Tulia’s place in the Texas Panhandle
Few Texas Panhandle towns have as prime a location as Tulia. An agricultural community and the Swisher County seat, Tulia was originally a stop on the Ozark Trail, an important network of maintained roads drivers relied on before the federal highway system. Later, manufacturing and cattle-feeding operations brought more jobs and over 4,000 people to the area. Today, Tulia remains an essential stop between Plainview and Amarillo. “We’re in the middle of two major canyons and two major cities,” says Ja’Nell Wafer, a lifelong resident and the Tulia Area Chamber of Commerce director. “If you want to go to the city but you don’t want to live there, Tulia is where to be.”
Five parks, two canyons, one golf course
Tulia is also close to two state parks that attract tourists to the Caprock Escarpment's canyon system. Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is home to the Texas State Bison Herd. The park is also popular for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. More than 30 miles of trails take hikers, bikers and equestrians through the country's second largest canyon at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. “A lot of Tulia is sightseeing,” Wafer says. “We have scenic sunrises and sunsets that are really pretty.”
Tulia has several parks and recreational spaces. Several, like Donley Park, have playgrounds and benches. MacKenzie Park has baseball and softball fields and a walking trail, and Conner Park has a basketball court and a large outdoor pavilion. The Tule Lake Golf Club has a nine-hole golf course and a grill that sells burgers and sandwiches. The city also has a small community swimming pool in front of the football stadium.
Traditional homes on acreage and city blocks
Most of Tulia is laid out along a grid of streets, east of the old cotton warehouse, trading post and train depot. Sidewalks run alongside patchy lawns that struggle in the dry Texas heat. On the edge of town, smaller roads become dirt and gravel. Fixer-uppers can cost between about $20,000 and $50,000, depending on their condition. Ranch-style and traditional homes with two or three bedrooms often cost between about $80,000 and $200,000, though some of the larger and newer homes can run into the $300,000s.
Local restaurants and the only grocery store in Swisher County
Many stores are along 2nd Street, including Lowe’s Market. “We have a lot of restaurants and small boutiques here,” Wafer says. “A lot of little towns have to drive 10 minutes to us because we have the only grocery store in Swisher County.” There are many Mexican restaurants, including the El Camino Dining Room, El Burrito and Aylin’s Cafe, and Prissy’s Barbecue has specials such as barbecue elote and mac n’ cheese bowls, chicken wings and smash burgers. Regina’s Italian Restaurant and Steak House serves chicken, seafood and lamb pasta dishes, and Nicole’s Corner is a local florist that offers special arrangements for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.
From Tulia Elementary to Tulia High
The Tulia Independent School District serves over 800 students in the community and has a C on Niche. Tulia Elementary has a preschool and a C-minus. Tulia Junior High has a 9-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a C. The B-rated Tulia High School has 10 athletic programs and a 95% graduation rate.
One interstate between Amarillo and Lubbock
Interstate 27 is directly west of Tulia, leading over 50 miles north to Amarillo and 70 miles south to Lubbock. State Highway 86 is the main road that runs east and west throughout the county. Swisher Memorial Hospital, on the east side of Tulia, provides 24-hour emergency services.
