Not too long ago, I found myself taking a drive out to Pampa, Texas last night. You know, just one of those "why the heck not?" impulses to just hit the road. I mean really, why the heck not? Pampa is less than an hour away, I had never been there, and I had nothing else to do.

I arrived. I found the place to be full of that small-town charm. I had myself a nice time exploring. But before I left, I found myself staring down a local legend at the corner of Somerville and Francis.

Worley Hospital.

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The Worley Hospital

Michael J. Rivera
Michael J. Rivera/TSM
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At first glance, you can see what this building used to be. The detail work on the front tells me that time and effort was put into the design. I bet that when it opened in 1928 it must have been quite the event.

Worley Hospital was the vision of Phoebe Worley, who thought that the citizens of Pampa should have their own hospital instead of making the drive to Amarillo. The hospital served Pampa for decades before revenue shortages forced its closure in the 1970s. The beautiful building has been empty ever since--minus the occasional trespasser, pigeon and rodent occupants.

So Is It Haunted?

Michael J. Rivera/TSM
Michael J. Rivera/TSM
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I'm not the expert on hauntings and the spirit world but there is just a general feeling of uneasiness you can feel just being on the grounds outside. And before you ask, no I didn't go in.

Honestly, buildings like this that have been abandoned this long are generally off my list of places to explore. Looking into the windows, you see just what one would expect: a building that has been abandoned for 40 years in a state of decay.

A few folks have been inside to check it out

Michael J. Rivera
Michael J. Rivera
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A few years back one of our former on air hosts here in the building checked the place out even going so far as to do a live broadcast. While there were some unexplained events that occurred, nothing definitive was found.

The Ghost Hunters were also able to visit the location a few years ago Mustafa Gatollori even spoke about the Season 1 episode earlier this year

There is no doubt that one of the current owners, Carol Peet, would like to put the "haunted" gossip surrounding the Worley to rest. Since acquiring the historic building in 2002, she has consistently stated that she has been in the building numerous times with no incidents.

Peet has grand plans for the revival of the Worley. Not as a hospital, but as a ministry center with the purpose of helping vulnerable individuals learn life skills. Peet has pushed for the ministry center for years, stymied by funding issues. So, for now the Worley Hospital building sprawls along the landscape in eternal silence, its secrets and spirits shimmering with life within.

Need more abandoned locations in the Panhandle in your life? scroll on!

The Abandoned St. Anthony's Hospital on Amarillo Boulevard


The 119-year-old abandoned hospital is a fascinating place for any who are lucky enough to be granted the chance to explore.

The sprawling building saw thousands of Amarillo's citizens inside its halls daily, all the the way until it was shuttered in 2001. But there are still incredible artifacts of the all-too-recent past tucked away in the nooks and crannies of the old St. Anthony.

The explorer who took these photographs gave the following information:

"Many rooms were left untouched, we found patient files, old prescriptions, a blood transfusion machine from the 60s, and microscopic slides of breast cancer from the 70s and 80s. I put one picture in here of some heart scans so you can see the dates and diagnosis of the patient, but marked out the patient’s names of course. During a time when mental illness was not understood, 76 exorcisms were documented to have been performed between 1909 and 1931."

Take a look inside the halls of the legendary abandoned St. Anthony's hospital

The Abandoned Herring Hotel in Amarillo, Texas

You may have passed it a million times while driving downtown, or you may be new to town. Either way, chances are you've seen the beautiful Herring Hotel. The beautiful aging brick tower sits unoccupied on 3rd and Pearce streets. It's a grand building that stands as a reminder of Amarillo's early days as a cattle and oil town and it tells the stories well.

If you've ever wondered what's inside this towering building, just take a peek below.

Ranchotel: The Forgotten Landmark of Old Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas

The Ranchotel, located at 2501 W. 6th St., is a product of Route 66's heyday.

When Americans first began long-distance automotive travel, they typically stayed in hotels or camped beside the road. In response, clever entrepreneurs began to build what were called tourist courts. The Ranchotel is one of these.

It was built in 1940 and until recently, it was considered one of the best preserved examples of Route 66's tourist facilities. It was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and was well maintained until 2020.

Even now, in spite of the building's fading beauty, there is still the nostalgic air held by many a historic landmark.

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