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Stonehenge Replica - Located on the
University of Texas of the Permian Basin - Odessa, Texas
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"Only in Odessa ..."
Well Odessa has done it again. They have yet another
"Replica" that seems a bit out of place. In June of 2004
a group of citizens were completing a dream they had for awhile.
About 20 stone blocks — replicas of the ancient megalith in southwest
England — were placed on carefully laid foundations on the northeast
side of the The University of Texas of the Permian Basin campus.
The stone was donated by TexaStone of Garden City, Texas
Although the Stonehenge replica is horizontally the same as the
original it is a few few feet shy vertically. The tallest stone on
the original being 22 feet and the tallest stone in this replica being
19 feet. As one Stonehenge coordinator said, "The stones are
free, you take what you can get."
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The Odessans on the Street
Here are a few quotes from the locals watching on from the Home Depot
across the street from the construction site:
“Anytime you see something other than a pump jack in Odessa,
you’re increasing your culture.”
“I think it’s incredible, This is really going to be something to
see in Odessa..”
“It’s going to be a really good deal."
“There’ll be people coming onto campus, people pulling off I-20
to see something like this. If they come off to see Stonehenge,
they might go visit the museums, might go have lunch and might find a
whole bunch of other wonderful things to do in Odessa.”
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Why?
My secret sources in Odessa, and I have many,
tell me that it all has to do with a High School Football game.
That is the annual cross-town rivalry game between the Odessa
High Bronchos and the Odessa Permian Panthers.
(Yes! there are two High Schools in Odessa) Just as the sunsets
beneath the press box at Ratliff Stadium
a few miles away, the shadow of the press box focuses through the stones
on the western quadrant of the Stonehenge, if the shadow appears on the
inside face of the stone on the eastern quadrant, Permian wins, if not
Odessa wins. It seems the
earth has to wobble a bit on its axis for Odessa High to win, but it
happens occasionally. |
If you squint your eyes
and gaze through the “Stonehenge” formation you can see, a Texas
flag, a car dealer, a Pizza Hut, a baseball field, and a Home Depot. |
