Imagine walking down Main Street Buffalo Gap in the late 1800s. Instead of parked cars, you’d see horses and wagons lining the road. Instead of modern storefronts, there were wooden buildings with hitching posts and bustling businesses.

At the height of Buffalo Gap’s growth, this street was the heart of town. Businesses like the Red & White Grocery, The Lyon Hotel, and the Buffalo Gap Banking Company served settlers, travelers, and ranchers.

The Red & White Grocery was part of a chain of independently owned food stores operating across the United States and Canada. Established around 1925, these stores allowed small-town grocers to compete with larger chains by providing centralized buying and distribution.

In Buffalo Gap, the Red & White Grocery was more than just a place to buy goods; it was a community hub where neighbors met and shared news. The store’s signature red dot logo became a familiar sight, symbolizing both quality and local enterprise.

Another cornerstone of Main Street was The Lyon Hotel, built in 1910 by W.T. Bull. This two-story structure boasted 14 rooms and quickly gained a reputation for its hospitality and superb chicken dinners. Notably, Governor Dan Moody is said to have had his wedding breakfast there.

In July 1923, the hotel hosted the six-member board responsible for selecting the location of Texas Technological College. Despite Captain Robert Craig Lyon’s hopes, the board chose Lubbock over Buffalo Gap.

The hotel ceased operations before World War II and later served as a boarding house until about 1952. In 1958, Henry Galloway purchased the property and converted it into a residence, a function it still serves today.

The Buffalo Gap Banking Company opened its doors in 1918, following the closure of a predecessor bank. Despite its initial promise, the bank closed in 1923, and its rich furnishings were transferred to a new bank in Bradshaw. These fixtures were returned to Buffalo Gap in 1982 and are now displayed at the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, offering a tangible connection to the town’s financial past.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Buffalo Gap was once a stop for traveling salesmen who set up temporary storefronts right on Main Street? They would sell everything from sewing machines to snake oil remedies!

By the early 1900s, as Abilene grew, Buffalo Gap’s importance as a business hub faded. But standing here today, you can still sense the town’s frontier past.

If you listen closely, you might still hear the echoes of horse hooves and train whistles. Now, let’s head to a more notorious part of town—the site of Buffalo Gap’s infamous 1919 shoot-out