Amarillo is a fascinating place when you first arrive. There's half-buried cars, murals everywhere, and more than a few urban legends. There's even some "secrets" for you to uncover.

Except, Amarillo is really bad at keeping secrets and here are two good examples.

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It Defeats The Purpose If Everyone Knows About A Speakeasy

Take for instance the Paramount Recreation Club. It checks all the boxes for a good old fashioned speakeasy.

It's hidden inside the Barfield Hotel. There are some hoops to jump through to get to it. It has private spaces where you can meet up with your associates. It's classy and serves all the classic cocktails you would expect from a great speakeasy.

It also has a website. Everyone in town knows where it is. There's even instructions out there (very easy to find) on how to access it.

A very nice and classy joint to spend time with friends, and it's a very poorly kept secret.

Tsk. Tsk.

If everyone tells you about a secret place, guess what. It's not a secret.

Super Secret Hidden Underground Amarillo Tunnels We've All Been To

One of the first things anyone mentioned to me when I moved to Amarillo was the hidden underground tunnels. That should have been my first clue that they really aren't that well hidden.

When I was taken to see for myself, I was surprised to find that there were other people making use of the tunnels. They were well lit and maintained. There was even a restaurant. No one tried to stop us from going through them.

Back in 2020, one of the tunnels even featured a "wall of encouragement" when it seemed like the whole world was falling apart at the seams.

Not very secret. Definitely not that hidden.

The Barfield Hotel: At The Heart of Historic Route 66 and Polk Street

The Barfield Hotel was built into a historic building in Downtown Amarillo that shows some of the charm of the Panhandle while remembering the days of speakeasies and prohibition

Downtown Amarillo Over The Years

Downtown Amarillo has seen an incredible metamorphosis. Take a look at the photos below to see just how much it's changed--you won't believe the difference.

Top 25 Things To Do In Amarillo

Here are the best things to do in Amarillo.

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