The El Rancho Restaurant is a popular favorite specializing in pollo asado and occasionally offers the TikTok-viral Dubai chocolate. There are also a handful of Mexican restaurants, taco shops and small convenience stores north past Tumbleweed Road. More boutiques, gift shops and restaurants are 13 miles south in Dumas, as well as the closest grocery stores including Lowe’s Market, Walmart and United Supermarket.
