Places to stay SE of Amarillo

[twistedpinion]

In a few weeks some friends and I are going to ride north to visit Palo Duro, Mitchell, and Caprock parks. We've been looking for a decent place to stay in the areas of Claude, Clarendon, or Memphis so we'll have an easy out on the Sunday we head out. We usually book 2 rooms with two beds a piece but we have stayed in a single cabin before with enough room for everyone. Can anyone recommend a base camp or even some must see roads in the area?

[rickmillertx]

That is tough. Childress has the best chain type Motels. I'm not aware of any B&Bs in that area.

[Yeeha! Stephen]

I've stayed at the Travelodge in Memphis and the Days Inn & Comfort Inn in Childress (stay away from the Econo Lodge in Childress) and have not had any problems. The guy at the Days Inn will let you park bikes at the front door, under the drive up awning and will assign you rooms at the back to help keep you away from the Truck Traffic noise on 287. if you're looking for the Historical experience, try the Hotel Turkey. It's kinda the Panhandle's version of Big Bend's The Gage Hotel. http://www.turkeybb.com/

There's a couple of decent looking Mom n' Pop places in Memphis, but I've never stayed there, worrying about the Truck noise so close to 287.

Couple of do not miss roads right around Caprock Park...
70 from Turkey to 256 and then 256 around the North side of the park is nice.

94 from Childress to Matador is nice.

656 Northfield to Turkey is nice.

207 South of Claude is mostly straight and flat, but has one spot that's really nice where it crosses the Canyon.


Couple of warnings...
There's no decent place to eat in Paducah or Matador.

Watch for Rattlesnakes sunning themselves in the parking lots of the roadside parks and pull outs.

Heavy enforcement in Memphis and Esteline.


Have Fun!

[twistedpinion]

Thanks for the tips! After looking into some suggestions, we are going to try THIS place.

Ride Report in a few weeks!

Not terribly familiar with "good" places to stay in the area around Childress, but I have ridden the roads south of there extensively. I can attest to the smile factor on the roads mentioned by Yeeha!Stephen and add the entire triangle from south of Brice, to Silverton to Turkey are a must do. That would include 256, 86, 70. You might also want to check out 658 that heads south on the SE side of Estelline. It connects with 94 to Northfield then Matador. If time allows, 689 can be accessed from FM1065 about 4 miles south of Quitiquae, also well worth the effort to find it.

Two things to watch for on all of these twisty roads are critters of course, just like in any other area of hills, breaks and bushes. Then there are spilled substances from trucks like corn, grain, maize, and the worst of all; cattle truck "sludge". You'll typically find any or all of those at the crest of the tighter curves as that is where they are most likely to slide from their trucks.

be wary and ride safe; above all--have fun.

[Yeeha! Stephen]

Hey Cruise,

I don't think I've been on 256 out of Memphis and turned South on 657 or 70 toward 86. Are the river/canyon crossings anything like the 207 crossing South of Claude? Scenic enough for the ride leader to head that way on purpose and let the group stop and take some shot's? I'm always looking for a new edge.

We have only been through the Turkey area 2 times as a destination. Usually we're headed farther North, ahead of schedule and run 94 out of Childress or 86 out of Esteline just to take the "long cut" (vs shortcut) and kill some time.
I often forget we're gaining an hour by crossing in to NM and we're way too early to hit the hotel for the night.


Before I read the post about the Cactus Motel being the winner, I was gonna add that the K-Bob's in Childress is a BYOB establishment. One of the guys in our group always carries a bottle of fine wine for dinner/after dinner and here is one of the places we get to use it. Walking distance from most of the hotels on the 287/main drag in Childress. Future FYI for those needing to know.

[Yeeha! Stephen]

One more question if you know... Near 1065, South of Quitaque, just North of Matador on 70, 2009 peels off of 70 and makes a jog NW as it crosses the North Pease River. When I study my maps, that usually means a nice elevation change and usually some nice "little" curves to boot. Ever been that way? Is it worth the jog over to your 1065 mentioned above?

When the weather breaks this fall, I may run up there and do some more exploring. The last time I explored up there I was higher... North of Amarillo and above Pampa toward Canadian. I was looking for the Bed & Breakfast used in Tom Hanks' movie Castaway. I need to go back and do a little more looking along the escarpment and Southward.

[Pooc]

There's a B&B between Quitique and Silverton.

Originally Posted by Yeeha! Stephen

I don't think I've been on 256 out of Memphis and turned South on 657 or 70 toward 86. Are the river/canyon crossings anything like the 207 crossing South of Claude? Scenic enough for the ride leader to head that way on purpose and let the group stop and take some shot's? I'm always looking for a new edge. . . .

. . . .One more question if you know... Near 1065, South of Quitaque, just North of Matador on 70, 2009 peels off of 70 and makes a jog NW as it crosses the North Pease River. When I study my maps, that usually means a nice elevation change and usually some nice "little" curves to boot. Ever been that way? Is it worth the jog over to your 1065 mentioned above?

The twistiest part of 256 is from the intersection of 256/70. That section will have you crossing the far north side of Caprock Canyons State Park and on into Silverton. It is not nearly as long a road as the drive through the canyon on 207 but is much more twisty.

2009 is a very nice ride also with several good curves but not a lot of elevation changes. Well worth the "jog" over as is the trip up, or down 1065 to get to 689.

One of the most pleasant rides of the whole area is 94 between Matador and Northfield then 656 back into Turkey.

[Yeeha! Stephen]

Originally Posted by cruisin

One of the most pleasant rides of the whole area is 94 between Matador and Northfield then 656 back into Turkey.

Earlier this Spring we were out there, wasting time, taking pictures, and taking in the scenery... and suddenly realized we were WAY TOO FAR from our overnight spot in Childress with the sun going down.

As on the Ocean, it gets dark, quick, when the sun goes down on the prairie!


We had High Beams, Fogs, PIAAs, Moto Lights, HIDs, everything blazing at full power and at the extreme edge of the lights you could see critters jumping in and out of the road up ahead. Dang! The speed limit is 70 and we were doing maybe 45 to 50 and scared sensless!

The Hill Country ain't got nuttin' on the critters near the LLano Estacado!

[Texas T]

Originally Posted by Yeeha! Stephen

The last time I explored up there I was higher... North of Amarillo and above Pampa toward Canadian. I was looking for the Bed & Breakfast used in Tom Hanks' movie Castaway. I need to go back and do a little more looking along the escarpment and Southward.

The House
http://goo.gl/maps/nkgj

The Intersection
http://goo.gl/maps/Pbvl

The B&B
http://www.arringtonranch.com/

The one review I could find seemed to have been written by a city slicker who has no affinity for country life (so why did they choose to stay there?)

The road to the house from the intersection is not paved but is hard pack caliche. Probably no issue for any street bike if it's ridden at a reasonable speed and attention is paid to potholes and large rocks.

It would be cool to have someone take the TWT Banner to the gate and get a good photo.

[SUPERADD]

Those mentioned roads are nice but the best advice I can give you is do not speed through estiline or childress they will nail you. The officer in estiline in 2010 gave more tickets than any two Texas officers combined and don't forget the insurance card he will tow your bike. Stop in Claude and have a burger at mightys and yes this time of year the rattlers are bad they will be out sun bathing early morning and before dusk. Stay hydrated that dry heat will chap you quick when the wind blows. Which is 99% of the time in the panhandle. Stay away from amarillo the best curves up there are on ramps. LoL

[gbroboy]

In June we rented a house in Silverton. It was pretty reasonably priced-3 BR 2 bath. I'll try to find contact info, but my buddy just googled something and found it-there is no motel in Silverton.
You have GOT to ride hwy 256 just east of Silverton; there is a 'triangle' you can ride from Silverton; Turkey; Quitaque-some of it is great & some of it is very bland. Visit Caprock Canyon State Park in Quitaque-its kinda a mini Palo Duro.

Have fun
GB

[swoody126]

check out the hotel in turkey

sw