ghost towns in west texas

History/Opinion Texas State Historical Association, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, John C. McCoy Founder of Westport, Missouri, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Railroad. National Guard Tents in Shafter, Texas, 1916. Depots Shafter used to patrol the area during and after the Civil War and often had scuffles with the local Native American tribes, mostly the Comanche. Many of the original mining buildings are filled with saloons, eateries, and small shops today, and a number of the tiny rock structures have been restored to serve as residences for Big Bends desert dwellers. Art Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Theaters It is very favorable to the raising of fruits and vegetables. That is until an unusual case of Malaria outbreak killed off most of the settlers. Officer Down Memorial Page Everythings bigger in Texas, even the ghosts! North Texas and South Central Texas Ghost Towns. - Texas Escapes The recorded production of the Presidio Mine between 1883 and 1940 was 30,972,286 ounces of silver. Music The only remaining resident was Bert M. Irwin, the towns first postmaster. Lobo is located in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, between the Van Horn Mountains and Wylie Mountains in southern Culberson County. By 1913, mules and wagons were replaced bya tram to haul the ore out. Long before the town of Shafter was established alongCibolo Creek, there is evidence that Spaniards prospected for valuable ores in the area during the early 1600s. We tallied the votes from this years Best of the Capital Region contest in 100 categories. Shafter Lake became a stopover for people heading out West and had established caravans to and from nearby cities like Lubbock and Midland. All that remains is a lonely dilapidated building and a small cemetery, where the smallpox victims are buried. Banks, Columns: The cardinal rule is to be smart, safe and a good citizen when visiting ghost towns, especially those that are abandoned. Post Offices That means most such towns date from the 1880 to 1940 period. . Little remains of the abandoned desert city: an old grocery store, a . Now's Your Chance. Some vanished entirely or were absorbed into newer settlements, but many of these towns still stand, at least in part, allowing us glimpses of what these now-abandoned places once were.. By 1865, only its saloon was still lively, with a few locals entertaining themselves with whatever drinks they had left . The former boomtown is haunted by a few creepy characters. During the smallpox epidemic, families buried their loved ones in this same cemetery. Between the lost election and the epidemic, the Shafter Lake cleared out pretty quickly. 17. Ghost towns are primarily associated with the Wild West frontier and people flocking to areas with valuable mineral resources, including gold and silver in the Rockies and oil in Texas, GeoTab reports. Shafter Lake: The Haunted Ghost Town in West Texas Conway - Home of the Bug Ranch Dryden - Dying Along the Railroad Del Rio to Sanderson on the Pecos Trail Fort Griffin - Lawlessness on the Brazos Glenrio - A Route 66 Casualty Historic Forts Across Texas Old Mobeetie, Texas buildings by Kathy Alexander. Emily Morgan Hotel, San Antonio. Manage Settings Fort Davis Protecting the Trails of Southwest Texas. Watch out for La Chupacabra! Man, 76, gets prison for role in Mafia-linked Schenectady drug ring, Palazzo Riggi mansion to be sold at 'luxury auction', Castle goes up for sale in Ballston Lake for $1.9 million, Saratoga ticket stoopers cash in on unclaimed winners. Named after the Army officer who discovered the lake, the town reached a population of 500 at its height and had banks, churches, a post office, and even its own newspaper. Texas Centennial Web Visit website. A smattering of motels, restaurants, shops and outfitters occupy the streets where miners once struggled to survive on meager wages. The Texas land boom came 30 years later, and entrepreneur J.F. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Here in Texas, there are plenty of remnants of mining and railroad towns from centuries past. Sign up for our newsletter and get a curated list of the top The town was platted in August of 1907, and was already bustling by September, and had established freight and cargo routes to and from Lubbock and Midland, bringing in timber to build homes. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Great for urban explorers. A feud began to develop between Shafter Lake and the nearby town of Andrews, over which town would become the seat of Andrews County. Be very afraid. The ghost town of Lobo in West Texas is a lesser-known abandoned community named after Mexican wolves that used to roam the area. With a population of only 15 permanent residents, it doesnt get much more empty or desolate than this. Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. The best bet is to choose Open to the Public locations that may even offer historical tours.You will be contributing to historic preservation efforts needed by the ghost town.. A group of 10 friends from Germany who currently own the little desert town . Old Mobeetie, Texas buildings by Kathy Alexander. Courtesy William Wessels. Grain Elevators Lobo, Texas - Wikipedia Ghost Towns of Texas - Legends of America Santo Rio | Historica Wiki | Fandom 13 (Mostly) Abandoned Ghost Towns in Texas (+ Map!) - Lone Star Travel Ghost towns in Texas - 10 abandoned places for a fun Houston getaway Ownership then transferred to the Rio Grande Mining Company in 1994 and Silver Standard Resources, Inc. in 2001. In 1875, a trading post and buffalo hunter camp sprang up near Fort Elliott, one of Texas last frontier forts. He can be reached on Instagram at aaronspray, The Story Of Terlingua - Texas' Quicksilver Boom Ghost Town, Visiting The Texan Ghost Town Of Terlingua Today, Texas' Bandera is said to be the cowboy capital of the world, ghost towns - like Aurora which was once one of the main towns of the state, Big Bend National Park (which is also worth visiting), Hike Pennsylvania's Ghost Town Trail & See Abandoned Towns Along A Disused Railroad, Big Bend National Park (one of America's more underrated parks), the Wild West feel often shown in older Hollywood Westerns, This Abandoned Smokies Ghost Town Is Easy To Hike To. He has practiced there since 1891, is a fine physician and is regarded as such by the people and by his colleagues. Howell Package Store in Shafter, Texas today by Kathy Alexander. Texas Escapes Shafter Silver Mine History Neither the Texas Almanac nor the Handbook of Texas classify this a ghost town. Gordon, struck oil in nearby Ranger, setting the stage for the West Texas oil boom. Those who witnessed the ghost say that shes transparent and seems to glow. This is when some 10,000 'chiliheads' come to the ghost town for two annual chili cookoffs. Other sections of the county may follow the example set, quite increasing thereby the income of the farmer and making him independent of the staple article, cotton. All the mining company surface property was scrapped. Related: Hike Pennsylvania's Ghost Town Trail & See Abandoned Towns Along A Disused Railroad. Shafter Lake was an isolated town, and proper medical care was few and far between. That being said, unlike just about every other town in Texas, there is no Walmart, Starbucks, McDonald's, Dairy Queen, or Radio Shack. Check it out: Lobo is located in Culberson County between the Van Horn and Wylie Mountains. Banks, Columns: Monuments Rescuers called to Catskills swimming hole again, Schenectady County declares state of emergency over migrant surge. It is situated along U.S. Highway 90, about 12 miles (19 km . Thanks to its close location with Big Bend National Park (one of America's more underrated parks), Terlingua is a popular tourist destination and side trip for those visiting the park. Because of the dispute,Fort Bliss in El Paso, which had been closed in 1877, was reestablished the same year. A visitor center, housed in a 1923 school, chronicles the Red River War and displays paintings by Texas artist Kenneth Wyatt. Prominent settlers: J. Darby, C. W. Moore, J. L. House, A. W. Young (deceased), T. C. Moore (deceased), W. A. George E. Barstow, the town's namesake, was a leader in the irrigation industry and brought his expertise to West Texas to grow fruit. Music Terlingua boomed in the mid-1880s after the discovery of cinnabar (from which metal mercury or quicksilver is extracted). Food Want to Buy a West Texas Ghost Town? Now's Your Chance. The name "Terlingua" could be a corruption of the Spanish phrase "Tres Lenguas" or "Three Tongues" - a name that may have referred to a local feature. West Texas Ghost Town travel guide: history, old & new photos, vintage Everyone loves a good ghost story and Texas has plenty to keep it creepy all year round. He is passionate about traveling and opening up the world for other intrepid explorers. Big Bend National Park. A local witch doctor made an herbal concoction, which she claimed would cure the illness. Outdoor activities in the area include camping, hiking, motorcycling, rafting on the Rio Grande, and mountain biking. You can still see the eerie Pecos River Bridge from a distance. The Presidio La Bahia is a little known Spanish fort and mission in Goliad, Texas. Today, the saloon has been recreated atop its old foundation. The fort has existed at its current location since 1747, but was first built in 1721 before it was moved twice. Tucked in the lowland desert between the national and state parks lie the small communities of Study Butte, Terlingua . Lodges The towns post office closed its doors forever in January 2004. TEXAS GHOST TOWNS Ghost Towns in WEST TEXAS Popular List More Ghost Towns in: Central Texas Texas Hill Country East Texas South Texas West Texas Texas Gulf Coast Texas Panhandle Texas Ghost Town List Over 1000 Ghost Towns POPULAR Salt Flat Stiles 10-1-18 Langtry Mentone Toyah Kent Tesnus Best 10-1-18 Castolon Lobo Fort Holland Tesnus Pandale Maria Schmidt, who operates Mysterious Adventures Tours, says those visiting ghost towns should keep in mind that its a historical location, so they should always take precautions relating to the integrity of the physical structure, history and, per Schmidt, its potential supernatural exchange. The townsfolk were desperate and were willing to try anything, so they accepted the witch doctors unusual medicine. Its proximity to Mexico also gives it something of the Wild West feel often shown in older Hollywood Westerns. However, in the late 1930s, irrigation water pumping at nearby Dell City lowered the water table to such a degree that natural salt ceased to be deposited in its previous amounts, and mining became unprofitable. Generally, therewere about 300 employees working for the mining company that came fromseveral ethnic groups and geographical areas. Both men eventually added cafes and tourist courts to their operations. Unfortunately, in the mid-1880s, a severe drought hit Belle Plain, altering their upward growth. Last Updated on December 16, 2021by Preeya Bhakta In every classic stereotype of the Wild West, there is a scene of a tumbleweed rolling across the dirt or gravel of an abandoned ghost town. The idea was to find out who made the best chili instead of a Wild West shootout that's gone out of fashion. with a Past Mobeeties colorful history is retold at the Old Mobeetie Jail Museum. There was not much else notable about the region, except for the alkaline saltwater lake that came and went with the seasons. Courthouses Deep in the South Plains of Texas lies a tiny ghost town that sits on the banks of a saltwater lake. This once bustling town had a population of as many as 4,000 people, but today is mostly quiet and called home to only a few families. Russell. The main house at The Villa de la Mina, a ghost town in Terlingua, which is near Big Bend in West Texas. With 511 ghost towns, the most in the United States, the Lone Star State has a fair share of creepy in its arsenal, with many unexplained events happening to this day, and these towns are the creepiest of the creepy. In 1928, Edwin W. Hammack, the son of a rancher from Van Horn, Texas, learned from highway surveyors that a new highway between El Paso and Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, was to pass through the area. Legend: A man who made an honest living raising goats earned the nickname, The Goatman. In July 1934. the mines reopened during the Franklin Roosevelts New Deal Program. The town takes its name from its location within a dry salt pan, a flat expanse of ground covered with salt and other minerals. West Texas ghost town Lobo is for sale - Axios Dallas 12 ghost towns to visit in Texas - Chron Churches West Point - Texas Ghost Town Mexicans from both sides of the border and African Americans found better-paying jobs at the mine and many miners worked there until many left to prospect in the Klondike Goldrush in Alaska in 1897. While Shafter never lived in the town, he definitely left his mark. His ranch is still operational, being run by his descendants. In addition, she said its important to familiarize yourself with potential dangers or risks in ghost town explorations, such as unstable structures, condemned conditions, or even harmful air quality. However, the town of Salt Flat didnt exist during these turbulent times, as it didnt get its start until the 1920s. Afterward, Captain Jones arrived with several rangers and began rounding up suspects and returned to Marfa, Texas with seven men under arrest for murder. Aaron is a first-hand traveler who has visited more than 80 countries around the world. Texas History SHAFTER LAKE: THE HAUNTED GHOST TOWN IN WEST TEXAS. Black History Shafter, Texas Mining Remains by Carol Highsmith. 2023 Copyright River City Ghosts. Books Located near the Texas- Mexico border in Brewster County in the southwestern part of the state, Terlingua, Texas, is an intriguing ghost town. 1) Terlingua alex de carvalho/Flickr Arguably the most famous of Texas ghost towns, its name refers to the three languages spoken there: Indian, Spanish, and English. Baker, T. Lindsay, Ghost Towns of Texas,University of Oklahoma Press, 1991 In the 1850s this lonely patch of West Texas, roughly halfway . Texas is a state famous for many things (particularly cowboys - Texas' Bandera is said to be the cowboy capital of the world). Though the partners were able to buy foursections of land (2560 acres), they lacked the capital and the technical expertise to mine the ore. Terlingua View of ghost town of Terlingua in Texas. The town reached its peak in 1910 when it had a population of 500. Before long asettlement began to grow around the mining operation which took thetook the name Shafter after the Major. The 50 soldiers encamped in Shafter was enough todiscourage Mexican bandits from raiding the mines and the town. Barstow, Texas This town came together in the late 19 th century and had a very shot flash of fame. With a population of only 15 permanent residents, it doesnt get much more empty or desolate than this. West Texas ghost town Lobo is for sale - Axios Dallas Jun 12, 2023 - Real Estate West Texas ghost town is for sale Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi Photo: Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images Like old Westerns? Statues Hecollected a sample which he took to Colonel William R. Shafter,commander of the First Infantry Regiment at Fort Davis, who had it assayed. When they looked down to make sure he has passed, The Goatman was nowhere in sight and was never seen again. (To read about the ghost town of Terlingua, click here.) Museums You can read up on the top ten most haunted spots in San Antonio right here! The smallpox epidemic of 1910-1911 devastated the town, killing a decent portion of the towns residents. From the 1950s through the 1970s several attempts were made to reopen the Presidio Mine at Shafter. The rich surrounding country has various kinds of soil, mostly rich loam beds. Texas Ghost Towns You Can Still Visit - Culture Trip By 1903 around 3,000 lived in and around Terlingua. Learn more on the ghosts at the haunted Yorktown Hospital. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. The potential for renewed economic activity in the area led to a slight rebound in population, which reached approximately 57 in 2009. The creature was seen in the San Antonio area during the mid-90s, costing ranchers quite a few cattle. Ghost towns were once thriving communities that have dwindled over the decades, according to the website. Books Be afraid. However, mining operation were suspended indefinitely in 2013 following a sharp decline in silver prices. Shes known to steal the souls of unsuspecting victims. Before that time, the only roads between the flats and El Paso had been rude affairs that followed along buried oil pipelines. During the Autumn, on nights where the moon is full, witnesses have spotted Shafter and his troops riding their horses across the lake. It wasthe first major mining town established in west Texasand the only successful silver mining area. This prompted the 12-year-longEl Paso Salt War between the businessmen themselves and against the areas locals, resulting in the deaths of as many as 30 people and multiple injuries. The main house at The Villa de la Mina, a ghost town in. Updated: 11:54 AM CDT May 11, 2023. In 1932, a plane crashed in the nearby Guadalupe Mountains due to fog, and the federal government responded by building an emergency aircraft landing strip at Salt Flat. It was discovered in 1902 and continued to operate until 1943, by which time it had produced 100,000 flasks of quicksilver. People Texas Centennial History/Opinion Werewolves howl, phantoms prowl, and Goatman's growl. Texas State Historical Association . Wild West Texas Ghost Towns With The Spookiest Legends Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. Three more men were arrested as they tried to flee to Mexico. Keep an eye out for La Llorona if youre walking near a river. Be very afraid. That being said, it's more about Texans having an excuse for having some outdoor fun than actual chili. Theaters 6 Most Spooky and Mysterious Ghost Towns in Texas - AZ Animals Schoolhouses Here's where and how to explore them, Here are your picks for the Best of the Capital Region 2023. History buffs like me have long been fascinated by ghost towns communities, cities, and towns that once bustled but are now silent. Construction continued on the large adobecomplex for about six years until a school and accommodations for a priest and nuns wereadded. The Pecos river was a barrier to transportation, especially with the deep gorge, so the local community constructed a bridge. A post office opened in 1885 and the company provided housing for theminers. The same year, the 50-ton mill was replaced with alarger 300-ton capacity mill and the recovery process was changedfrom mercury to cyanide. WWII Wikipedia, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, John C. McCoy Founder of Westport, Missouri, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Railroad. By Ariana Garcia Updated May 22, 2023 5:27 p.m. For only $100,000, a deserted 10-acre town in West Texas could be yours. Locals provide a word to the wise to travelers thinking about taking a fun drive through the shining white Salt Flats of the area. This made the perfect fertile soil for planing anything but was infamous for getting travelers stuck along the trail. Salt Flat, Texas Cafe in its early years. By 1970 its population had dropped to 35 and continued to drop over the following decades. After the town died out, about 12 gravestones remained. The peak population was 150 in year 1892. The ghost town of Lobo in West Texas is a lesser-known abandoned community named after Mexican wolves that used to roam the area. A group of friends from Germany currently own the town that is between Van Horn and . In 1917, the companys entrepreneurial executive, W.K. Santo Rio was a ghost town located in western Texas during the Wild West. Given that Shafter spent so much time in the region, his spirit stuck around. Related: This Abandoned Smokies Ghost Town Is Easy To Hike To. During the 1870s, the West Texas town of Belle Plain flourished with a city newspaper and one of West Texas' only colleges. Small Bridges The town is located on land that formerly belonged to Bill Young. When a gunfight erupted, Gravis, as well as several other people, were killed. Here Are 9 Creepy Abandoned Ghost Towns In Texas - Only In Your State Though Native Americans and Mexicans had utilized these salt depositsfor centuries, in the late 1860s, the region between Salt Flat and El Paso, some 90 miles to the west, came into a dispute as El Paso businessmen tried to acquire title to the salt deposits. She could be a victim, or relative of a victim, of the smallpox epidemic that ravaged the tiny town. Lobo, Texas, has gone through more transformations than Madonna. Animals OnAugust 4, 1890, a fight broke out at a dance at a private residence in Shafter, in whichRanger Private John F. Gravis was in attendance. Alton, TX (now considered Denton) See on Instagram Location: North Texas Legend: A man who made an honest living raising goats earned the nickname, The Goatman. It is close to the Rio Grande and the Mexican border. Most of the bodies at the Lake Shafter Cemetery were dug up and moved to other locations, mostly to nearby Andrews. The coolest ghost towns in Texas show time's effects on - Chron The flagpole from the forts original parade grounds stands out front, while half a mile away, a granite historical marker pinpoints the original site of Fort Elliott. Would you or have you already experienced this ghost town? The salt came from shallow lakes formed in the Rio Grande Valley after rains in the Guadalupe Mountains. Bustin convinced the firm Pierce & Powers to establish a town on the lakes north end. Concordia Cemetery in Shafter, Texas by Kathy Alexander. The settlement grew into Mobeetie, one of the Panhandles earliest towns and the original Wheeler County seat. Love Texas? Geography. The company compiled a list of over 3,800 ghost towns, creating an interactive map that showcases the "Ghost Towns of America." Many ghost towns date to the 1800s, an era of industrialization and westward expansion. As with many other discovery stories, the actual facts about the discovery of cinnabar in the area are so shrouded in legend (and outright fabrication) that it is almost impossible to know exactly how and when it first happened. Development proceeded quickly and miningmachinery washauled to the site part of the way by train and then byfreight wagon. Courtesy William Wessels, West Point Garage Quicksilver mining peaked by the end of World War I. The man didnt argue with the ghost and promptly left. William Shafter and his troops once patrolled the area around Shafter Lake on horseback, and they often had clashes with the Comanche tribe that called the area home. Other top states include those in the Great Plains, such as Kansas, Oklahoma and the Dakotas. Salt Flat, Texas, is a ghost town located in Hudspeth County in west Texas. Dr. M. E. Clary is a resident physician of West Point. Locals say that a ghostly woman in white now haunts the Lake Shafter Cemetery. Those who fell ill went crazy, and some gouged out their eyes and the eyes of their children while poisoned by their delusions. Today, all that remains of Shafter Lake are the 12 grave cemetery and a nearby building. Lobo is a tiny windswept ghost town in West Texas, some 60 miles northwest of art mecca Marfa. The town consists of three stores, one drug store, two physicians, three hotels, two blacksmith shops, two cotton gins, one molasses press owned by Mr. House who turns out a superior molasses known over the county, and one cannery. 631 Ivey Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852, USA. (To read about the ghost town of Terlingua, click. ) The company continued operation of the brick plant, but by the late 1930s, Thurber was a ghost town. However, a Greyhound bus stop still is in use at the side of the old 1929 cafe, but the bus doesnt stop unless passengers stand beside the road and wave it down. Salt Flat, Texas Ghost Town - Legends of America trending stories every day. The town takes its name from its location within a dry salt pan, a flat expanse of ground covered with salt and other minerals. Big Bend National Park. Shafter Lake lost by a narrow margin, costing the small town its prestige and the promise of future employment. Depots According to a report by our media partners at The Dallas Morning News, little . Here are some of the spookiest wild west ghost towns in Texas that have the most interesting legends behind them. Extreme Texas weather created "Ghost Towns" - Spectrum News So if one would like to sample and see who makes the best Texan chili, time one's visit for an epic chili cookoff. Terlingua is one of Texas' most notable ghost towns, as well as a great side trip for visiting Big Bend National Park. Shafter Lake was named after Confederate soldier William R. Shafter, who discovered the lake while traveling across the countryside. While nobody seems to know the womans connection to the graveyard or to Shafter Lake, its a good guess to say that one of her relatives may be buried there as she seems to keep the cemetery guard.

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