Sierra Blanca
If you’re wondering where to switch your clocks from Central to Mountain time, this is the place. In the late 1800s, Sierra Blanca, considered a small town, was a prominent commercial center, serving as a rail shipping point for cattle, salt, and other minerals. Beginning in the 1920s through the start of World War II, travelers along the Bankhead Highway often stopped to visit Indian Hot Springs, a health resort about 30 miles south of town at the site of a cluster of geothermal springs known to be used for centuries by people seeking curative waters. Today, stop in at the Hudspeth County Courthouse, the only adobe courthouse in Texas. Its 18-inch thick walls insulate the building from the harsh desert environment.
Roadside Parks
IH-10 frontage road 8.5 miles west of Sierra Blanca
Stop to stretch your legs, stop for the breathtaking views, or stop for the tipi-like covered picnic areas, but definitely stop at one of these two roadside parks on outside of Sierra Blanca. Built in the 1960s, these tipi‐themed parks are inspired by the desolate, stark beauty of the surrounding countryside as well as the region’s history.
More Locations in Sierra Blanca
Best Café
El Paso St. at Williams Ave.
At one time you could have stopped at the Best Café for lunch on your way through Sierra Blanca, but unfortunately this 1920s restaurant is no longer serving customers. Its vintage neon sign, though, is picture worthy.
Hotel
El Paso St. (adjacent to Main St.)
The heyday for this rail‐side hotel came in the late 19th century when Sierra Blanca served as a junction for the Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads. As rail travel declined in the age of the automobile, the hotel shifted its focus and catered to automobile tourists before finally shutting its doors for good. Its neon sign still sits atop the roof awaiting possible revival.
El Camino Motel
201 El Paso St.
The motel and gas station combination was a common occurrence in the 1930s. The El Camino Motel is one of the best remaining examples remaining examples of regional themed Mission Revival style. Notice the L-shaped block of rooms around the central gas station and office.
El Patio Courts
307 El Paso St.
Imagine the 1939 fieldstone motel with a busy diner and office in the two separate buildings facing the street. Checking in to your private unit, parking the car in the garage space between your unit and the next, relaxing in the landscaped public space in the center driveway, all with a view of the Sierra Blanca Mountains – just as the postcard advertises.