Abilene lived high on the HOG over the weekend.

An estimated 3,800 Harley-Davidson fanciers stopped by for a few days, dropping their dollars on Abilene area restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues.

About half of the patrons of Buffalo Gap Historic Village on Friday and Saturday arrived riding motorcycles, said Don Frazier, executive director of the McWhiney Foundation , manager of the historic village.

The same percentage of Harley riders contributed to a head count of about 400 who attended The Grace Museum on Saturday, said Lou Streeter, a desk volunteer.

''They enjoyed the city and the museum. They said Abilene was so friendly. Some of them stayed here two or three hours and looked at everything,'' Streeter said.

The Frontier Texas! staff counted about 200 bikers among its Saturday patronage.

At the same time, the hospitality industry enjoyed a boost from the bikers. A Civic Plaza Motel representative said that 90 percent of its rooms were taken by riders. MCM Elegante Suites reported that bikers and an Alcoholics Anonymous convention filled most of its rooms, and Travel Inn estimated 30 percent of its rooms were rented by riders.

Several restaurants reported that sales were up because of Harley riders, including Sharon's Barbeque & Catering and Perini Ranch Steak House in Buffalo Gap.

Seeing the hospitality industry prosper from the HOG rally might be appropriate, since the Harley owners gave Abilene high marks for its hospitality, said Kevin McDaniel, rally coordinator.

''It went fantastic,'' McDaniel said.

The state rally officially began Thursday. Riders enjoyed a long parade Saturday morning, from Dyess Air Force Base to the Taylor County Expo Center, a concert featuring Styx Saturday night, and Harley rides around the Big Country, including the Texas Forts Trail of frontier military outposts.

''As always, we try to diversify the rally with lots of events,'' he said.