More Ghostly Towns
| Remember when your mom used to tell you to do something productive with your time? She probably didn't have Ghost Town Hunting in mind. I'm a dedicated, unapologetic ghost town hunter. While others collect stamps, coins, or beanie babies, I hunt out abandoned buildings and forgotten roads with my maps and camera. I listen to the ancient stories carried by the winds, rustling through the decrepit ruins of what used to be commerce, progress, and dreams. |
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| Dundee, Archer County, Texas US 82 west of Wichita Falls Dundee was once the largest city in Archer County, with many businesses, churches, and schools catering to the area ranchers. A three story hotel greeted travelers on the railroad, and the town even had study clubs and other civilized endeavors. Despite its prominent beginning, Dundee never recovered from a tornado and the Great Depression. What’s to see? A row of commercial buildings, now vacant, still grace US 82 and Main Street. The old Dundee School is falling in on itself. |
| Loveland, Tillman County, Oklahoma OK 36 north of Grandfield until you see a sign that points towards Loveland (left). Though well maintained, notice that this dirt road can be difficult in wet weather. The railroad started Loveland, when it sold lots to farmers in 1908. Soon, the town centered the agricultural activity in the area. Although the railroad still runs through what used to be the town, several fires destroyed the commercial area and nothing was rebuilt. By the 1960s, Loveland was a goner. What’s to see? The base of the water tower makes a scenic photo. Some over-grown ruins hover over the town, and either a bank vault or calaboose sits forlorn on the side of the road. |
| Thalia, Foard County, Texas US 70 southwest of Vernon For anyone who’s read Larry McMurty’s The Last Picture Show, he/she will recognize Thalia as the protagonist’s home town. I didn’t see any theaters in Thalia, but I did encounter fascinating remains. Thalia, a farming and oil community, declined throughout the years as the economy worsened. The school closed in the 1940s. What’s to see? Evidence of the past lingers all over Thalia. An abandoned Methodist Church, decaying Main Street, and the overgrown ruins of the high school give this little town a surreal feel. |
| Medicine Mound, Hardeman County, Texas TX 91 south of Chilicothe (which is on US 287 west of Vernon) The town was named after the four large hills that make up its scenic background – the Medicine Mounds, which are ancient Comanche holy places. Today, they are part of a ranch. Medicine Mound was larger than it once was until the town’s crazy woman burned down the commercial district in the 1930s. Two buildings were replaced – the general store and gas station, using Oklahoma stone (you’ll see similar architecture in Grandfield, OK). However, as ranching and farming consolidated, the town now has a population of zero. A preservation group helps to keep Medicine Mound alive, and the general store (a museum) is open on Saturdays. What’s to see? Two stone buildings, one with gas pumps out front, make for great photo opportunities. Several historical markers recount the story of this interesting little town. Also visit Medicine Mound's Website! |
