State Fair of Texas | Dallas | Meet Big Tex | 25 Minutes From Rockwall

 State Fair of Texas | Dallas | Meet Big Tex | 25 Minutes From Rockwall

Out & About Rockwall

State Fair of Texas - Dallas!

Only A Few Days Left!

Big Tex Welcomes You to the State Fair of Texas - Dallas!

Have you met Big Tex?  Big Tex is well known to anyone who has attended the Texas State Fair in Dallas since 1952.  Big Tex is always there, always meeting & greeting visitors.

Here's a bit of history.  Big Tex actually started off as Santa Clause.  Following the war the Chamber of Commerce in a small Texas town was trying to come up with something that would encourage people to shop in Kerens, Texas rather than going to nearby Corsicana or going 75 miles north to Dallas.

These forward thinking Chamber of Commerce members built what they claimed to be the world's largest Santa Clause.

The Wikipedia free encyclopedia has a wealth of information about the State Fair of Texas in Dallas and Big Tex and this photo came from them.  

• 49 feet tall
• Constructed from iron pipe drill casing & papier mache
• 7 foot lengths of rope for his beard

Kerens enjoyed a big success but community support waned and in 1951, the State Fair President, R. L. Thornton purchased all the parts of Santa for $750 and hired a Dallas artist, Jack Bridges, to turn poor old Santa into a giant cowboy. Here's the facts regarding Big Tex's Arrival at the Fair.  Be sure to click on this link as it has amazing information about the State Fair of Texas and Big Tex!  You can even hear Big Tex talk when you visit this site.

• Big Tex arrives at Dallas State Fair in 1952
• Size 70 Boots
• 75 Gallon Hat
• 52 Feet Tall
• Denim Jeans & Plaid Shirt - Donated by the H.D. Lee Company denim jeans

The next year a little plastic surgery straightened Big Tex's nose, took a way the wink and gave him a voice.  Ever since Big Tex as towered over the visitors as they enter the State Fair of Texas at Dallas and he loudly greets them. 

Any one visiting the famous fair always remembers and talks about Big Tex.  He has undergone a few wardrobe changes through the years...but he is always there to meet & greet all visitors.

Attending the State Fair of Texas in Dallas is easy when you live in Rockwall County as it is a brief 25 minutes going west on Interstate 30 our of Dallas. Hey, Rockwall friends - send us your photos of your State Fair experience!  Do you have a video of three minutes or less you might want to share?   

Out & About Rockwall is sponsored by Barbara Hensley, Re/MAX Hometown, and is a blog promoting local events, happenings, news and local business establishments....around Lake Ray Hubbard and the surrounding hometowns of Rockwall, Heath, Royse City Fate and Rowlett.