The park hosted the 34th annual Amarillo Sand Drags, an event for off-road vehicle enthusiasts, over the period from Friday, February 23rd, to Sunday, February 25th. Agents from the Amarillo District Office of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, and BLM rangers assisted park rangers in management of the event, held in the Rosita Flats area bordering the Canadian River. The event is on both federal and state lands, mandating a federal-state partnership in enforcing laws. During the event, organized each year by the West Texas Outlaws Off-Road Club, ORV and ATV riders descend on the Canadian River bottom for fun in the sand and river waters. As with any event of this nature, alcoholic beverages were readily available and violations common. About 25,000 people attended this year’s gathering. While the crowds were large, most of the participants were well-behaved and manageable. There were no major incidents and only one medical emergency requiring a medevac flight.
