There’s A Quirky Windmill Park Hiding Right Here In Texas And You’ll Want To Plan Your Visit
Texas is full of bizarre roadside attractions, but none are quite as eye-catching as J.B. Buchanan Windmill Park in Spearman, a tiny town of just over 3,000 located high up in the Panhandle. The heartwarming story behind this place is almost as incredible as the intricacies of the mills themselves. Take a look:
J.B. Buchanan discovered his love for windmills at the ripe old age of three, when he witnessed his mother climb one to save her youngest son who had somehow found his way up there.
That experience left its mark on Buchanan, leading him to become a collector and restorer of the giant machines. When he turned 92, he donated two of his windmills to the Smithsonian, one to Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, and the remainder to the City of Spearman.
Plans for the park began in 1999, when the mayor of Spearman deemed January 21 "Windmill Day." Buchanan, the man in the center, attended the ceremony before passing away four years later.
14 mills of all shapes and sizes stand proudly in the park today. The city has given families an opportunity to commemorate loved ones by adopting the structures and renaming them in honor of their lost relative. Buchanan would be so incredibly proud of his generous town.
Windmills aren't limited to the park here in Spearman. They've been adopted as the city's official theme, and you'll see many businesses with mills spinning the day away out front.
So if you love unique architecture, spending time outdoors, and heartwarming stories, you'll absolutely adore the J.B. Buchanan Windmill Park. Don't forget your camera!
The park is located just past Ninth Avenue off Highway 207 South in Spearman. It’s open daily during daylight hours.
Have you ever been to J.B. Buchanan Windmill Park? Are there any other quirky roadside attractions in Texas that deserve to be recognized? Let us know your favorites!
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Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
