Tiny Texas Town Matador Featured on Airbnb's 'Off-the-Map' List

A tiny town in West Texas was recently highlighted by Airbnb. The tourist economy is active across the Lone Star State, but one area often overlooked by travel guides is gaining national recognition thanks to a spotlight from Airbnb.

The short-term rental company released its first “America Off-the-Map” list on March 23, highlighting 20 little-known rural destinations around the country. According to Airbnb, 63% of U.S. Census tracts have active Airbnb listings but no hotels, despite the public’s renewed interest in traveling to rural destinations.

Matador, Texas, is one of the lucky few to make the list.

The seat of Motley County, Matador has a population of about 500 and sits 80 miles northeast of Lubbock. It’s 40 miles south of Caprock Canyons State Park, home to one of the last remaining free-roaming bison herds in the country.

The Motley County Historical Museum in Matador “tells the story of frontier ranching life in vivid detail,” according to Airbnb. Visitors can take a ranching tour or admire the wide-open prairie skies before heading to Caprock Canyons for a scenic camping trip.

A search on Airbnb shows eight current rental listings in Matador proper, with more than 75 in the surrounding area.

Airbnb’s “America Off-the-Map” list is intended to encourage travelers to explore the country off the beaten path, especially in rural areas.

The 20 towns highlighted on the list were offered in no particular order:

• Sekiu, Washington
• Matador, Texas
• Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania
• Alexandria, New Hampshire
• Sodus Point, New York
• Stanley, Virginia
• Naalehu, Hawaii
• Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
• Wilmington, Illinois
• Arnaudville, Louisiana
• Fairview, Utah
• Snowflake, Arizona
• Pinos Altos, New Mexico
• Cedar Key, Florida
• Dubois, Wyoming
• Goldfield, Nevada
• Haines, Alaska
• Fort Peck Lake, Montana
• Coarsegold, California
• Monte Vista, Colorado