Hamblen Drive facts for kids
Hamblen Drive is a beautiful road about 20 miles (32 km) south of Claude, Texas, in Armstrong County. This road is part of Texas State Highway 207. It goes right through the amazing Palo Duro Canyon and crosses the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River.
The road is named after Will H. Hamblen (1876–1952). He and his family moved to the Palo Duro Canyon area in 1890. Will married Ada in 1900. After 1905, they ranched near Wayside, Texas.
Building a Road Through Palo Duro Canyon
In the 1890s, Will Hamblen helped his father. They hauled cedar posts from Palo Duro Canyon to Amarillo, Texas. They sold these posts for three cents each. Their trips followed old Native American trails through the canyon.
During these journeys, Hamblen started making a rough road. This made it a bit easier to travel to Amarillo. It also cut about 120 miles off the trip to the courthouse in Claude, Texas.
This early road was steep and risky. Hamblen knew settlers needed better roads. He worked for many years to get a proper road built through the canyon.
From Rough Path to Paved Road
In 1928, Will Hamblen was elected as a county commissioner. A county commissioner is a local government official. They help manage the county's services, like roads. After he was elected, a better, graded road was built.
In 1930, the commissioner's court officially named the road Hamblen Drive. Later, in 1954, the road was paved. This made it much safer and easier for everyone to use.
Honoring History: The Scenic Overlook
In 1968, the State Historical Survey Committee placed a special historical marker. This marker (number 4284) is on top of a scenic overlook. It sits on a cliff of the Palo Duro Canyon.
The marker is located at 34° 47.899′ N, 101° 26.16′ W. It helps people remember the history of Hamblen Drive. It also honors Will H. Hamblen's hard work. He helped connect communities and make travel easier in Texas.
