People from the Amarillo area and across the nation love the Palo Duro Canyon. Many public activities have been held along the northern Palo Duro Canyon over the years.
In the 1930s, dances were held in Devil's Kitchen, a famous cave at the head of the North Palo Duro Canyon near the Great Falls.
In 1933, the Palo Duro Canyon State Park was formed, officially opening to the public in 1934. In 1950, the western, The Sundowners, was filmed along the North Palo Duro Canyon.
And in recent years, we had the Michael Martin Murphey Cattle Drive on the Currie Ranch, pictured left. Several well-known country figures, including singers, Michael Martin Murphey, Red Steagall, Don Edwards, and cowboy poet, Waddie Mitchell, entertained us all. Boy, did we have a good time! We now call the point where everyone camped, Michael Martin Murphey point.
A beautiful housing development along the far canyon rim, River Falls, now has a direct view of this area.
This point, unbelievably, is one of Sharyland's proposed line paths for the 345kV transmission line. (See Link V on Maps of Proposed Line Routes.)
Sharyland's other proposed line path crosses an arguably even prettier point. (See Link AA on Maps of Proposed Line Routes.) A neighboring ranch, The Elkins Ranch, now hosts regular cowboy breakfasts and jeep rides with a good view of the Link AA point.
If a high-voltage transmission line is placed across either of these points, the landowners, residents and their guests will never enjoy the canyon views again. Also, given that most public activities along the canyon rim are dependent on the canyon's unique and extraordinary views, there will be a permanent and tragic loss of future public events and enjoyment on all of the property where the lines and towers are visible.
