Lubbock, Texas is most well known as the hub of the Llano Estacado region and home to Texas Tech University. But “The Hub City” has much more to offer visitors beyond college sports and academics. Lubbock has intriguing museums, music history, gardens, architectural sites, and more to experience.
| Attraction | Description |
|---|---|
| National Ranching Heritage Center | Historical ranching exhibits and structures. |
| Buddy Holly Center | Museum celebrating the musician’s life and legacy. |
| Joyland Amusement Park | Classic amusement park with rides and games. |
| Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater | Interactive science museum and theater. |
| Silent Wings Museum | WWII glider pilots and planes history. |
| Texas Tech Campus | University campus with architecture and art. |
| Lubbock Lake Landmark | Archaeological park and museum. |
| Llano Estacado Winery | Winery offering tastings and tours. |
| Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport | Airport with aircraft exhibits. |
| Mackenzie Park | Large park with various recreational activities. |
| Llano Estacado Region | Scenic plains and state park. |
| Charles Adams Studio Project | Art studio and gallery with workshops. |
This West Texas city provides both outdoor adventures and cultural attractions. Here are 12 of the top things to see and do when visiting Lubbock.
National Ranching Heritage Center
Name and Location: National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Museum displaying preserved ranch buildings to showcase ranching history and lifestyle.
What to Expect: Tour historic ranch structures and exhibits with guides in period clothing. Enjoy the grounds.
Visitor Information: Open Mon-Sat, admission fee charged. Guided tours available.
Get an in-depth look at the ranching history of the American West at the National Ranching Heritage Center. This 19-acre museum features over 50 historical structures relocated or recreated to resemble a ranching town.
Explore a railroad depot, schoolhouse, windmills and more. Unique exhibits detail innovations like barbed wire and cattle drives. Kids can pan for “gold” and enjoy wagon rides.
Buddy Holly Center
Name and Location: Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Museum/performance venue dedicated to musician Buddy Holly, a Lubbock native.
What to Expect: Artifacts, memorabilia, and exhibits on Buddy Holly’s life and music legacy. Catch a show.
Visitor Information: Open Tue-Sat, admission fee charged.
Music fans shouldn’t miss the Buddy Holly Center, showcasing the life and legacy of the Lubbock-born rock n’ roll pioneer. See Holly memorabilia like stage clothes and his trademark glasses. Interactive displays let you explore recording technology and instruments while hearing classic tunes.
A new Buddy Holly Hall also hosts concerts continuing Lubbock’s music heritage. Don’t skip the Walk of Fame honoring West Texas musicians outside.
Joyland Amusement Park
Name and Location: Joyland Amusement Park in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Historic amusement park operating since 1948.
What to Expect: Rides, games, food, and entertainment. Ride the wooden roller coaster together.
Visitor Information: Seasonal hours, admission fee charged.
For family fun, visit Joyland Amusement Park, open since the 1940s. Ride the wooden rollercoaster, Tilt-a-Whirl, and other classics along with new additions like a looping coaster. Let kids explore the playground or go mini-bowling.
Grab classic park food like corn dogs and funnel cake. Ride at night when flashing lights add to the ambience of this nostalgic park. Live entertainment like magic shows happens too.
Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater
Name and Location: Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Premier interactive science museum and theater.
What to Expect: Hundreds of hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, giant screen films.
Visitor Information: Open Wed-Sat, admission fee charged.
At the Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater, kids can engage in hands-on science experiments and learning. Interactive exhibits demonstrate concepts like energy, physics, light and more with games and challenges.
Experience turtle races, make giant bubbles, and try other edu-taining activities. The state-of-the-art OMNI Theater screens 3D films, planetarium shows, and educational features on an 8-story dome screen.
Silent Wings Museum
Name and Location: Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Museum dedicated to WWII glider pilots trained in Lubbock.
What to Expect: Glider flight simulators, exhibits on pilots and planes, artifacts, and more.
Visitor Information: Open Tue-Sat, admission fee charged.
Aviation enthusiasts should visit the Silent Wings Museum to learn about the WWII history of glider pilots and planes. The museum is located on the former South Plains Army Airfield where glider flight testing occurred.
Inside see artifacts like uniforms, radios and replicas of the CG-4A cargo gliders built here. Films and exhibits detail this lesser-known facet of aviation wartime history and the base’s role.
Texas Tech Campus
Name and Location: Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Major university founded in 1923 with Spanish Renaissance architecture.
What to Expect: Statues, fountains, gardens, museums, galleries, and architecture.
Visitor Information: Open to walk around daily, free admission.
The sprawling 1,800 acre campus of Texas Tech University offers attractions even for non-students. Notable architecture includes the Spanish Renaissance Administrative Building with a bell tower inspired by an Italian cathedral.
See contemporary sculptures at the Public Art Collection. Attend a game watching the Red Raiders college teams at Jones AT&T Stadium. The campus provides a pretty stroll under shady trees as well.
Lubbock Lake Landmark
Name and Location: Lubbock Lake Landmark in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: National historic site and museum showcasing archaeological ruins.
What to Expect: Hike trails, see preserved excavation sites, visit the museum.
Visitor Information: Trails open daily, free admission. Museum open Tue-Sat.
For glimpses into the past, visit the Lubbock Lake Landmark park and museum containing evidence of 12,000 years of inhabitation. Walk on trails viewing artifacts left behind by native peoples and homesteaders while also spotting wildlife.
Exhibits detail the archaeological history and how the landscape was shaped over time. Special events like campfire talks and night hikes occur seasonally.
Llano Estacado Winery
Name and Location: Llano Estacado Winery near Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Texas’ oldest winery, open since 1976. Known for signature red wines.
What to Expect: Wine tastings, tours, and scenic grounds. Enjoy their signature Viviano wine.
Visitor Information: Open daily. Tastings and tours offered.
Sample some of Texas’ signature wines at Llano Estacado Winery, open since the 1970s. This pioneer of the Texas wine industry offers tastings of reds and whites like Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, and Chardonnay.
Daily tours provide a behind-the-scenes look at the winery operations, from grape sourcing to bottling. The expansive grounds also contain landscaped lawns, ponds, and picnic spots.
Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport
Name and Location: Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
History and Significance: Major airport serving Lubbock and the South Plains region.
What to Expect: Commercial flights and connections to major hubs. Rental cars, taxis, buses available.
Visitor Information: Terminal open daily. Check website for flight info.
Aviation enthusiasts will appreciate the impressive collection of aircraft on display at the airport. Located outside the main terminal, the exhibit contains jets and small planes ranging from the 1940s to modern times.
Read about the unique features and histories of each aircraft. Highlights include the F-84E Thunderjet, F4C Phantom, and Boeing Vertol Helicopter. Best of all, this exhibit is absolutely free.
Mackenzie Park
Name and Location: Mackenzie Park in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Large city park with various amenities and attractions.
What to Expect: Playgrounds, golf course, trails, sports fields, aquatic center, arboretum.
Visitor Information: Open daily, free entry. Fees for some amenities.
For outdoor recreation, Mackenzie Park spans over 600 acres on the city’s east side. Trails are open for jogging, biking, skating and walking with both paved and natural surfaces. Two ponds allow fishing and pedal boating.
Sporting facilities have golf, soccer, baseball, cricket, and disk golf. Other amenities include playgrounds, splash pad, tennis and sand volleyball courts. Enjoy the gardens too like the fragrant Rose Garden.
Llano Estacado
Name and Location: Llano Estacado region, West Texas
History and Significance: Vast tableland containing Lubbock known as the “Staked Plains.”
What to Expect: Flat, semi-arid terrain with scenic vistas and big skies.
Visitor Information: Open rural landscape spanning thousands of acres.
Experience the vast landscapes of the Llano Estacado region south of Lubbock. This section of the Great Plains encompasses over 30,000 square miles. Called the “Staked Plains”, it has few trees, little water, and flat horizons as far as you can see.
Head to Caprock Canyons State Park to hike the Caprock Trail overlooking the plains and canyon valley below. The scenic beauty is unforgettable.
Charles Adams Studio Project
Name and Location: Charles Adams Studio Project in Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Art studio and gallery promoting local artists and talent.
What to Expect: View a variety of artwork from West Texas artists. Attend opening receptions.
Visitor Information: Open Thu-Sat, free admission.
This nonprofit arts studio and gallery displays works by local artists with gallery exhibits changing monthly. Mediums range from paintings to photography to jewelry. Many pieces reflect the West Texas landscape and culture.
Art classes are open to the public including painting, drawing, and glass fusing workshops. The 2nd Saturday Art Trail occurs monthly downtown. Support Lubbock’s talented creative community.
Conclusion
From cowboys to canyons, cotton fields to wineries, Lubbock offers some unexpected attractions and rich heritage. Learn about ranching history, pay tribute to Buddy Holly, explore interactive museums, and see wide-open spaces.
Public art and a burgeoning wine region add to the appeal. Lubbock has much more beyond college life. Use this guide to discover the top things to do and see for an engaging visit.