An Ultra High Definition 4K Driving Tour of Wellington, Texas.
Wellington, Texas has a population of about 2,000 people and was founded in 1890. Wellington is the county seat of Collingsworth County, Texas. The courthouse was initially built in 1893, and the current building was built in 1931.
The Collingsworth County courthouse is in the middle of a traditional town square surrounded by red brick roads. A marker from the Ozark Trail still remains in the center of town at the courthouse lawn.
Bonnie and Clyde
Wellington is known for being the location of a high profile news story about the infamous bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde, known as the Barrow Gang.
On June 10, 1933 Clyde Barrow, Bonnie Parker, and W.D. Jones were on the run in their maroon 1933 Ford V-8. In their hurry they did not notice that a construction project had rerouted the road, and they sped straight into the Red River, crashing their car near the home of the Pritchard family.
The family ran to help after the accident, where they encountered men unloading guns from their car while Bonnie was severely injured from burns caused by the car crash. They had no idea that the people in the car were members of the Barrow Gang.
The Pritchard family sent someone into town for assistance while other family members stayed in the house to provide Bonnie with first aid. The Collinsworth County Sheriff and the Wellington City Marshal responded and went to the house, but they were walking into a trap and were ambushed by the gang members.
The gang members tied up the lawmen and took them hostage as they fled across state lines into Oklahoma. The lawmen were left handcuffed and tied to a tree on the side of the road, but were eventually able to escape and get help.
Bonnie and Clyde are believed to have frequented Wellington many times prior to the accident including having eaten at the dining room of the Wellington Hotel. They died less than a year after the crash in a gunfight with the police in Louisiana on May 23, 1934.
What to do in Wellington, Texas?
Learn About Local History
Located right on the town square the Collingsworth County Museum offers local artifacts and information about the history of the town. The museum spans three buildings and has displays about a local ranch, infrastructure, prominent businesses and people from the community, and of course, Bonnie and Clyde.
Get a cup of coffee
Get a front row seat to the town square when you stop in for a cup of coffee at Cowboy Kent Rollin’s Coffee Shop. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere and delicious food while sipping on your favorite type of coffee. Coffee aficionados will not be disappointed by their offerings. The coffee shop has large windows overlooking the county courthouse.
Look at Historic Buildings
Take a stroll around the town square and check out some of the historic buildings. In addition to the courthouse, Wellington has many interesting buildings.
Ritz Theater
The best of the buildings surrounding the courthouse is without a doubt the Ritz Theater with its iconic neon sign. At its grand opening in 1929 the stately theater had state of the art technology for displaying the new talking movies.
The gorgeous theater was an important part of the community for many years, but unfortunately over the decades it was closed and fell into disrepair.
The community of Wellington, Texas was able to come together to save the historic theater. After extensive renovations the Ritz Theater is open to the public and restored to its former glory and is operating as a movie theater. You can see a movie at the Ritz Theater, or enjoy one of the many live performances.
The Old Train Station
Located just a short walk from the town square is the historic railroad station. Although the railroad played a significant role in the growth of Wellington, the train station is no longer in operation. The building is in disrepair, but it is still interesting to see what the train station used to look like.