McKelligon Canyon is the location of a 1,503-seat
amphitheater
An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...
located in
El Paso, Texas
El Paso (; "the pass") is a city in and the county seat, seat of El Paso County, Texas, El Paso County in the western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau w ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, where the play ''
Viva El Paso!'' is presented. The amphitheater is also used for
concerts
A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or musical band, band. Concerts are held in a w ...
,
graduation
Graduation is the awarding of a diploma to a student by an educational institution. It may also refer to the ceremony that is associated with it. The date of the graduation ceremony is often called graduation day. The graduation ceremony is a ...
ceremonies, and other special events.
Adjacent is the 300-seat McKelligon Canyon Pavilion.
Description
McKelligon Canyon lies on the south eastern side of the
Franklin Mountains and surrounded by canyon walls. It is a popular destination known for its rock climbing, hiking, running, walking and biking. Visitors have a variety of rock climbing routes to choose from and the symmetric terrain is filled with crevices and cracks. All hiking trails including the Ron Coleman Trail begin at the end of McKelligon Canyon and are open year round. McKelligon Canyon is part of the
Franklin Mountains State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park is a Texas state park in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. Park headquarters are located at an elevation of with the highest peak reaching . It is one of the largest urban parks in the nation lying completely ...
and is subject to fees and restrictions from the
Texas parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state's parks and historical areas. Its mission is to manage ...
.
History
Ownership of the area of McKelligan Canyon was in dispute until
El Paso County purchased the land in 1931. The area was named after
realtor
A real estate agent or real estate broker is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and agen ...
, M.J. McKelligon, who grazed
cattle
Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...
in the area. The long road into the canyon was built using federal relief funds, included a dam, and cost around $150,000.
In the 1950s, it was rumored that
uranium
Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons. Uranium is weak ...
could be found in the canyon, but this turned out to be untrue.
References
Citations
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mckelligon Canyon
Amphitheaters in Texas
Culture of El Paso, Texas
Canyons and gorges of Texas
Buildings and structures in El Paso, Texas
Geography of El Paso, Texas
Tourist attractions in El Paso, Texas
Landforms of El Paso County, Texas