Big Texan: The Big Texan Steak Ranch can not be missed as you travel through Amarillo on I-40. The big bright yellow building is the first thing you see but several other ‘attention getting’ features await visitors as they arrive at the Big Texan. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
World Famous: The entrance to the Big Texan is flanked by a stretch limo with Texas Longhorns mounted on the hood and a big Route 66 Shield painted on the walkway into the facility. In Big Texan fashion, the door handles to open the front doors are pistols mounted at an angle to create door handles. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
Traveling Interstate 40 across the Texas Panhandle takes one through the middle of Amarillo. There are several places of interest around the city, but a few of the attractions stand out.
The most beautiful stop is Palo Duro State Park, just a few miles south of town, one of the most popular state parks in the country. Another iconic attraction is Cadillac Ranch, just to the west of Amarillo on the south side of I-40. This is where you will find 10 Cadillac autos buried nose-first in the west Texas prairie that have so many coats of spray paint you have to look close to identify the cars.
Perhaps one of the best known places in Amarillo is the Big Texan Steak Ranch. When passing through town on I-40, travelers can not miss the massive bright yellow restaurant, blue trim with a large steer named “Big Moo”, a 15-foot-tall cowboy boot, and a dinosaur wearing a cowboy hat all sitting on the premises to welcome customers.
In addition to those features, a 90-foot-tall sign featuring a cowboy and large lit signage will certainly get your attention.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch was founded in 1960 by resident R.J. Lee. The restaurant was originally opened to serve travelers passing through town on Route 66. Ten years later, I-40 opened and the Big Texan was moved to its present location on I-40. Lee wanted to welcome travelers and convey the “cowtown spirit” of West Texas.
Today, more than half a million people a year visit the Big Texan for steaks, drinks, desserts or just to visit the unique facility. The Big Texan is best known for offering a 72 oz. steak for free but diners who take the challenge must eat the entire steak by themselves in 60 minutes. Many have succeeded but many, many more have tried and failed to complete the huge cut of beef. If they do not finish the 72 oz. challenge in time, they must pay for the steak but may also take the remaining portion of the steak home in a box.
In addition to the restaurant, the ranch has Big Texan Brewery where several varieties of beers are handcrafted. The Brewery also offers wine and cocktails for those who choose. The Big Texan Gift Shop is the largest in Amarillo and offers a wide variety of items featuring Route 66, Amarillo, and, of course, Big Texan merchandise. Caps, tee shirts, cups, stickers, patches and puzzles and much more can be found with Route 66, Amarillo, and Big Texan logos in various colors and designs in the gift shop. The shop also sells ice cream and fudge and other treats for the travelers who pass through the Big Texan.
The Big Texan Motel sits next to the steakhouse facility and the Big Texan RV Park is located about a mile west of the Big Texan Steak Ranch.
The Big Texan is celebrating its 66th year of operation in 2026 and the place is more popular now than ever. It is estimated that half a million visitors pass through the doors of the Big Texan every year.
We have traveled by the Big Texan many times and we have stopped in the gift shop and purchased snacks for our travels but our visit during our recent trip to Texas is the first time we have eaten at the steakhouse. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and the meal but this is one of those places where the entire visit creates the experience. It’s something that we have said many times that we wanted to try and we are happy with our visit.
Locally owned, World Famous is a slogan for the Big Texan Steak Ranch and it sums up this unique restaurant/attraction in the heart of Amarillo.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
He Tried: The interior of the steak house is very western decor. The diner in the center wearing yellow with his hands behind his head is taking a break while trying to finish his 72 oz. steak challenge. He still has a ways to go in the remaining 22:48 minutes if he hopes to win the challenge. He did not make it but finished a majority of the slab of beef. Those who take the challenge are seated at a table, which is on a raised stage making them visible from many areas of the restaurant. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Diners: A view across the dining area from our table upstairs illustrates the size of the place. There was a wait when we arrived at 5 p.m. and a wait when we left a couple of hours later. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Outdoor Space: An outdoor space gives diners a place to gather when waiting for a table in the restaurant. Drinks are served if wanted but the space allows for the crowds waiting to disperse throughout the facility rather than being crowded up in one area. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Brewery: The bar area known as Big Texan Brewery offers a place for visitors to enjoy a drink at the Big Texan. Several TV screens circle the area offering a variety of TV choices for patrons. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Big Sign: The sign in front of the Big Texas Steak Ranch stands 90 feet high and is easily visible as you drive by on I-40. There is nothing done ‘half way’ at the Big Texan. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com