Finding fresh water in the Chihuahuan desert that surrounds Van Horn was no easy task, and the discovery of the Van Horn wells in the 1850s provided relief for wagon trains and soldiers traveling through the area. The city was established in 1881, 12 miles north of the well stop, when the Texas and Pacific Railway laid tracks through the area. In the 1920s, the Bankhead Highway followed a parallel route to the railroad through town, and a mix of hotels, motels, and tourist courts sprang up to meet the needs of travelers in this remote region of Texas, a need that continues today. During the Great Depression, Federal Aid projects along US 80 west of Van Horn helped improve the Bankhead Highway, allowing motorists to travel faster and safer through the less populated areas of West Texas. Tourism took an even more prominent role in the Van Horn economy as it is located close to multiple tourist destinations, including Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Fort Davis National Historic Site.
Clark Hotel
112 W. Broadway
Office building, dance hall, opera hall, pool hall, and saloon – all occupied the building that became the Clark Hotel in 1918. The original entrance faced the railroad tracks, but the popularity of auto travel caused the owners to shift the main entrance to the back of the building, facing the highway. Today it’s a museum, complete with the old saloon’s original bar.
More Locations in Van Horn
Hotel El Capitan
100 W. Broadway
In 1930, an El Paso businessman opened up the grandest hotel between El Paso and Odessa along the Bankhead Highway. Designed by famed architect Henry C. Trost, the Spanish Colonial Revival Style Hotel El Capitan is meticulously restored and a delight for the traveler seeking an authentic period night’s stay.
Sinclair Station
305 W. Broadway
The Depression-era Mission or Spanish Eclectic style station features a parapet canopy resting on square stucco columns, off-center door with large display windows and fixed transoms over both, and tile roof. Adjacent to the former site of McVay’s Tourist Camp, the station now serves as the Red Rock Ranch headquarters where visitors can book a tour of the ranch’s American Indian rock art, geological formations, and Western movie sets.
Roadway Segment
IH-10 exit 129, begins at entrance to American Talc at railroad
For nearly three miles in the West Texas desert you can drive along the most desolate stretch of the old Bankhead Highway. Be sure your car is filled up, and get ready to view some beautiful landscapes along this 1920s stretch of road.