Travel Guide Odessa

Like many towns of its size in West Texas, Odessa was born out of the need for reliable railroad stations to supply the train with water. So Odessa sprang from the ground in the late 19th century. Today, it is a city of almost 115,000 people where unfortunately there is not much to do or see. The crater formed after a meteorite fell in the neighborhood thousands of years ago is touted to visitors as the seventh wonder of the world, but the place is not really worth a visit. Don't offend the locals!Here, the only activity that is worthwhile is oil. The first oil fields were discovered in the Permian Basin in the late 1920s. With the opening of Penn Field in 1929 and Cowden Field in 1930, oil became a major attraction for new residents. Oil and gas activity continues to sustain this town, which without it would probably have disappeared long ago. The only time to be in Odessa is during the first ten days of January, when the Sandhills Tock Show & Rodeo professional rodeo competition is held. A true cowboy town, this rodeo is very spectacular and an opportunity for everyone to experience the most stereotypically Texan cultural facet of the city.