After years of being left without a local state-run mental health facility, the Texas Panhandle is finally seeing progress. On Tuesday, June 10 at 10 a.m., crews will officially break ground on the new Panhandle State Hospital, located at 6610 W. Amarillo Blvd. The ceremony, open to the public, will include remarks from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland)—two key figures in bringing this project to life.
According to Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner, the project’s roots go back to a conversation in 2022, when Patrick and Sparks were campaigning and hosted a brunch for area county judges and sheriffs. When they asked the crowd what the region needed, Tanner didn’t hesitate.
“I said, ‘We need a state hospital.’ And [Patrick] goes, ‘You don’t have one?’” she recalled.
That moment sparked a movement.
Why It Matters
As of now, the Texas Panhandle lacks a state-run psychiatric hospital, forcing patients with serious mental illness—often those found incompetent to stand trial—to be transported hours away to Wichita Falls, Vernon, or even Houston. The strain on law enforcement, health care workers, and families has been immense.
Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas noted last year that some inmates had been sitting in jail for two years or more, waiting for a hospital bed. "The Panhandle itself is being left out," he said. "We’ve got sheriffs from up here driving all the way to Houston."
The new facility will provide 75 beds, including 50 forensic beds designated for individuals involved in the criminal justice system who need mental health evaluation or treatment. It's a long-overdue solution for a region that has felt overlooked when it comes to behavioral health infrastructure.
A $159 Million Investment in Amarillo’s Future
The Panhandle State Hospital is part of a larger $1.5 billion investment in mental health infrastructure across Texas, funded by the Legislature in 2023 and managed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
Gov. Greg Abbott praised the initiative, saying, “These new state hospital projects will help ensure that Texans experiencing a mental health issue have access to mental health professionals and high-quality treatments to address their needs.”
Locally, the impact will be significant. The hospital is expected to create 300 to 400 jobs, from clinicians and nurses to support staff. West Texas A&M University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences is already working to prepare a new generation of trained professionals to meet the demand.
A Regional Win—Years in the Making
Tanner recalled hearing the news not from a formal announcement, but from her son, who lives in Dallas and caught Lt. Gov. Patrick’s mention of the hospital in a speech on the news. “He goes, ‘Mom, I’m watching the news. You got your hospital.’”
The moment was more than just personal validation—it was a turning point for a community long underserved.
Looking Ahead
Construction on the Panhandle State Hospital is expected to be completed in 2027, but the June 10 groundbreaking represents more than just the start of a building project. It’s a symbol of progress, persistence, and practical change—a recognition that the Panhandle deserves the same access to critical mental health care as the rest of Texas.
For anyone in the region who has struggled to find treatment, waited too long for help, or felt the burden of distance, this groundbreaking is more than ceremonial—it’s transformative.
%20(1).jpg)
