Moose, Elk, Trout & the Best High School Football Fields in America

by Thomas Smith | Posted on

Table of Contents

What's it like there?

I haven’t visited every football field in America. Only 205.  Yes, 205. That number alone provides you with have ample evidence to suggest I might be a bit crazy and, therefore, question the sanity of my rankings.

You think I’m a bit disturbed?  I have a friend who, as of last weekend, has visited 558 high school fields. I’ll share his favorite six later—and they are worth sticking around for.

By the end of this story, hopefully you’ll have a better understanding of what compels a person to engage in such behavior.

I’m not sure when this affliction began. I only know that when I’m driving through a small town–or a midsized town–or a large town…crap…let me start again. I only know that when I’m driving and see the yellow uprights of goalposts rising above the horizon, peaking through the trees, or lit underneath stadium lights. I’m going to be at least 30 minutes late to my intended destination. 

But why? Medical journals don’t provide the answer.  My team of psychologists are stumped. 

I’m not.  

I know why.

When I walk onto those football fields, aside from taking in the view, I’m thinking “this is where fun has happened in this town.”  This is one place where countless people in International Falls, Minnesota have had fun. This is where people 1,700 miles south in Marfa, Texas have been having fun for decades.  Same thing goes for those who grew up 998 miles east of Marfa in Philadelphia, Mississippi.  That’s what I’m thinking about while walking from one end zone to the next. 

The pictures of goal posts, end zones, trees, grass, concession stands, bleachers, and more represent a tiny portion of where that thing they call “the human condition” has played out in each town. 

These are pictures of those places where the shared experiences, emotions, and challenges that define what it means to be human. It encompasses the joys, sorrows, struggles, and triumphs that arise from our existence as conscious, social, and mortal beings.

“Tom, aren’t you getting a bit too deep here?”

“Nope, just getting started. There’s a snobbish segment of society which tells everyone to move on–that’s just high school–that phase is over. There’s some truth in that but for many, the events which take place on these football fields and nearby baseball fields, hockey rinks, golf courses, and basketball courts are foundational to the futures of the kids playing those games and everyone else on the sidelines.  

“Tom, what are you talking about.” 

“I’m glad you are so interested and want to know more. It’s that social stuff. The human condition. We learn about the big stuff at places like these.

Each of these football fields serve as the local classroom for delivery of those “life lessons” we hear so much about.

Mortality and Meaning: The awareness of our finite lives and the search for purpose or significance in the face of it.

Emotions and Relationships: The complex interplay of love, fear, hope, and connection with others, driving both conflict and cooperation.

Freedom and Responsibility: The ability to make choices, coupled with the weight of their consequences.

Suffering and Resilience: The inevitability of pain, loss, and hardship, alongside the capacity to endure and grow.

Self-Reflection and Growth: The uniquely human ability to introspect, learn, and strive for self-improvement or transcendence.

All of those things happen on these seemingly trivial rectangular recreation areas where kids intentionally collide with each other. 

Most importantly, they also sell hot dogs at these places.”

Why a “Top 27” List?

Why did I do a “Top 27?” instead of a Top 5 or Top 10?  My original intention was a “Top 5” list but while reviewing pictures, I kept asking myself “how can I leave this one or that one out of the final list??  The list kept growing and includes a pair of football fields I’d never visited until the final 24-48 hours before publishing this story. 

I published this on November 3, 2025. A road trip the following weekend from Denver to Tucumcari, New Mexico, to Amarillo and Canadian, Texas then back to Colorado resulted in updates to the list. I suspect additional updates in forthcoming years. 

BONUS PICTURES and RANKINGS:  I’ve become friends with a guy who puts my work to shame.  We first crossed paths on “X” then met in Arlington, Texas in December of 2024 during the Texas High School Football State Championships.

He’s a bit mysterious.  I’m OK with that.  On X, he goes by the name “Sykotyk.” I can relate.

As of 10/26/2025, he’s visited 558 unique high school football fields to see games being played!  Yes, 558–and countless more when no game was being played.

I’ll share pictures of his favorite six fields at the end of this story. He’s a brilliant photographer. After reviewing his vast library of pictures on his Flickr page, I’ve certainly updated my bucket list of future destinations to visit. 

I’ve also included a “Top 5” list from Matt Diggs, perhaps the most enthusiastic, knowledgable, and hardest working high school football fan/media personality in north Texas. 

Does Matt Diggs love football fields?  Well, he traveled to Barrow, Alaska to see their field.  Matt’s committed.  Nobody loves the game more.

Matt’s comprehensive coverage can be found at: 

https://x.com/ProfessorDiggs

or

https://t.co/ds0hPdTNwm

The Ranking Criteria: "Setting" over "Luxury"

To understand my rankings, I will share this information about me:  

I believe that football fields in natural, outdoor settings are infinitely better than playing the game on a mat of fake grass atop a slab of concrete with a roof over it.  Football isn’t supposed to be comfortable. It’s meant to be played in the sun, mud, snow, rain, wind, and subzero temperatures.

I’m (unfortunately) a fan of the Minnesota Vikings. But I’d much rather attend a game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Soldier Field in Chicago, or Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City than US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

WHAT ELSE DO I LIKE?

  • Trees
  • Water (Lakes, Ponds, or Rivers)
  • Mountains
  • Grass
  • Hay Bales/Hay Rolls
  • Prairies
  • Rustic/weathered
  • People…most of them.
  • Snow
  • Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
  • Water Towers – yes, water towers–the older the better
  • Wildlife – this category played a bigger role in my Top 27 list than I anticipated.
  • Scoreboards
  • Menu Boards
  • Uniforms
  • Clouds
  • Sunsets
  • Romantic poetry
  • Logos/Mascots
  • Unlocked Gates (so I don’t have to climb over or crawl under the fence before walking onto the field).
  • Concession Stand Items – maybe this should be higher on this list. 🙂
  • Outdoors, outdoors, outdoors!!!
  • One more—OLD. Old people typically have more stories, and better stories, than young people.   Sorry youngsters, you’ll get there someday. Old football fields have had more kids play on them, more celebrations, more sad endings, more elated and heartbroken parents than new stadiums. More cheerleaders have cheered. More bands have banded together. More coaches have given their best speeches. I like old.
 

Football Should Look Like This

OK, maybe not the last one. That was a real picture of a high school football game on Nov. 20, 1965 in Massachusetts between Mount Hermon and Deerfield Academy. The photographer’s name was Robert Van Fleet. It was named the Associated Press sports photograph of the year. It was featured on the back page of Life magazine and reproduced in dozens of newspapers and magazines across the United States. It might be the greatest sports-related picture of all time.  I’d rank it #1.

Before we begin...where have I been?

Visiting 205 stadiums and fields might seem like a lot but per the list below, I’m only scratching the surface on my mission to visit every sports venue in America. 

Minnesota: 28 Football Stadiums/Fields Visited

  1. Aitkin
  2. Aurora Hoyt Lakes
  3. Chisholm
  4. Cloquet
  5. Cromwell
  6. Duluth East
  7. Eden Prairie
  8. Esko
  9. Forest Lake
  10. Grand Marais
  11. Grand Rapids
  12. Hermantown
  13. Heron Lake
  14. Hibbing
  15. Hill Murray
  16. Hutchinson
  17. International Falls
  18. McGregor
  19. Mountain Iron
  20. Mountain Lake
  21. Proctor
  22. Public Schools Stadium, Duluth
  23. Rock Ridge – Eveleth/Virginia
  24. Silver Bay
  25. Two Harbors – New field
  26. Two Harbors – Old field
  27. Virginia
  28. Wrenshall

Colorado: 30 High School Football Fields Visited

  1. Arvada – North Area Athletic Complex
  2. Bailey – Platte Valley
  3. Bennet
  4. Broomfield
  5. Cherry Creek
  6. Clear Creek
  7. Conifer
  8. Denver (All City Stadium)
  9. Erie
  10. Estes Park
  11. Evergreen
  12. Front Range Christian
  13. Genoa-Hugo
  14. Gilpin County
  15. Highlands Ranch (Halftime Help)
  16. Invesco Field (State playoffs)
  17. Jeffco Stadium, Lakewood (Denver)
  18. Julesburg
  19. Lamar
  20. Legacy Stadium (Aurora)
  21. Littleton Public Schools (LPS) Stadium
  22. Mile High Stadium (State playoffs)
  23. Mullen 
  24. Parker (Echo Park)
  25. Regis Jesuit
  26. Smoky Hill
  27. Springfield
  28. Strasburg
  29. Swink
  30. Trailblazer Stadium-Lakewood

Texas: 131 Football Stadiums/Fields Visited

  1. Abilene (Shotwell)
  2. Abilene Chrisitan U (H.S. Playoff Games)
  3. Aledo
  4. Allen
  5. Alpine
  6. Anna
  7. Archer City
  8. Argyle
  9. Argyle Liberty Christian
  10. Arlington (Choctaw)
  11. AT&T Stadium-TX State Championships
  12. Aubrey
  13. Bedford – Pennington Field
  14. Big Spring
  15. Birdville
  16. Blanco
  17. Bonham
  18. Borger
  19. Bowie
  20. Boys Ranch
  21. Brock
  22. Brownwood
  23. Burleson
  24. Bushland
  25. Cameron Yoe
  26. Canadian
  27. Carrolton (Standridge)
  28. Cedar Hill (Trinity Christian)
  29. Celina
  30. Cherokee
  31. Childress
  32. Colleyville Heritage
  33. Comanche
  34. Coppell
  35. Corsicana
  36. Cuero
  37. Dalhart
  38. Dallas (Franklin Stadium)
  39. Dallas (Kincaide Stadium)
  40. Dallas (Sprague Stadium)
  41. Dallas (Wildcat-Ram Stadium)
  42. Dallas (Woodrow Wilson)
  43. Denton
  44. Dumas
  45. Eastland
  46. Ennis
  47. Farmers Branch (Standridge)
  48. Flower Mound Marcus
  49. Fort Worth – Farrington
  50. Fort Worth – Southwest Christian
  51. Fredericksburg
  52. Frisco (Ford Center)
  53. Garland (Homer B Johnson Stadium)
  54. Garland (Williams)
  55. Gatesville
  56. Giddings
  57. Gilmer
  58. Globe Life Park
  59. Gonzales
  60. Grandview
  61. Grapevine
  62. Grapevine Faith Christian
  63. Groom
  64. Gruver
  65. Gunter
  66. Henrietta
  67. Iraan
  68. Irion County
  69. Keller
  70. Kennedale
  71. Kerrville-TIVY
  72. La Grange
  73. Lampasas
  74. Lancaster
  75. Lewisville (Goldsmith)
  76. Little Elm
  77. Llano
  78. Longview
  79. Mansfield – Vernon Newsom
  80. Mansfield Legacy
  81. Marfa
  82. Mason
  83. McGregor
  84. McKinney
  85. Melissa
  86. Memphis
  87. Miami
  88. Midland
  89. Mineral Wells
  90. New Deal
  91. Odessa – Ratliff Stadium
  92. Palestine
  93. Pampa
  94. Panhandle
  95. Paris
  96. Parrish Episcopal
  97. Perryton
  98. Pilot Point
  99. Prosper
  100. Quanah
  101. Rankin
  102. Reagan County-Big Lake
  103. Red Oak
  104. Refugio
  105. Rockwall
  106. San Angelo
  107. San Saba
  108. Sanger
  109. Seagoville
  110. Shamrock
  111. Southlake Carroll
  112. Spearman
  113. Springtown
  114. Stephenville
  115. Stephenville (Tarleton State U)
  116. Stinnett
  117. Stratford
  118. Strawn
  119. Sweetwater
  120. Temple
  121. The Ballpark in Arlington
  122. Tyler
  123. Waco Midway
  124. Wall
  125. Weatherford
  126. Wellington
  127. Wheeler
  128. White Deer
  129. Wichita Falls-Memorial Stadium
  130. Windthorst
  131. Zephyr

Miscellaneous States (WI, OK, NE, ND, MS) - 15 Total Visits

NEW MEXICO (5)

  1. Clayton
  2. Raton
  3. Roy
  4. Springer
  5. Tucumcari

HAWAII (2)

  1. Hawaii Preparatory HS
  2. Hilo

OKLAHOMA (2)

  1. Booker
  2. Broken Arrow

MISSISSIPPI (2)

  1. Choctaw Central 
  2. Philadelphia

WISCONSIN (2)

  1. Hayward
  2. Superior

NORTH DAKOTA (1)

  1. Shilon Christian

NEBRASKA (1)

  1. Sandhills

Stadium Wars in Texas - Bigger, More Expensive Isn't Always Better

I love Texas. I love barbecue in Texas. I love high school football in Texas. I love some football fields in Texas more than others. Some would say they have the most beautiful stadiums in the country. By some definitions, this is probably true. Nine Texas stadiums are on my Top 27 list.  None of the stadiums in the list below are among my 27 favorites. 

The list depicts some of the recently constructed stadiums in Texas. The “cheapest” one opened in 2023 in Melissa, Texas. While working for the Dallas Morning News, I covered the final game in their old (very nice) stadium.  Their new stadium is also very nice. It should be very nice considering it cost $35 million to build.

I’ve been to three of the stadiums on the screenshot below.  

  • Eagle Stadium in Allen, TX seats 18,000 and cost $60 million.
  • Children’s Health Stadium in Prosper seats 12,000 and cost $48 million to build.
  • McKinney ISD Stadium seats 12,000 and cost $70 million to erect.

They are beautiful. I like all three of them.  It’s quite a sight to walk into each and realize, “My gosh, this is a high school football stadium?!?”  

But they aren’t among my favorites for the following reasons:

  1. I’m a small town guy. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my years in Minneapolis, Denver, and Dallas/Fort Worth but the peacefulness of smaller environments is what I gravitate to most.  
  2. I’ve been to stadiums where no amount of money could be spent to recreate the “settings” surrounding several football fields in my list—especially those in my Top 5.  Nobody is going to spend billions—or trillions, to build mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, or nature preserves to entice, elk, moose, trout, deer, bears, etc. beside high school football fields.  Nature provided those settings for us.  Spending $80 million in Texas doesn’t.

Why do they build these stadiums.  For one reason, massive population growth.  In the year 2000, the population of Prosper, Texas was approximately 3,000. In 2023, it was 38,000—twelve times bigger than 23 years earlier!  In 2023, voters in Prosper rejected a proposal to build another stadium projected to cost $90 million. 

For what it’s worth—pun intended, I have two 8-man fields, two 6-man field, and one abandoned field in my Top 27 but none of these multi-million dollar urban stadiums…and, again, I really, really like these expensive stadiums too!  

But, other things are more important to me.

Allen, Texas: $60 Million

<<<  How on Earth can this glorious stadium not be #1 on my list of favorites?   >>>

IT’S FANTASTIC!

Prosper, Texas: $48 Million

Imagine being a high school athlete and having this as your hometown stadium!

McKinney, Texas: $70 Million

Most of the Division II and III colleges in this country would be thrilled to have a stadium this nice.

Frisco, TX - Dallas Cowboys Practice Facility and Supports 12 High Schools

While the Ford Center at The Star—the Dallas Cowboys’ primary indoor practice facility—hosts many Frisco ISD varsity football games through the “Whataburger Friday Night Stars” series and other events, not every one of the district’s 12 high schools plays at least one game there annually. The district rotates games across three main venues: the Ford Center (capacity 12,000), Toyota Stadium (capacity 8,500), and David Kuykendall Stadium (capacity 9,000). Each school typically plays 3–4 home games per season, but assignments vary by year based on scheduling, district matchups, and availability.

The best part of this stadium is the mini football field outside the main entrance. Inside it’s too sterile—too comfortable for me. But when it’s 104 degrees outside on a late August Texas Friday night, I suppose I can acknowledge that I’d welcome its indoor air conditioning. 

I also can’t support anything associated with the Dallas Cowboys. I still haven’t forgiven Drew Pearson of the Dallas Cowboys for pushing Nate Wright of the Minnesota Vikings in the 1975 NFC playoff game at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota.  That was one of only two games I attended at that stadium. I hold grudges.
I was sitting in that end zone on the far end of that field. I could see the push-off from there but the refs couldn’t.

MY TOP 27

#27 Halftime Help Stadium, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

FAVORITE FEATURE:  The view from the top row of the bleachers.

#26 - International Falls, MN - The Icebox of the Nation

FAVORITE FEATURE: This stadium opened in 1942. They no longer build concrete structures like that for high school football fields.  

These pictures were taken in July. 😉 

#25 Stratford ,Texas: God, Grass & Grit

FAVORITE FEATURE: It’s just a classic small town field in a Texas town with a history of championships.

#24 Springfield, Colorado

FAVORITE FEATURE: The old school loudspeakers in the bleachers.

#23 Rock Ridge High School - Virginia, Minnesota

FAVORITE FEATURE: The trees and the rock formations in the south endzone. 

I love those trees!
They sure did cut through some rock beyond that end zone.

#22 Front Range Christian

FAVORITE FEATURE: The neighborhood setting, the viewing perch behind the endzone, the people, and that pork chop sandwich.

Yesterday, Saturday, November 1, 2025, I attended a game here for the first time thinking its only significance would be to up my number of fields visited from 196 to 197.

I was in for a few surprises.

First, the location of the field looked like it was where the neighborhood kids gathered 50 years ago for sandlot football and baseball games long before an actual football field was constructed. It didn’t me long to conclude this field had to be on my list—though probably number 22.

A couple of other surprises pushed it up to #24, then to #22. 

Stay tuned.

SURPRISE 2

Pork Chop Sandwich??

The menu board in the picture below presented quite a surprise. I expect—and look forward to, hot dogs.  This was not only a pleasant menu offering, it was also the best thing I’ve ever eaten at a high school, college, or NFL football game. 

John, the grill master, told me he recently served steak tri-tips. He deserves his only Yelp page where I’d give him 5 Stars. 

I’m quite a husband. Next fall, I’ll be taking my wife, Vickie, out for dinner on Friday nights to “Falcon Field” on the campus of Front Range Christian High School. No reservations required.

She’ll be elated.  LOL.

WONDERFUL SURPRISE 3

I’ve been to 196 other high school football fields. Today, I witnessed something I don’t recall seeing at any other sporting event.

This was Senior Day—the final home high school game for each of the graduating athletes. Before the game, each Senior wrote a heartfelt, emotion-filled, beautiful letter of appreciation addressed to their parents, coaches, teammates, etc.  Their letters were read to everyone by the public address announcer.  

I wasn’t ready for this.

As I listened, I was struggling to reign-in my emotions. I was wobbly but held up a bit better than others.  There were plenty of tears among the folks in attendance—and yes, a few tears from me too.

This was just too good.

I was told that all athletes on sports teams at Front Range Christian do this. It’s a great tradition.

It definitely pushed Front Range Christian up a few notches on my rankings list.

Every letter written was great but one caught my attention for an unusual reason. This one was written by the player wearing jersey number 11—his name is David Eifling.

An excerpt of his letter was:

…thank the coaches and teammates for accepting me into the team as a senior. I don’t know if many of you know but playing in America on Fridays had always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid…”

I later learned David didn’t grow up in America—he’s a foreign exchange student. His Friday Night Lights dream began thousands of miles away in Wroclaw, Poland. 

This fact resonated for me because one of my stepsons grew up in Chelm, Poland, 20 miles from the border with Ukraine. The beautiful country of Poland has long had a special place in our hearts, solidified during a trip we took in 2016 to visit Warsaw, Krakow, and Auschwitz.

I paid more attention to him in the second half of the game. You’d never know this was his first year of football in the United States. He’s quite a competitor and played very well.

As I mention later in these rankings, sometimes it’s not only about the football fields—it’s about the people. 

Upon arrival, I knew no one. After visiting with several people during the game, and listening to the letters written by the football players, I knew this was a special group of people first, and a lovely football field second.

And their grill master is ranked #1 on my “High School Football Grill Masters” rankings.

David is number 11.

#21 Wellington, TX "Home of the Skyrockets"

FAVORITE FEATURE:  The rocket on the rooftop of the concession stand.

That rocket was all I needed to get this field in the top 21.
Great, classic scoreboard with ads and WELLINGTON SKYROCKETS across the top.
Interesting stories could be written about towns, buildings, and water towers like this.
If only the street could tell stories

#20 Heron Lake, Minnesota

FAVORITE FEATURE: Classic southwest Minnesota setting with the grain elevators within sight of the stadium.

Southwest Minnesota farm country. A BEAUTIFUL SETTING.
I want to ride a lawn mower all day long on this field
Trees, grass, and old school goal posts. A perfect 10.
My only surprise is that there aren't cows grazing on that grass
In addition to water towers, I should have included murals on the list.
Massive grain elevators dwarf the surrounding buildings
Old building, old building, old water tower. I love everything about this.

#19 Cherokee, Texas

FAVORITE FEATURE:  The arrowhead shaped yard markers. 

This yard marker is awesomely fantastic! One of my favorite adornments of any field.
My grandfather's grandfather was a full-blooded Chippewa/Ojibwe. I like Native American representation like this.
He's at the 30, the 20, the 10...touchdown!

#18 Wheeler, Texas

FAVORITE FEATURE: The grass! 

Simple explanation for this one:  Look at that grass! I just want to roll around for a few hours on that field. 
Even when this grass is dormant, it still shows character as a football field
Nice scoreboard!
That's my kind of water tower

#17 Hilo, Hawaii

FAVORITE FEATURE: The beautiful setting. This one needs no explanation/justification for landing on this list.

#16 Evergreen, Colorado

FAVORITE FEATURE:  The beautiful setting.

This definitely qualifies as a "nice setting" for a football field.
The only shortcoming to this venue is that the school is so close to the field.

The work done by the grill master in the picture above led to one of my all time favorite high school football pictures.

The cheeseburger he made was great too. 

The three pictures below show the cloud of smoke created solely by the grill work he was doing. There was no wind that night, so the smoke hung around—and the aroma was great!

The third picture below was taken as I walking to my car late in the 4th quarter.  Thankfully, I turned to look back one more time and captured my favorite high school football field picture, using only my iPhone.

#15 Ratliff Stadium, Odessa, Texas / Friday Night Lights

FAVORITE FEATURE:  The history associated with this field.  Ratliff Stadium is probably the most famous high school football field in the USA.  If you know anything about movies and high school football, you know that “Friday Night Lights” was based on the Odessa-Permian Panthers. Ratliff was a bucket list stadium which I’m happy to have checked.

#14 Marfa, Texas

FAVORITE FEATURE:  I’ve never seen bleachers like those in Marfa.

Unique bleachers! They'll still be there 500 years from now. Though, I'd bring a seat cushion.
Pampa, Texas has a similar bell. I like it.

#13 Strawn, Texas

FAVORITE FEATURE: The pride this town has for their football team is obvious. The Strawn Greyhounds proudly play 6-man football.

I love the small number of "premium" seats with seat backs.

#12 Philadelphia, Mississippi

FAVORITE FEATURE:  My love for this stadium goes beyond my appreciation for the field itself. While growing up in Minnesota, you’d occasionally hear about legendary high school football players even before you see them on TV on Saturday afternoons.  

Walking the field where Marcus Dupree once ran was a goose bump experience.

#11 ‎⁨Hawaii Preparatory Academy⁩, Waimea⁩, ⁨Hawaii

FAVORITE FEATURE: The beautiful setting and understated bleacher design.

#10 Branson, Colorado - 6 Man Football

FAVORITE FEATURE:  The setting.  The term “middle of nowhere” is overused. And often, the nowhere they refer to is actually somewhere worthwhile visiting. Nobody accidentally arrives in Branson, Colorado. You have to want to go there.  And I wanted to go there. I took a detour from my normal path from Texas to Denver.

First, the most shocking bit of information is that Branson has a population of less than 100 people!  Yes, less than 100.  But a new artificial turf field?

This field is all about what was versus what is. 

Opponents refused to play on Branson’s former field.  It was apparently a collection of dirt and weeds.  Definitely not “manicured.” The football program was in dire straits until hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised via donations from people across the country.  

Their new 80-yard field made me laugh. Like a, “what is a field this beautiful football field doing way out here,” type of laugh.  It’s only 80-yards long because they play 6-man football. 

The surrounding scenery is spectacular.  Not in a mountainous kind of way. More of a “there’s so many beautiful places in this country we never have a chance to see” kind of way.

I first heard about it via a CBS Sunday Morning segment—that link is below.

If this list was about the most beautiful field in the least likely location, this field would be #1 in the rankings.  Still, it’s in the top 10.

One last thing—the road heading northeast from Branson to Kim, Colorado is a nonstop roller coaster. Up. Down. Steeper up. Steeper down.  It’s a bit scary because you often can’t see oncoming traffic until you reach the top of the many hills, but it sure is fun to drive. 

The normal route to Denver goes to Raton, New Mexico then north to Pueblo. That’s a lonely road from Des Moines to Branson.
Notice that the midfield logo straddles the 40-yard line. Branson plays six—man football so the field is only 80 yards long.
You can be this close to the field and almost not be able to see it. It’s truly a hidden gem.

#9 - Mason High School, Mason, Texas "The Puncherdome"

To whom it may concern:

I. Love. This. Football. Field.

That’s all.

Sincerely,

Thomas Smith

Denver, Colorado

 

FAVORITE FEATURE: The roof above the grandstand.

#8 Canadian, Texas / Sometimes, it’s the people

FAVORITE FEATURE: The people of Canadian includnig the fact that residents of Mesa View Senior and Assisted Living can be found in the southwest corner of every football game—and that the team bus travels through the parking lot of Mesa View so the team can wave to the residents as they depart town for each home game. Also, the Miles Henderson Field House, and plaque honoring Chris Koetting.  And the greatest Senior Day pep fests in America.

Fate landed me in Canadian, Texas on one of the most consequential days of my life.  The folks down there ensured a soft landing. 

The best synopsis of my feelings towards this town are:

The right team.

The right town.

The right time.

You can read about them on the story on my website titled “Every Day is Game Day.”

I’m planning to celebrate my 65th birthday down there next Friday night as they take on their rival from Childress, Texas.

Oh, and I love their football field too.

Residents from nearby Mesa View Assisted and Senior Living attend every game.
They make great effort to preserve their past, including all the players to wear a Wildcats jersey
Notice the rocks in formation. Coach Cavalier has a motivational motto/theme each year. Last year: CTC - Choose To Commit
Coach Andy Cavalier and his wife, Wendy.

Coach Cavalier is one of the most positive and best leaders I’ve ever crossed paths with. He’s not wired like the rest of us–and I mean that in the best of ways.  I strongly encourage you to follow him on “X.”

https://x.com/coach_cav_

Miles Henderson serves as a constant inspiration to me to be a better person. I wrote a lengthy chapter about him. He’s definitely a person worth learning about.  

“Every Day is Game Day” / Miles P. Henderson

We now enter the part of the rankings which include fields that no amount of money can replicate.

#7 Conifer, Colorado

FAVORITE FEATURE: The setting in the moutains.

#6 Clear Creek, Colorado

FAVORITE FEATURE: This field is as photogenic as it gets—and it hosts an 8-man football team.

#5 There's No Place Like Home - Halsted Field - Two Harbors, Minnesota

FAVORITE FEATURE: It’s home and it’s also a beautiful setting.

I’ve ranked the football field in my hometown as 5th best among the 205 I’ve visited.  Yes, I’m a bit biased. But it’s a beautiful forest setting within a mile of Lake Superior.

Halsted Field is named after Coach Charlie Halsted who died a few days ago on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at the age of 96.  He’s a legend on the north shore.

The following Northern Lights pictures were taken by Pam Carlson of Two Harbors, MN
I mean, this IS northern Minnesota!
The “Edna G” tugboat and the Arthur Anderson ore carrier

What's an Agate???

Two Harbors High School is the only school in America with “Agates” as their mascot.  Agates are beautiful rocks washed onto the beaches in and near Two Harbors by the powerful waves of Lake Superior.

My Hometown / One of the most beautiful settings for a football field

This video will change your lives. Because if you watch it, you will have done something you’ve never done before. Live changing stuff here!

# 4 - Gilpin County High School - Colorado

FAVORITE FEATURE:  There aren’t many stadiums nearly two miles above sea level.  Gorgeous.  And those moose!

Lettering on Field Says: Elevation 8954' (Almost 2 miles above sea level)

An "Are You Kidding Me?" Moment

In October of 2025, Vickie and I took a day trip across the “Peak to Peak Highway” along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.  We are approaching Gilpin County High School and nature was calling in multiple ways. I needed to make a pit stop. It served as a convenient excuse to drive behind the high school to the football field where I knew from my previous visit that there were a couple of satellites. While there, nature presented us with a wonderful surprise.  

#3 Estes Park, Colorado

FAVORITE FEATURE: Just look at the pictures and video. As you scroll through these pictures, you might ask yourself, “how can he possibly have a different field ranked higher than this one?” 

That’s a very fair question.  Estes Park is an amazing place. It’s my favorite place to visit in Colorado due, in part, to the fact that it’s an easy day trip from Denver and due to its proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park. 

The only shortcoming to this football field is that you can’t see the best scenery from the bleachers.  But the setting is astounding. 

The view from the bleachers isn’t as dramatic as some of the other mountain stadiums

TRUST ME (he says): Watch this video!

#2 Springer, New Mexico (And hundreds of others)

FAVORITE FEATURE:  It’s still here—it served it’s purpose.  

This field is different than the rest. It’s most significant trait falls into a category I don’t have on my list at the beginning of this story. 

Prior to driving from Denver to Amarillo in November of 2025, I searched Google Maps for possible towns to visit and fields to explore. Per the screenshot below, google’s search results provided no football-related reason to stop in Springer, New Mexico.  “Permanently Closed” offers no allure. Instead, it’s a lure to blow through town as rapidly (and safely) as possible. 

I originally published this story on November 3, 2025. On the morning of Friday, November 7, I knew this story would need to be updated. When I drove through Branson on November 8, I knew there’d be two new fields in my Top 10.

It helps to take the back roads.

CURIOSITY WINS

The drive from the “you are now arriving in” city limit to the “thanks for visiting” city limit took only a minute.  At the last second, I saw those darn poles atop which rest a football field’s stadium lights. 

Memories of “Permanently Closed” compelled me to keep my foot on the gas pedal. My ridiculous curiosity regarding football fields soon compelled me to tap the brakes and spin the steering wheel as far to the left as it would go. 

I know I need therapy. This was about to be the 200th high school football field I’ve visited.

I also know there will be time for therapy later. I’ve put it off this long—why get on the path to wellness now? I’ve got a football field to see.

This field was different than any others. Instead of crowds cheering, bands playing, and tacklers tackling, all I could hear was the grass crackling and other vegetation crunching as I walked the east sideline of the toasted, crusty, and dusty field. During the past few years, the nearby Santa Fe Trail has had as much foot traffic as this field.

Click on the video link below to see what I mean.

This Field Had a Birthday

While walking on this field, I let my imagination drift decades back to its opening night.

Masons are finishing the final segment of a six-foot-high, 10-inch-thick concrete encasement surrounding the field’s perimeter. The paint-slingers deemed their work complete. Electricians not shocked while proclaiming their work “all good” after flipping their switches on, off, on, off, on, off.  The P.A. announcer clearing his throat before the first proclamations of “testing, testing, testing 1-2-3” over the new field’s speaker system.  One hundred yards of frequently watered green grass had taken root; the cheerleaders first to run on it as they were ready to root. The pristine black scoreboard, excited to come to life, ready to tell stories of the winners and losers during the next few hundred games. The parking lot was full. The crowd? Loud and proud.

Back to that concrete perimeter. Nobody builds something like that for fun. They build it to protect and preserve what’s inside. That wall and this field were centerpieces of this town. Almost everyone who lived here gathered here. The expectant townsfolk brought their big expectations for this plot of land.  This was a special place then.

This field indeed had a birthday. It’s first game. The town showed up for the party. There may have been cake. Let’s deem it to be true.  There was cake! The field was christened—deemed ready to serve its purpose.

It did. For decades. It served Springer well.

I’m here on this Thursday morning ­­­to see the other side. There will never again be an exchange of a dime or quarter at the weathered ticket booth. No popcorn popping, burgers sizzling, or hot dogs steaming. No referees or bands. No fans were rising to their feet while the radio announcer enthusiastically described my progress: “he’s at the 40, the 30, the 20, the 10…” as I stepped towards the north end zone.

None of that.

Just this.  The backside of a stadium’s life. It’s time for this field to rest.

It’s not alone. 

Most of the folks who conceived of, then built this field are also now resting in a field over there by County Road 031 and Third Street. They played the game we all play.  A ceremonious beginning. A solemn ending. Their final scores were printed in the local newspaper like my Mom’s recently did: 10-24-39 to 07-15-25. But those scores and their stories aren’t printed in the Sports section.

Springer’s football field has character. Its setting is unique. That white concrete wall gives this football field an inescapable hockey rink vibe. That’s a nice combination for a guy from Minnesota. The various paintings and expressions on that wall serve as a reminder of the pride the students, athletes, and teachers had for this place. 

We all perceive that football is thriving. It’s too easy to forget about the forgotten. The Springer Red Devils won’t soon lose any football games. It’s already lost a bigger game—the demographics one.

Here, football died.

Springer, New Mexico, is isolated but not alone. It’s one of several hundred high schools across this country that’ve abandoned high school football during recent years due to changing demographics—aging communities, decreasing student enrollment, increasing costs and, frankly, the interests of students drifting elsewhere.

None of that was this field’s fault.

ALL FIELDS ARE NOT CREATED EQUALLY

A few fields have gained eternal notoriety for events far less consequential than those that have occurred on this football field in Springer.  Famous fields like those found in Kill Devils Hills, North Carolina, another in Bethel, New York, and another field in Dyersville, Iowa. 

One of those fields became famous for 12 measly seconds of activity. Another for four days of debauchery. Another for 84 days of peering through a viewfinder while cellulose film spun from the supply chamber to the take-up chamber of a few fancy Hollywood cameras.

Twelve seconds, four days, and 84 days. Kitty Hawk, Woodstock, and a movie—Field of Dreams. More REAL dreams came true in Springer than Dyersville.

In Kill Devil’s Hills—no not Kitty Hawk, Orville Wright was airborne for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. That’s only 40 yards—not even from one end zone to the other of Springer’s field. What’s so great about that?  Every high school football game lasts 2,880 seconds. Orville was airborne for 12.

Springer wins.

Thousands of unbathed hippies trekked to a 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York, where various forms of celebration, dancing, experimentation, and mayhem took place over a four-day weekend. Four lousy days! Springer’s football field was active for more than four decades.

Springer wins.

Hollywood transported cameras, scriptwriters, directors, producers, and a guy named Kevin Costner to a meaningless field in Iowa so they could spin film for 84 days while filming a movie.  Nothing really happened in Dyersville.  It’s fiction.  Those baseball players didn’t really disappear into that corn field each night. Yet, people flock to that field.  Only 84 days of serving its primary purpose.

Springer wins.

Final Field Rankings:

  1. Springer
  2. Kill Devil Hills
  3. Woodstock
  4. Dyersville

DASHES AND SLASHES

Segments of America have grown fond of labeling their sports affiliation and dedication as being part of nation-this or nation-that. 

  • Jayhawk Nation
  • 12th Man Nation
  • Red Raider Nation
  • Buckeye Nation
  • Who Dat Nation
  • Red Sox Nation

On the high school sports scene, the USA is doing the same but different.  The cast of characters is becoming known as:

Hyphen-Nation

My home state of Minnesota supports at least 84 hyphenated alliances, in which communities have had to consolidate resources to field football teams.  Those dashes represent 84 high school football fields which were once vibrant, now dormant.

A few “Hyphenation Nation” team names are:

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton

Ada-Borup-West

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted

Then a few of my favorites where it appears that two pairs of hyphenated relationships merged while retaining a bit of border independence through the inclusion of the slash.

What apparently started as “Alden-Conger” and “Glenville-Emmons” became:

Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons

Then there’s:

LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli

I’m not sure how the following marriage as formed:

Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman.

I’ll tip my hat to the first of these cooperatives to rename their mascots to the Alden Dashes or the Glenville Slashes.

Beyond those 84 dashes, there are cooperative relationships not noted by dashes or slashes. Start with my hometown, the Two Harbors Agates. In recent years this has been a consolidated team of athletes from as many as four schools: 

Two Harbors-Silver Bay-Duluth Marshall-Lakeview Christian Academy.  

Their unified team has always been known simply as the Two Harbors Agates. Lost in that name is the fact that three other towns/schools have unlit fields on Fridays.

There’s good news in all those names. Every dash and slash represents a place where kids can still play, and an opportunity for them to become part of a team.

But, I digress. The result of all of this is that once-busy, once-popular, once-significant/consequential—did you see what I did there—football fields have now unfortunately lost their sense of purpose, though roaming herds of deer, elk, bison, and moose would contend those fields—their fields—never should have been painted with white stripes and boundaries. 

Athletic opportunities still exist in Springer. Their girls’ volleyball team advanced to the state tournament in 2024. They now have a golf team. Girls’ and boys’ basketball are thriving. Thankfully, the students in Springer who love football can play thanks to a cooperative with a school 41 miles away—the Raton Tigers.

The essential criteria I’d defined for landing on my pretentious “Best Football Fields in America” rankings were, like me, imperfect. I hadn’t considered the legends, the O.G.’s, those fields where the final minute of the final game of the final season has passed and whose stadium lights wait hopelessly for just one more night to shine.

I messed up.

I’ve matured as a road-tripper. I no longer feel the need to rush.  Backroads, dirt roads, country roads and two-lane roads are better than the interstate. I’ve taken too many road trips where I didn’t slow down to look around.

I’ll forever be glad that I ignored the dire labels on Google Maps and made that U-turn on the outskirts of Springer, New Mexico. 

With all this in mind, Springer—and, by association, all those other slashed-and-dashed football fields that now rest peacefully on Friday nights —the former home of the Springer Red Devils lands on its righteous place as #2 on my list of Best Football Fields in America.

Kitty Hawk, Woodstock, and Dyersville aren’t on the list.

Neither are Allen, McKinney, and Prosper.

Springer wins.

By the way, Springer did win the New Mexico State Championship in their division in 2019.

Congratulations Red Devils!

The #1 Ranked PRACTICE Field / Raton, New Mexico

FAVORITE FEATURE:  That view!

Earlier in this story, I shared pictures of the beautiful practice fields in Estes Park and Two Harbors.  Last week, on 11/06/25, I stopped by the football and baseball fields in Raton.  I wasn’t disappointed.

While driving south on I-25 there’s a substantial mountain pass separating Colorado and New Mexico. As you descend into New Mexico, Raton is the first city you’ll see.  I’ve probably been through Raton 30 or 40 times but never went beyond their gas stations or fast food restaurants. Last week, I did. This week, Im glad.

Two Pictures of their (nice) Football Field

And Finally: #1 - Platte Canyon High School - Bailey, Colorado

FAVORITE FEATURE:  A person could cast a fishing line from the bank of the South Platted River to the south sidelien of the football field. WATCH THE VIDEO. 

This is entire project is just for fun. Every ranking is debatable.  I’m mean, after all, I’ve got a couple of fields on this list that appear to be still emerging from the Dust Bowl while I’ve got those 48, 60, and 70 million dollar stadiums on the sideline. My rankings are wide open for debate.  And that’s the fun part of something like this. To each their own. 

But this stadium near Bailey, Colorado, located 48 miles southwest of the Denver Broncos stadium, is unique in so many ways.  The pictures and videos tell its story.

As I mentioned early in this story, I’m all about the “setting.” 

TRUST ME (he says again!): You will like this video!

BONUS LISTS

MATT DIGGS - North Texas High School Sports Insider

During my years in Texas, I met numerous outstanding journalists and avid football fans covering high school football games all over Texas.  There isn’t a more enthusiastic, knowledgeable, or tireless source of information than Matt Diggs, known to many in North Texas as “Professor Diggs.”

Does he love football?  Well, do you know anyone else who has traveled north of the Arctic Circle to see the football field in Barrow, Alaska which lies a short field goal from the Arctic Ocean?  Matt has.  Matt wins.

He provided his Top 5 North Texas football fields/stadiums.  You will see some differences in his list compared to mine. That’s the fun with an exercise like this. I like his choices. 

His enthusiasm is infectious. If you’re interested in catching a glimpse of Texas high school football, I strongly recommend following Matt on X.  Here’s a link to his profile:

https://x.com/ProfessorDiggs

Matt Diggs’s #5 Farrington Field / Fort Worth

Matt: “Farrington hasn’t been relevant from a prominence perspective in probably 50 years, but still an absolutely beautiful place to watch and play a game.”

Tom Smith: I agree with Matt–this is a classic, old, urban stadium with a beautiful view of Fort Worth.

That’s downtown Fort Worth in the background

Matt Diggs’s #4 Gopher-Warrior Bowl / Grand Prairie, TX

Matt:  “It’s a beautiful bowl stadium that has a different vibe than any other stadium in the area because of how it was built. It has beautiful artwork, great sight lines and it is a unique place to watch a football game.”

tsmith: This is one of the few Dallas Metro stadium I’d never been to. I had to scrounge around on the internet for these pictures.

Matt Diggs’s #3 Kimbrough Stadium / Plano, TX

Matt:  ” That’s my home. I’ve watched my kids grow up there. It’s one of the last generation of stadiums before the super stadiums built up. Still an electric place to watch a game.”

Picture from "Dave Campbell’s Texas Football"

Matt Diggs’s #2 "The Star” / Frisco, TX / The Dallas Cowboys Practice Facility

Matt:  “Seats about 12000. The sound echos and rocks in there. Always a big player in the playoffs because it takes you out of the weather and you always get a big game feel in that place.”

Matt Diggs’s #1 Allen, TX

Matt: “My favorite stadium in Texas is probably the OG mega-stadium in Allen. The bowl wraps around and it’s truly a college experience. It’s one of the biggest stadiums for the biggest high schools, still holds up beautifully.. and when that place is sold out there’s nothing like the atmosphere.”

Matt Diggs ----> North, to Alaska!

Matt:  “My ultimate HS Football Journey took me to Barrow, AK to see the stadium at the top of the world.”

That’s the Arctic Ocean on the left. Matt Diggs was there!

“Sykotyk” - The Man Who's Visted 558 High School Football Fields

“Sykotyk" has been almost everywhere!

The subsequent pictures will illustrate that he’s an amazing photograper.

Sykotyk’s #5 (tie): Ryan Field, Grass Range, Montana

I LOVE this picture!

Sykotyk’s #5 (tie) Buccaneer Field, Beach, North Dakota

Sykotyk’s #4 Round Valley Dome, Eager, Arizona

Sykotyk’s #3: THE CLIFF at Smiley Ratliff Field, Hurley, Virginia (Closes after 2025 season)

Sykotyk’s #2: Wolverine Mountain, Sheffield, Pennsylvania (School closed in 2024)

Sykotyk’s #1: Monument Valley Field, Monument Valley, Utah

This football field is now #1 on my must see bucket list. Thankfully, it’s next door to Colorado.

As you can see, Sykotyk is a fantastic photographer.  I honestly believe he deserves nationwide recognition for his vast collection. His work is phenomenal.

If you like traveling, road trips, and high school football, you will LOVE his website. 

I can’t thank him enough for allowing me to share a few of his photos in this story. I can assure you that you’ll find thousands more on his various outlets.

On X, he can be followed at:

https://x.com/Sykotyk

He’s got a great website: 

http://sykotyk.com/football/

And on Flickr: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sykotyk/albums/with/72177720320324101

My Conclusion

There might be better things to do with my time.  I could write political posts every day.  I’ve suppressed a zillion thoughts on various topics in that realm. I’m sure everyone would love to read about all of them and surely change their voting practices thereafter.  😉  Sure, I’d lose every friend I have because I’d denounce both the right and the left—though one side deserves infinitely more  criticism than the other.

Or, maybe I should just keep looking for another football field to walk across, or water tower and the end of a dirt road to park beside while contemplating what life must have been like in this small town.  Maybe even make a few new friends along the way.

Tomorrow, I’ll contemplate those options while driving to New Mexico and Texas to watch a few high school football games.

It should be an easy decision to make.  

“Oh look, another vintage water tower!  And is that a goal post behind those trees?”

That’s all folks!

That’s all folks. If you know anyone who might be interested in this story, please share it with them.

If you have pictures of a favorite stadium of yours, please share! 

If you’re curious about seeing my rankings of numerous northern Minnesota hockey rinks, click on the link below.  

Thanks for taking time to read this story from https://smalltownsbigstories.com.

Click here to see my favorite hockey rinks in Minnesota

Extra Credit: Colorado School of Mines

While writing this story, I attended a small college football game at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado October 18, 2025. They’ve had an outstanding history of success in college football, and I’ve driven by their stadium countless times, but I’d never attended a game there.  It’s a magnificent setting—you can’t see the field from the adjacent U.S. Route 6 but when you descend to field level, you are surrounded by amazing views.

The School of Mines Mascot - “Blaster” the Burro
In case you’re thirsty after the game...

We’ll conclude with “Blaster the Burro."

About the author

Just a guy who loves sports, travel, food, and writing. I've lived in Two Harbors, MN, Minneapolis, Fort Worth, and my current location of Denver. Trying to visit every sports venue on the planet before I die.

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Brett Hart

It is truly amazing all the wonderful places you have visited. Not to mention my home field, Platte Canyon, Bailey Colorado!!!

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Thomas Smith

Thank you Brett! Obviously, I was impressed by my visit. Loved everything about it. I’ll definitely be back again!

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Trey

Hi Thomas! It was great meeting you while Platte Canyon was at Englewood. I very much enjoyed reading this and honored you picked us as your favorite!

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Thomas Smith

Thanks Trey. I’m glad we crossed paths and hope to again someday!

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