Amarillo Rattlers

The Amarillo Rattlers started play at the Amarillo Civic Center in 1996 in the WPHL, a low-level minor league with teams mostly from Texas, New Mexico and the Gulf Coast. The Rattlers were never a particular threat in the WPHL, recording only one season above .500 (31-30-8 in 1998-99) in their six years and never making the playoffs.

In 2001, the WPHL merged with the CHL and the Rattlers played one season in the CHL. After that season the team was sold to local owners and renamed the Amarillo Gorillas.