Gardendale

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Gardendale, up in northern Ector County. Now settle in, because this one's got ranches and oil and pecan trees by the tens of thousands, and a community that just flat refuses to quit. Before 1950, the land out here belonged to a Sherman physician, and folks called it Neathery Ranch.

That's how it stood until the late 1950s, when an Odessa realtor and land developer named Fred Gage, along with his associates, came along and bought up 6,500 acres for development. Six thousand five hundred acres. That is not a small ambition.

The new community caught on quick, drawing people who wanted a rural environment but still wanted neighbors close enough to borrow a cup of sugar from. And those people didn't just move in and sit quiet. The Gardendale Community Association has been active since 1970, and they got to work securing a community center, a fire department, park improvements, a horse arena, and other recreational spaces.

An annual fundraiser keeps the whole thing going to this day, funding community projects and organizations. Now here's where the story gets genuinely impressive. During the 1970s and 1980s, Gardendale built itself into pecan country in a serious way.

We're talking almost 80,000 pecan trees. The local pecan processing facility played a significant role in Texas ranking as the second-largest producer of pecans in 1978. Second largest in the whole state, and Gardendale had a hand in that.

In the 1980s, the area also became home to several vineyards, including one of the only table grape vineyards in the entire state of Texas. Horse ranches, oil production, pecan orchards, and wine grapes, all out here in northern Ector County. But West Texas has a way of reminding you who's really in charge, and drought and harsh weather conditions hit both of those agricultural industries hard, despite the area's proximity to a ground water source known as the Midland Draw.

Drought concerns eventually pushed the community to act. The Greater Gardendale Water Supply Corp. formed in 2000 to deliver reliable water to its residents. Because out here, you don't wait around hoping for rain.

You organize. Gardendale is also home to a 120-acre Odessa College Rodeo and Agricultural Graham Center, and the Odessa College Rodeo Team has earned national recognition. The citizens of Gardendale are still honoring their agricultural heritage and traditions, same as they always have.

Horse ranches. Pecan orchards. Oil in the ground.

A community that built something real out of 6,500 acres and kept building. That's Gardendale.

What the marker says

Located in northern Ector County, Gardendale is an area known for horse ranches, oil production and pecan orchards. Prior to 1950, the area was owned by a Sherman physician and called Neathery Ranch. In the late 1950s, Odessa realtor and land developer Fred Gage and his associates purchased 6,500 acres of land for development. The new community quickly became an attractive option for people seeking a rural environment. The Gardendale Community Association, active since 1970, helped secure a community center and a fire department, along with other community enhancements such as park improvements, a horse arena and other recreational spaces. An annual fundraiser continues to fund community projects and organizations. During the 1970s and 1980s, Gardendale became known for its large pecan orchards, boasting almost 80,000 pecan trees. The local pecan processing facility played a significant role in Texas' rank as the second-largest producer of pecans in 1978. In the 1980s, Gardendale was home to several vineyards, including one of the only table grape vineyards in the state. Drought and harsh weather conditions affected both agricultural industries, despite the proximity to a ground water source known as the Midland Draw. Due to drought concerns, the greater Gardendale Water Supply Corp. Formed in 2000 to deliver reliable water to its residents. The area is also home to a 120-acre Odessa College Rodeo and Agricultural Graham Center and the nationally recognized Odessa College Rodeo Team. The citizens of Gardendale continue to honor their agricultural heritage and traditions.