Canyon is home to one of the largest roadside attractions in the state of Texas, and its name is Tex Randall. Tex is about to get an upgrade and a change of clothes.
How Did Tex Randall Get His Start in Canyon?
It all started in 1959 when Harry Wheeler was commissioned to build a statue for a western store in Canyon. Tex Randall is the biggest cowboy in Canyon and the second biggest in the state of Texas, standing 47 feet tall. Big Tex beats him by 8 feet. Did you know Tex Randall actually had real Levi’s jeans when he was built? Amarillo used to have a Levi’s factory, and a special pair of gigantic Levi’s jeans were created just for Tex Randall.
But the jeans didn’t last forever, because we all know what that West Texas wind can do. A truck crashed into his boot, leaving a huge hole in the statue.
How Many Times Has Tex Randall Been Restored?
After a few years, Tex wasn’t looking so great, and a plan to restore him was made. Tex Randall was first restored in 1987. Tex originally sported a cigarette, but it was time for him to quit cold turkey. During the restoration, they switched the cigarette out for a spur. Tex just stood there, deteriorating in the Texas Panhandle elements for the next 29 years…