Paul Borchardt

This week on Hey Amarillo, we sit down with Paul Borchardt, who, until very recently, ran one of Amarillo's most beloved and historic landmarks: Wonderland Amusement Park.

Paul's story starts far from the Texas Panhandle — growing up on a farm in Iowa, serving in the Navy, falling in love, and eventually finding his way to Amarillo, where he joined his wife's family in running an amusement park that has become part of the fabric of this community. For decades, Paul and his family poured their energy, care, and dedication into Wonderland, creating a place that generations of families return to summer after summer.

In this conversation, Paul reflects with pride and genuine enjoyment on the years spent keeping Wonderland going — and on what it feels like to step away after 70 years of family stewardship. He's sweet, funny, practical, and deeply appreciative of the people who loved the park as much as he did.

This episode is about legacy, community, and what it means to take care of something that belongs to more than just one family.