Big Lake Texas, Grand-Daddy of Permian Basin Oil Field, Santa Rita Days Festival

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Wild Game Supper
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Chamber of Commerce
Movie Night
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Excellent Hunting
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Big Lake was the
coaching home
of the real life "Rookie", portrayed by Dennis
Quaid in the 2002
Walt Disney movie.
It is an inspirational
story of the former
Reagan County Owls
Coach, Jim Morris.

Big Lake Texas Chamber of Commerce Santa Rita Days Festival

Big Lake celebrates and hosts the Santa Rita Days Festival each year to commemorate the historic event related to the oil strike that started the Permian Basin Oil Field.

Come join us for a fun day of shopping at the outdoor market, participate in the activities or contests and let the kids play games. Kids certainly enjoy the "Bounce Abouts", "Blow-up Slide", "Rock-wall" climbing, a fun Dunking Booth and much more.

Every year there are always plenty of food vendors and flea market booths located outdoors and inside the community building for an air-conditioned break.

The True Story: The oil rig named Santa Rita #1 was spudded (the equipment setup was completed) shortly before midnight on August 17,1921, on the last day before the 18-month drilling permit was to expire. Progress was slow for driller Carl Cromwell, who also worked as a tool dresser, derrick hand, roustabout, and fireman. Crews, when available, consisted mostly of cowboy roustabouts who disliked the work and were distinguished for high absenteeism and steady turnover.

Twenty-one slow-moving months were required to bring the well to production. There were many delays common to cable-tool drilling at the time. The slowness with which essential materials arrived coupled with limited resources of the Texon Company also caused many delays. On more than one occasion, the well was shut down and the crew laid off because money was not available to pay salaries or buy casing and other needed supplies.

Several months after drilling began, Frank Pickrell climbed to the top of the derrick. He threw out the petals of a rose that a group of Catholic women investors back in New York had given him. He christened the well in the name of the patron Saint of the Impossible ---

Santa Rita

Click here to read about the significance of the rose and Santa Rita.

The lineup is coming together for the