A Texas Man Built A 190-Foot Cross Beside The Highway And Created A Roadside Landmark
Somebody once looked at a pile of steel meant for oil rig masts and decided it should become a cross taller than a 19-story building.
Then he actually did it, right beside a busy Texas interstate. Let’s narrow that down.
The builder was an oil and gas engineer, and over 100 welders spent eight months bringing his idea to life.
Those welders weren’t building a church or a tower, either. They were building a white steel landmark meant to be seen from the highway.
Now we’re getting specific. The finished cross stands 190 feet tall, and that number was no accident.
Going over 200 feet would have meant adding blinking lights for airplanes.
How do you top a giant cross? You keep reading the grounds around it.
An Engineer Had A Big Idea And Over 100 Welders To Help
Steve Thomas of Pampa wasn’t a sculptor or an architect. He was an oil and gas engineer, and he built the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries landmark using oil-field expertise.
The idea took shape after his wife showed him a picture of a smaller cross in Central Texas. He wanted an expression of faith beside Interstate 40 that travelers couldn’t miss.
Big dreams need room, though. A local landowner offered ten acres near Groom, giving the project a home along the highway.
Next came the heavy lifting, literally. More than 100 welders worked for eight months in two workshops in Pampa. The frame traveled to Groom in large sections.
The cross finally went up in July 1995. Imagine cranes lifting those enormous sections into position.
Knowing this story changes how the cross looks from the road. Industrial engineering became a symbol of faith. That’s a remarkable amount of planning for a monument glimpsed from a passing car.
Why 190 Feet Was The Smartest Number On The Blueprint
Two hundred feet sounds like a nice round goal. The builder stopped ten feet short on purpose.
Here’s why that matters. Structures exceeding 200 feet generally prompt federal aviation review, which may call for warning lights. Thomas wanted to keep the cross free of those blinking lights.
Don’t think 190 feet means modest, either. That’s roughly the height of a 19-story building.
It’s reported to weigh about 2.5 million pounds. Its crossbeam stretches approximately 110 feet across. White corrugated panels cover a frame inspired by drilling-rig masts.
A substantial reinforced concrete foundation holds the framework steady. Panhandle winds make that unseen part essential.
The original foundation required dozens of trucks delivering concrete in a single coordinated operation. Just imagining that work makes the completed structure seem even more remarkable.
Stand at the base and tilt your head back. Your camera may have trouble fitting it all in.
You Can Spot It Long Before Your Exit Shows Up
Flat land has one big advantage for a landmark. Nothing gets in the way of the view.
Travelers along Interstate 40 can sometimes spot the enormous white cross from about 20 miles away. It grows from a small shape into something unmistakable.
The cross stands outside Groom, a town in the Texas Panhandle east of Amarillo. Fields and wide sky make the white structure stand out.
Exit 112 provides access, so there’s no need to stop on the highway shoulder. The designated parking area offers space to step back for a photograph, something that matters when you’re trying to fit 190 feet into a single frame.
After dark, the cross is illuminated. Its white surface catches the lighting and remains visible against the plains, giving evening travelers a completely different view.
Morning brings soft shadows, while sunset warms the sculptures below.
The attraction begins before you arrive. The surprises come after you park. From the grounds, the white panels reveal their corrugated texture, and the smaller outdoor sculptures come into view.
That contrast is clearer than it is through a windshield.
Fourteen Bronze Scenes Circle The Base Like A Story In Motion
Most travelers expect one giant cross and nothing else. Walk toward the base, and a whole story starts to unfold around you.
Life-sized bronze sculptures portray the 14 Stations of the Cross. The figures follow moments from Jesus’ story in sequence.
Life-sized is the key word here. You can study the figures’ gestures, clothing, and expressions from close by.
The steel structure catches your eye from afar; the sculptures reward close attention. Scripture passages accompany the scenes. Look at the folds of fabric and the movement suggested by each figure.
Give yourself time for this part. Rushing past fourteen detailed sculptures is like speed-reading a favorite book. You’ll technically finish, but you’ll miss much of the storytelling along the way.
Bring comfortable shoes and a jacket for Panhandle wind. The grounds remain accessible around the clock. There’s no need to complete the circuit quickly.
Each stop invites you to linger.
The Empty Tomb And The Last Supper Bring Big Moments Down To Earth
A stone rolled aside from a small cave entrance isn’t something most roadside stops offer.
The Empty Tomb recreation at the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries includes that detail, along with a bronze angel.
The Resurrection display provides a hopeful conclusion, while its rough stonework contrasts with the towering steel.
Another large installation presents the Last Supper in life-sized bronze. The figures and table can be examined from ground level.
The grounds keep going from there. A bronze St. Michael the Archangel stands nearby. The angel’s pose adds a dramatic counterpoint to the calmer scenes, showing how varied the sculptural collection has become since the main cross was erected.
A Ten Commandments monument features stone identified by the ministry as marble from Mount Sinai. Nearby bronze plaques present passages from the Old and New Testaments.
There’s far more to explore than a quick roadside photograph suggests.
Families can explore the symbols and inscriptions at their own pace. Notice the textures of the clothing and the expressions around the Last Supper table. The details deserve more than a glance.
A Shroud Replica Gives You Something To Ponder
History buffs, this one’s for you. A replica of the Shroud of Turin is displayed at the site.
The original linen cloth is preserved in Turin, Italy. Its origins have inspired centuries of religious interest and scientific debate. The replica shows the famous image and proportions.
An accompanying video explores the cloth’s place in Christian history and culture. After the towering sculptures outside, this display invites a closer look at textiles and imagery.
You might arrive expecting a giant cross and leave thinking about archaeology and faith. The display adds a historical question to a site otherwise known for monumental artwork.
Its quiet atmosphere gives you space to consider the image, its craftsmanship, and the many interpretations that have surrounded it over time.
The Shroud display follows staffed indoor hours, which may vary by season.
Leave time for the video and a quiet look at the replica. For anyone interested in the intersection of belief, historical objects, and scientific questions, this small display adds another layer to the visit.
Step Indoors For Fountains, Film, And Apostle Paintings
Panhandle wind can be fierce. Luckily, the larger visitor building offers a calm break from it.
Inside, the Divine Mercy Fountain creates a peaceful setting for reflection. Water sounds offer a contrast to the open grounds outside.
The Divine Mercy Theater offers a film presentation connected to the cross and its purpose. It’s an introduction to the project behind the landmark.
Art lovers should look for the Divine Mercy Reception Gallery. Paintings of the Apostles by a Texas artist bring color and expression to the room.
The visitor complex also houses a gift shop, restrooms, offices, and a counseling area. The gift shop offers devotional items and souvenirs, while the reception and counseling spaces support quieter visits and group activities.
These paintings bring a softer, more colorful kind of storytelling into a place best known for steel and bronze. It’s a refreshing change after the cross outside.
Indoor hours are limited, so plan around them for the fountain, film, and gallery. Daytime lets you enjoy both parts.
Plan Your Stop On This Classic Route 66 Stretch
Getting there couldn’t be much easier. The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries sits at 112 I-40, Groom, just off Exit 112.
About 40 miles east of Amarillo, the site follows the historic Route 66 corridor, making it an easy addition to a Texas road trip.
Driving something big? There’s parking for cars, RVs, and trucks. It’s convenient for long-distance travelers.
Restrooms are available during visitor-building hours, so daytime is best for indoor amenities. Bring a little water for the outdoor walk, particularly on sunny afternoons when the open Panhandle landscape provides little shelter.
The outdoor grounds are open around the clock. Admission is free, and donations support the ministry.
Explore beyond the base to see how the original cross grew into a much larger campus. Nearby Groom has another roadside curiosity: a deliberately leaning water tower once used to advertise a local truck stop. The two landmarks make a memorable pair.
Before returning to the highway, look up once more. It’s very different from that distant silhouette you first noticed.
