Five Weekend Diversions in Abilene

Hello to all McMurry students! As the spring semester is under way, many of us are looking for places to go outside of campus. For the student who is tired of the same routine of watching streaming services all weekend, the following places may be your next ticket out of boredom-ville.

Do you have a wild side? The Abilene Zoo is the place to be! You can look at a variety of exotic animals ranging from reptiles like the American Alligator to the carnivorous Fossa of Madagascar. You can even feed the giraffes in the Giraffe Safari! The Abilene Zoo is located at 2070 Zoo Ln, Abilene, TX 79602. The zoo opens every day at 9 am and closes at 4 pm. Outside food and drinks are permitted and online adult tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in the following link: https://abilenezoo.org/plan-your-visit-abilene-zoo/.

For a new film-viewing experience, you can watch movie stars underneath the stars at Town and Country Drive-In Theatre. Watch films from the private comfort of your own car; all you need is an FM radio. Although the theatre sells concessions, you can bring your own snacks! This weekend they are playing Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Scream (2022), and Jackass Forever (2022). Located at 2902 Vogel St Abilene, Tx 79603—a mere ten minutes away from campus—Town and Country Drive-In Theatre is open Friday through Sunday with movies starting at 7:30 pm. Adult tickets are $8 each. For additional information click the following link: https://www.towncountrydrivein.com/.

The Skatin Place, with its neon decor and colorful lights, is great when you want to go roller skating with your friends for some groovy, retro fun. If you don’t own skates, don’t worry. They offer regular, inline, and speed skate rentals all for $4 a pair. If you find yourself needing a break from zooming on the rink, don’t forget to bring some extra coins and cash to play arcade games or grab some pizza from the snack bar. The Skatin Place, located at 1930 S. Clack St, is open on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 pm to 10 pm with an entrance fee of $8, and on Saturday nights they offer college students a $1 discount with a valid college ID. They are also open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1 pm – 4 pm with a $7 entrance fee. Need more information? Click the following link: https://www.skatinplaceabilene.com/.

Want a taste of the wild, wild, west? Frontier Texas is the place to be! Visitors can learn about Abilene’s history in eight exhibits. Learn about West Texas history ranging from the culture of the Comanche, the adventures of Texan cowboys, the rough characters of frontier settlements, and more! The museum also includes the Frontier Experience Theatre, where visitors immerse themselves in exciting western adventures like a stampede, a prairie thunderstorm, a saloon brawl, and more! Adult tickets are $10 each. Open hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, with the last theatre showing at 4:30 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm, with its last showing at 3:30 pm. Frontier Texas is located on 625 North First Street. For more information, click this link: http://frontiertexas.com/.

If you’re in the mood for old-fashioned dining, I recommend Larry’s Better Burger Drive-In on 1233 N Treadaway Blvd. From their delicious old-fashioned burgers and fish baskets, to their ice cream and shakes, it’s like comfort on a plate, all within a college student’s budget. What makes it special to Abilenians is its charming atmosphere. Their employees offer great service with a smile. Larry’s Better Burger Drive-In accepts cash only and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm. You won’t want to miss out on this local treat!

School can get overwhelming, so take a break every now and then. Go out and enjoy what the beautiful city of Abilene has to offer! You won’t regret it.