Located just twenty miles east of Midland, Stanton, Texas is a small-town hovering around 3,000 residents. The town dates back to 1881. If you’re looking for something different away from the congested oil cities of Midland and Odessa, Stanton is a great place to enjoy a slice of small-town life.
I lived in the small town from early childhood until I was thirteen and while these days I prefer tall trees and abundant lakes, the semi-arid area still has its own place in my heart. When I lived there, the town had a sign that states the home of 2,000 residents. I always wondered if they counted the rattlesnakes or something in that figure. However, with the oil boom hitting West Texas, the town has grown upwards of 3,000 and now sports two hotels on land that used to be wide-open cotton fields.

After attending a family reunion in Big Spring (20-miles east of Stanton), we decided to take a detour back to Stanton. It was still 109°F at 8:00 p.m., so we did not spend much time getting out of the car. What’s interesting is that the weather isn’t new; we’ve just become declimatized by living up North for a while. However, the dry heat is more tolerable than 90°F with humidity. If you stand in the shade, it really isn’t that bad.
Here are eight places that you can stop at for something to do in Stanton. Just don’t do it too late at night; everything was pretty much closed except for the parks. Also, bring a hat or an umbrella to keep the sun off your head. Keep your head covered and the dry heat won’t bother you nearly as bad.
Shelbourne Park
408 W 5th St., Stanton, TX 79782


Howard Jenkins Memorial Space Park
700 St Boniface St, Stanton, TX 79782

Carmelite Monastery (aka The Stanton Convent)
200 Carpenter St, Stanton, TX 79782

Martin County Community Center
301 St Theresa St, Stanton, TX 79782

Martin County Historical Museum
207 Broadway St, Stanton, TX 79782

Martin County Courthouse / Old Jail
300 Saint Joseph St, Stanton, TX 79782

Stanton Drug Store & Historic Downtown
201 N Saint Peter St, Stanton, TX 79782

Tommy Walker Memorial Park
301 St Joseph St, Stanton, TX 79782

Seasonal Activities in Stanton
Old Sorehead Trade Days gathers vendors from all over Texas and the Southwest three times a year. This event draws crowds of over 30,000 and shuts down the entire downtown area. The next trade day will be October 13-14, 2018.

During the summer months, the Old Settlers Reunion is also a fun activity. A downtown parade is followed by games, programs, and a dance at the community center.
Gas tip. If you need to get gas, get it in Midland or Big Spring. The prices in Stanton are around $0.20 more than the larger towns.
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