Plan Your Day in Lucy Park

Wichita Falls, Texas, has a rich history with diverse culture. There are various types of restaurants offering all sorts of cultural cuisines, including Chinese fare. Here are some of our favorites. We hope you'll like them too and that you'll want to return for more. more China Star China Star is one of the best local Chinese restaurants in Wichita Falls, and it's located right along Central East Freeway. It has a broad menu with appetizers, soups, vegetables, noodles, platters, and family dinners. China Star also provides a variety of meat options, including chicken, seafood, pork, and beef. If you'd rather get a variety of everything, they also have a buffet that's guaranteed to fill you up. The restaurant also provides food delivery, so you can order your favorite dishes and relax at home while you wait for your food to arrive. If you dine in the restaurant, you'll enjoy the pleasant, relaxing atmosphere and attractive decor. Customers rate China Star highly online and praise the restaurant for its friendly staff and reasonable prices.  They also offer military and senior discounts. China Star is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturdays. Qiu's Chinese Buffet Image via Flickr by matsuyuki Qiu's Chinese Buffet offers a wide variety of menu choices for Chinese food. You can order soup, appetizers, pork, seafood, poultry, noodles and rice, beef, vegetables, and other delicious combinations. The restaurant is located along Perlie Drive between Pizza Hut and Domino's Pizza. Qiu's Chinese Buffet also offers delivery and takeout. The restaurant is open every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. except on Mondays. Customers often share that they especially love the friendly service here. Lite Pan Lite Pan is along Sheppard Road in Burkburnett, just a 15-minute drive from Wichita Falls. Lite Pan's specialties include tasty dishes such as sesame shrimp and lemon chicken. The restaurant also serves a variety of meat bowls, including a teriyaki chicken bowl with either dark meat or white meat. Customers have especially praised the dark meat and also have shared their love of Lite Pan's noodle dishes and soups. Lite Pan is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. You can get takeout if you're in a hurry or just want to enjoy your meal at home. Hunan Hunan is on Maplewood Avenue, near Kemp Boulevard and Southwest Parkway, in Wichita Falls. The restaurant serves a wide variety of Chinese and other Asian foods. Some of the most popular Chinese dishes include shrimp soup, sesame chicken, and crab legs. Many visitors also have enjoyed the restaurant's tea and doughnuts. Hunan offers takeaway and delivery services as well as indoor dining. The restaurant is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Kung Fu Kitchen Image via Flickr by stupid_systemus Kung Fu Kitchen is on Kemp Boulevard. It offers various Chinese and other Asian dishes, and customers especially love the fried wontons, shrimp fried rice, chicken lo mein, and sesame chicken. The menu also has multiple vegetarian options. Kung Fu Kitchen offers takeout and delivery services. The restaurant is open every day except Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Asian Kitchen Asian Kitchen is a restaurant that offers pan-Asian Chinese and Taiwanese foods. It's along Fairway Boulevard near Kell West Boulevard. Some of the popular Chinese dishes at Asian Kitchen are hot and sour soup and Hunan beef, chicken, and pork dishes. Asian Kitchen is open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Grand Buffet Grand Buffet is also along Kemp Boulevard. You can choose from Chinese, Japanese, and Southeastern Asian cuisine, including a wide variety of sushi and seafood. Grand Buffet also offers ice cream, a variety of wines, and coffee. Customers say the restaurant has friendly staff, excellent service, and affordable prices. You can get takeout from the buffet if you want to eat at home. If you don't want the full buffet, you can still order dishes like the moo goo gai pan, Szechuan chicken or beef, or lo mein. The restaurant opens every day at 11 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. on Sunday, 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Taste of China Taste of China is a food truck that sells Chinese food next to Bottle Mart Kemp Boulevard. The food truck offers a variety of Chinese dishes and meals. Popular combos include broccoli beef, orange chicken, and General Tso's chicken, which come with fried rice and and an egg roll. You can also get soup, appetizers, and more. Taste of China is known for fresh food, large portions, and affordable prices. However, you can only enjoy the dishes three days a week, so plan ahead. The food truck is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., so you'll have a place to go for some quick and delicious Chinese street food when you're out and about on weekends. It's a great place to go before or after local events. Tommy's Donuts Tommy's Donuts is along Iowa Park Road and is perfect for those who want a bit of everything. Sure, you can find delicious pastries like doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and bear claws. You can also find breakfast sandwiches on croissants or even breakfast tacos. But you can also get Chinese restaurant favorites like chicken fried rice, shrimp fried rice, and egg rolls. Need a quick pick-me-up? You can also grab a cappuccino or French vanilla latte while you're here. Tommy's Donuts is open from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. So what did you think of our list? Here at Herb Easley Chevrolet, we may have our own favorite Chinese restaurants in Wichita Falls, but you might love some others that we haven't tried yet. If we missed your favorite, please let us know; we'll be sure to update the list.

Local happenings are a terrific way to get involved with your community. These festivals offer an ideal occasion to join friends and neighbors around town any time of year. Let's go over a few of the top upcoming events near Wichita Falls, Texas. Beers N Gears 2021 Image via Flickr by nigejones Lone Star Muscle Cars and Wichita Falls Brewing Company team up to bring you "Beers N Gears." Enjoy an afternoon downtown filled with wheels and suds. There's a car show, cruise, and more on May 8, 2021. The entry fee is just $20, and all proceeds benefit local charities. more Get your new car at Herb Easley Chevrolet just in time to enter it in the contest. Whether you pick up a new mid-engine 'Vette or you've got a '65 Chevelle hiding in your garage, it'll be a top contender for best-in-show. Stop by and catch a glimpse of some stunning classics, muscle cars, and rat rods, and help support your local community. Nature Ranger Camp Sign up the kiddos for the Nature Ranger Camp at the River Bend Nature Center. It's the perfect chance for young outdoor enthusiasts to get up close and personal with science and nature. Campers get together June 7 through 11, 2021, to make crafts, explore the pond, and discover the center's many trails and exhibits. Camp is an ideal way to keep children engaged over the summer break, and River Bend encourages parents to let kids as young as four years of age participate. Registration fills up fast, so sign up today and tell your kids to grab their hiking shoes and bug spray and get ready. Mindful Money Get a handle on your finances with Mindful Money. This free webinar, hosted by Personal Money Planning, is scheduled for June 30, 2021. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and discover a variety of ways to navigate financial topics mindfully. Leave this one-hour event armed with tools that you can put into action right away. Shifting the way you think about money is often the first step in developing wealth. Personal Money Planning is a local financial preparation and investment advisory firm that hosts these educational seminars on the last Wednesday of the month. Bring your sense of humor and an open mind and preregister for this valuable event. Fourth of July Celebration Commemorate Independence Day in Wichita Falls with an old-fashioned "Most Patriotic Parade." Gather on Bluff Street for the occasion. Take your place in the cakewalk or let the kiddos get their faces painted. There's plenty of food and festivities, thanks to the members of the Wichita County Heritage Society. Bird Walk at Lake Arrowhead State Park The rangers at Arrowhead State Park invite bird lovers to visit the center for a bird walk on July 10. This reoccurring event is ideal for exploring this spectacular Texas state park located on Park Road 63. The Rolling Plains Chapter Texas Master Naturalist is sponsoring this event, and it's open to everyone, whether you're a novice or an experienced ornithologist. The path runs approximately a mile over reasonably level terrain. Expect to stick to a slow, meandering pace so guides have time to spot birds, and guests can take the opportunity to photograph specimens. The entire event takes about 90 minutes. Children are welcome, and park entry fees do apply. DigiMarCon America 2021 If you're interested in digital marketing, put the Digital Marketing, Media, and Advertising Conference on your calendar. This sixth annual event occurs on July 21 and 22, 2021. It's an excellent destination for professionals and students in the digital marketing, media, and advertising industries. Stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital world and sign up today. The cost to attend this world-class event is $147, and you'll get to: Hear from expert and thought-provoking speakers. Gain insight into emerging strategies. Discover the latest innovative technologies. Learn best practices to move your career or your business to the next level. Network with leaders and peers. Hotter'N Hell Hundred The Hotter'N Hell 100 is now celebrating its 40th consecutive year. It's a three-day-long bike race, plus a variety of bike-centric events. The occasion kicks off on August 26, 2021, with the racers lining up on August 28. Participate in the 100-mile endurance ride, the mountain bike race, the 13.1-mile off-road trail run, or one of three gravel grinds, including 25 or 40 miles, and the 100K route. Registration for this event is open now for both the live and virtual options. Feel free to "double-dip" and do both. There will be a spaghetti dinner, a breakfast buffet, and entertainment at the Finish Line Village. Texas Ranch Roundup Gather round the chuck wagon on July 16 and 17, 2021, for the Texas Ranch Roundup. This event is your chance to catch working cowboy demonstrations and a nightly rodeo. This original ranch exposition is one unique area event you don't want to miss this summer. There's even a cowboy church service and loads of Wild West-inspired activities for the kids. There's a cooking contest and a tradeshow that features a mix of traditional leatherworkers and Western collectibles, plus various clothing vendors. It all takes place at the Kay Yeager Coliseum to celebrate the rough and tumble history of Wichita Falls. Texas-Oklahoma Fair Hit the midway for challenging games, thrilling rides, livestock shows, and marvel at the exotic animals at this downhome country fair. Catch a hilarious stage show, educational exhibits, contests, and delicious carnival food at the Texas/Oklahoma Fair. Founder Lions Club's sponsor has tentatively scheduled this annual event for September 14 through 18, 2021. Feel free to set one foot on each side of the Texas-Oklahoma border so you can say you've been in two states at once at this annual festival. There you have it! This list of exciting local activities was brought to you by the friendly car folks over at Herb Easley Chevrolet. What are some of your favorite Wichita Falls events? Let us know so we can add them to our list and share them with other Texans.

Image via Flickr by roy.luck | Licensed by CC BY 2.0 Did you know Wichita Falls, Texas, inspired the 1940 movie ''Boom Town'' starring Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy? In fact, the city's rich history is so colorful it could rival the antics of any frontier town from a famous Hollywood movie. Flashback to the late 1800s and the plot of land just shy of the 100th meridian was home to nothing more than washed-out shanties and dusty farmland. That is until the railroad began laying tracks and everything changed. more Today, Wichita Falls is a thriving market center with a population of more than 100,000. On top of that, the vibrant city is located just miles from Sheppard Air Force Base, which boasts the largest U.S. Air Force technical training wing as well as the multinational Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT). So how did Wichita Falls go from a two-bit town to the bustling business hub and military center it is today? Take a journey back in time to learn more about the colorful history of Wichita Falls. Native Americans Settle the Area In the mid-1700s, Caddoan Native Americans migrated to the land now known as Wichita County from present-day Kansas and Nebraska. They began to establish communities in the area and farm the land. However, the Caddoans often found themselves in heated conflicts with Apache and Comanche tribes who had previously claimed the land as their own. Settlers typically avoided the area as a result. After federal troops forced Native Americans onto reserve lands north of the Red River around the mid-1800s, others began to explore the area. Early Pioneers Arrive Between the late 1700s and mid-1800s, European explorers visited the area that now makes up Wichita County. Athanase de Mézières, Pedro Vial, and José Mares were some of the first people to leave their mark on the land. By the 1830s, soldiers who fought in the Texas Revolution began receiving land grants to permanently settle in the area. However, it wasn't until 1855 that someone actually did. Mabel Gilbert built a house on a bluff above the Red River just 10 miles north of present-day Wichita Falls. Three years later, the Texas government created Wichita County, but it wasn't until the 1870s that most pioneers began to arrive. A Legend Begins According to legend, John A. Scott won the deed to the plot of land where Wichita Falls now sits during a poker game in 1837. The truth is that he purchased the land and promptly forgot about it. It wasn't until after he died that his heirs discovered the deed and decided to dig a bit deeper. They hired M. W. Seeley to come up with a plan for developing a city in the area. The year was 1876, and a small community had already started to form. Finally, in September 1882, Wichita Falls was officially founded with the arrival of the first Fort Worth and Denver City Railway train. At the time, it was nothing more than a shantytown. Once the railroad extended its lines into the area, it became easier for cattle ranchers and corn farmers to get their goods to market. People soon flocked to the area, and the city began growing over the next several decades. You'll find well-preserved reminders of the past all over Wichita Falls. The Hamilton Building and La Salle Crossing Apartments are just a few of the historic buildings that remain from this time. Kemp and Kell Take Charge Joseph A. Kemp and his brother-in-law, Frank Kell, were largely responsible for putting Wichita Falls on the map. Kemp arrived in 1883 and opened a general store. Kell moved to the area about 13 years later after purchasing the Wichita Valley Mills Company, which is now known as Attebury Grain. Between 1884 and 1911, they worked tirelessly to promote the growth of their city. Most notably, they brought three more rail lines into the fold. Now, ranchers could ship their goods to Fort Worth and other outlets across the nation. It wasn't long before the city began to grow. Thanks to the efforts of Kemp and Kell, Wichita Falls quickly became a major transportation and distribution center for the entire region. The Route Building at 503 Eighth Street stands today as a reminder of the railroad's influence on the early beginnings of Wichita Falls. Originally constructed in 1909 by Kemp and Kell to house their offices, the building also served as a rail depot. Kemp and Kell had their hands in all kinds of businesses, from food processing to retail and banking to oil. Undoubtedly, Wichita Falls wouldn't be the flourishing center it is today without their contributions. Other reminders of Kemp and Kell's legacy include the Kell House Museum, the Kemp Center for the Arts, which was originally a public library Kemp bought for his wife as a Christmas gift, and the Kemp-Kell Building, which is now known as the Holt Hotel. Texas Tea Leads to a Boom After the discovery of oil in nearby Burkburnett, Texas, in 1918, Wichita Falls exploded with activity. People hungry to get rich off Texas tea quickly made their way to Wichita Falls. Businesses popped up overnight as a way to support the fast-growing population. For years to come, oil played a major role in the city's success. Key oil producers included the companies now known as Texaco, Gulf, and Mobile Oil. Today, you can learn more about the rich history of Wichita Falls with a visit to one of the many historic museums, neighborhoods, and sites found all over the city. One of the most popular sites includes the former City National Bank where a bank robbery once took place. Another is the farmers market. It serves as a modern adaptation of the Union Station building that once stood in the same spot. At Herb Easley Chevrolet, we love learning about the vibrant past of Wichita Falls and wanted to share some of our knowledge with you. Did you find our profile on this historic city interesting? Did we miss any details — a legendary tale locals love to tell about a colorful character or a favorite building? If we did, let us know! Drop us a line, and we'll be sure to add it to our list.