Tex Randall Statue

Once hailed as “Texas’ Biggest Texan,” this roadside attraction still has a leg up on most others—literally. Say howdy to the Tex Randall Statue in Canyon, Texas, one of the Lone Star State’s most iconic roadside stops!

Standing tall at 47 feet and weighing a whopping seven tons, Tex Randall was created in 1959 by William “Harry” Wheeler (1914–1997), a local shop teacher with big dreams. Wheeler built the larger-than-life cowboy from cement and steel to advertise his Corral Curio Shop on US 60. The shop aimed to draw in travelers cruising along nearby Route 66 and gave Wheeler a way to supplement his income. Not long after, a six-room motel joined the roadside ensemble.

Tex wasn’t just big—he was stylish. Outfitted in a real Western shirt, a bandana, oversized Levi’s jeans, and crowned with a classic Stetson hat, he looked every inch the Texas cowboy. To top it off, Tex struck a casual pose, leaning over the shop with one leg up and a giant cigarette pinched between his fingers.

But the cowboy’s glory days were short-lived. When US 60 was rerouted by the Texas Department of Transportation, the steady stream of travelers dried up. Wheeler’s business closed in 1963, and the property changed hands.

With the shop gone, Tex Randall faced a rough rodeo. The harsh Texas panhandle winds shredded his real clothes, someone shot the cigarette from his hand, and a semi-truck took out his left boot. By 1987, the big cowboy looked worse for wear. That’s when a “Save the Cowboy” campaign was launched. Locals rallied to restore Tex, outfitting him with a painted-on outfit and giving him a fresh face and mustache. He even got a new name: Tex Randall, a nod to Randall County.

But Texas weather took a toll on this giant cowboy. By 2010, the statue was faded, cracked, and crumbling. A local businessman tried to buy and move him, but the $50,000 price tag squashed those plans. Fundraising efforts fell short, and Tex seemed destined for the dust.

Luckily, the cowboy wasn’t ready to ride into the sunset just yet. In 2013, the Texas Department of Transportation allocated $300,000 to create a park around Tex Randall, and Canyon’s Main Street Program raised funds to repair the statue. By December 2016, Tex had been fully restored, and in 2017, he was officially named a Canyon landmark.

Tex Randall may no longer be “Texas’ Biggest Texan,” but he’s still a mighty sight to see. Today, that title belongs to the Sam Houston Statue in Huntsville, Texas. At 67 feet tall (with a 10-foot base), the Sam Houston Statue is officially the “world’s tallest statue of an American Hero.”

Even so, Tex Randall stands tall as a symbol of Texas pride, resilience, and roadside nostalgia. So, when you’re in Canyon, taking a Route 66 side trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, tip your hat to this big cowboy.