Texas Ghost Towns: The Top Four

The long - and often rebellious - history of the Lone Star State has given way to many Texas ghost towns. What were once booming towns with hotels, saloons and rail stations are now specks on a map. Many of these towns' residents left everything in place when they bolted for greener pastures and visitors today can explore abandoned downtowns, schools, churches, graveyards and houses.

The Top Four Texas Ghost Towns

Independence, Texas

At one time, Independence was the wealthiest city in the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston lived here and his third-wife is buried here. Independence was also the original site of Baylor University. But railroads never went through the booming town and eventually Baylor University moved its location, and Independence, Texas became a ghost town. Today, Independence remains well preserved and visitors can see around 30 historical landmarks. Remnants of the female college at Baylor University remain and several houses and a public school are fully intact.

Mentone, Texas

As far as Texas ghost towns go, Mentone is probably the youngest. The town itself wasn't formed until 1922, and less than 20 years later it was mostly abandoned. For a very brief period in history, Mentone was booming and had several stores, a school, churches and a main street. After the oil dried up, most of the residents moved on. Today, visitors can see debris left over from the old oil pumps and several former residences built in Art Deco style. The county courthouse is also still standing in what was the downtown area of Mentone.

Helena, Texas

Helena is surrounded with legend. As the story goes, the son of a nearby rancher was shot in killed on the streets of Helena. The rancher, Colonel Butler, wanted vengeance for his son's death, but when he couldn't find the culprit settled on just destroying the whole town instead. He made a deal with the railroad to put the rail lines through his land and bypass the town entirely. Without the railroad, Helena struggled and eventually all of the residents moved on. Today, visitors can see the old outpost and a few scattered ranch style houses built in the late 1800s.

Toyah, Texas

Walking down Main Street, visitors might think this small town in West Texas is frozen in time. Toyah fits the bill for Texas ghost towns. Fire trucks sit abandoned on the side of the road, buildings are falling to decay and rusted cars sit parked outside of what was once a booming city center. In its heyday, Toyah, Texas had two hotels, saloons, a bank and a post office. Then the stock market crashed, and residents began leaving the town. After a tornado blew through the center of town in 2004, only a few things remain- some scattered houses, the railroad tracks a playground and the old high school.

Independence, Texas, Texas Escapes.
Toyah Texas, Texas Escapes.
C.F Eckhardt, The Gunfight That Killed Helena, Texas Escapes.
Mentone Texas, Ghost Towns.