The Haunted History of Amarillo’s Former Grocery Store Turned Farm Supply

It's officially spooky season in the Texas panhandle. All of the Halloween decorations, costumes, and candy are on display in stores across town. It's a special time of year, and it's one that usually brings up the topic of haunted locations in Amarillo. According to an online database, there's a former grocery store turned farm supply store that has plenty of things going bump in the night.

The Legend Of The Haunted Farm Supply Store

It honestly wouldn't make sense if we didn't have a haunted farm supply store. It's the Texas panhandle for crying out loud. You could say the words haunted farm supply store in Amarillo, and my first thought would be, "Checks out". While a haunted farm supply store may feel painfully obvious in the Texas panhandle, it's the rest of the story that's interesting.

Supposedly, before Gebo's was Gebo's it was a Bonanza Supermarket. The catalyst for the haunting, according to the lore, happened in the '80s. The legend goes that a guy was working in the meat department of the Bonanza Supermarket. While the details are few and far between, supposedly this guy in the meat department was murdered. Ever since, he has haunted his former place of employment.

Is Gebo's In Amarillo Really Haunted?

It's a fair question to ask. Let's break down what we know. First, the supposed haunting is your basic kind of ghost story. The murdered employee returned to his place of employment and would wait until the cover of the night to get up to some supernatural shenanigans. According to legend, he's prone to moving things around.

How bad would it suck to die and then be stuck at work for the rest of eternity? If this building is haunted, I honestly can't blame the ghost. If I were stuck at work in the afterlife, I'd pass the time playing with the intercom, moving things around, and maybe learning to juggle in the produce aisle. Now that it's a farm supply store I'd sit on a lawn mower and make engine noises like a toddler. Maybe learn to juggle hedge trimmers or something. You could make a steel drum out of a horse tank and learn to play calypso.

There isn't much to corroborate the claims that the store is haunted, but that's not stopping it from landing in the online database of haunted places. Have you ever experienced anything there?

The Eerie Abandoned Puckett Place Apartments of Amarillo

The Puckett Place apartments at 3447 Amherst St. have been a vacant and in disrepair for well over a decade. The building has finally been slated for renovation and at long last, Puckett Place will see a new life.

In the meantime, here's a glimpse at the strange and derelict beauty that is the abandoned Puckett Place.

Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark

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.

Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark