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A LOOK AT LUBBOCK

From Buddy Holly to Robert Bruno, this West Texas city makes the arts

its centerpiece BY KRISTEN K. TUCKER

Irecently flew to Lubbock, Texas, to join four travel writers on a press trip. I fell under the spell of the “Hub City” of West Texas: its quirkiness, the high plains (Lubbock sits at 3,256 feet; you can see for miles), its culture, food, and people — not to mention Lubbock is the hometown of rock ’n’ roll pioneer Buddy Holly and the home of Texas Tech University.

What do 6.4 million annual visitors to Lubbock, Texas, do when they visit the Hub City?

“We don’t have a roller coaster or a whale that does flips in the air, but tourism is very important to us,” John Osborne, president and CEO of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance and Visit Lubbock, says as he greeted our group convened in the breezy outdoor space of Lubbock’s newest luxury boutique hotel, the Cotton Court.

With daily American Airlines flights from Evansville Regional Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and from Dallas to Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, traveling to Lubbock is easy. You will want to rent a car to get out in the wide-open spaces and drive to the Bruno Steel House, among other attractions (like Prairie Dog Town).

LOVING LUBBOCK The Hub City of West Texas offers many surprises. To some, the Bruno Steel House resembles an insect, or a grand piano built on a cliff. Architect and inventor Robert Bruno is shown in a photo from the 1970s. The spiraling design of the grand staircase in the Buddy Holly Hall pays homage to the 1970 Lubbock Tornado. For a memorable meal, dine in the succulent-filled greenhouse at The Nicolett. Opposite, public art is found on a large scale on the campus of Texas Tech University.

Home to world-renowned artists, iconic musicians, state-of-the-art theaters, award-winning wineries and breweries, and a range of cuisine, Lubbock holds an unexpected find around every corner of its wide streets. Its West Texas charm and way of life are deeply rooted in the soil that grows 90 percent of all Texas wine grapes and nearly half of the nation’s cotton.

The Cotton Court Hotel celebrates the city’s cultural history. As you check in, notice the cotton exchange rates in the main lobby. Each room is outfitted with carpeting that showcases an aerial view of Lubbock’s cotton fields, 100 percent cotton sheets, and a mid-century-modern aesthetic in appliances and furniture. Pet-friendly rooms are finished with stained concrete floors and step right out into the courtyard.

Recognized as the one of first Cultural Districts designated by Texas, Lubbock celebrates the local art community. From world-class galleries to hands-on, walk-through studios like Charles Adams Studio Project, art lovers peruse exhibits across the city.

On the Texas Tech campus, the second largest public art exhibit on a college campus showcases one of the top 10 public art collections in the nation, recognized by Public Art Magazine. See more than 100 pieces of art scattered throughout the campus.

Deep in the Cultural District, the cornerstone of Lubbock’s downtown revitalization efforts serves as the focal point of the city: The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences. After several years of envisioning a venue that would house acclaimed entertainment performances in a facility designed by internationally recognized Diamond Schmitt Architects, the privately funded, 220,000-square-foot campus opened in January 2021. The venue features