10 SMALLEST Towns in TEXAS
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
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Have you ever wondered what the smallest towns in Texas look like? Well I drove all around the state searching for them and here they are! This was such a fun trip! The largest town on this list is 63, while the smallest actually has zero! Some of these towns were started in the late 1800's and have slowly gotten smaller decade after decade. Some of them were created to get around the liquor laws in Texas and never grew to be very large. This was a very fun and interesting trip!
T-shirt: Wakiliwood Uganda
0:00 Intro
0:40 Putnam
4:37 Toyah
8:57 Lakeview
13:18 Dayton Lakes
16:08 Spofford
18:34 Draper/Corral City
21:53 Los Ybanez
25:29 Quintana
30:49 Impact
34:23 Mustang
39:27 Final Thoughts
40:07 Outtakes
Music
You are the Only - TrackTribe
Under the Wire - The Mini Vandals
All Hail the Queen - Dan Lebowitz
Michigan Greens - Dan Lebowitz
Jeremiah's Song - Dan Lebowitz
Western Spaghetti - Chris Haugen
Log Cabin - SIlent Partner
5-O-July - Dan Lebowitz
Interesting story about Putnam you may enjoy. It would have been around 1963 my family was returning from California to our home in Irving, Tx and the car broke down. At 4:30 is a filling station in the video. We spent 5 days there broke down. Behind the service station is a white house. There was a lady who lived there who ran a kind of cafe in her kitchen. At that time there was no other place to eat in town. My parents car was a 1958 Borgward. Nobody in that area had heard of one, much less have parts available. My stepfather had to call somebody in Dallas to get the parts and send them on the Greyhound bus to Putnam. As a kid, that was a great adventure.
Great story! Now that I’ve been there I can imagine what it was like! Thanks for sharing!
Great story!!
The dad of a friend of mine in high school bought a Borgward. It had a clutchless three speed transmission.
@@swingrfd The one my parents had was a 58 Isabella Station Wagon. I remember my stepfather bought an Isabella Coupe for a parts car that sat in our back yard. I remember their car had a four on the tree. Really strange because you had to put the shifter all the way to the back, pull it out, and then pull it forward and up for reverse.
My mom was born not far from here so when he said Putnam I was ohhh hell ... I'm not past Putnam yet wonder if her birth place will be on here it's small too.
Thanks to your show. We moved our small business to one of those towns. Everybody was able to buy a home cheap. Shippers are not a problem. We are only a short drive from any entertainment or there is streaming. No real crime and quite happy.
Oh wow that’s awesome! Glad to be a small part of it - I wish you success in the world with your business!
which town did you settle into?
Yes. Where did u settle. I would love to know
I was a trial lawyer in Sacramento and my husband decided to move us to Alto, Texas! Yeah, no country club, no tennis club, no courthouse, no library. My husband wanted to help his pastor friend start a church in Alto. Noble idea, but we lasted less than a year. 😮
Tough livin’ in some of those places!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy I had a daughter in San Francisco, a son in NYC, and a son in Seattle so I would drive to Houston (3 hrs) and fly away. I considered myself very fortunate!
Bless you and your husband. You tried!!
I own a ranch out there😂😂😂. Alto, is dead. TSC and dollar general. Rusk train and dogwood Forest in Palestine, home of Walmart and metheads 😂. I can't get a beer from silsbe to Athens. Everything is going to crap. Crime is More and More. Kids don't have jobs.
I seriously see a country club and tennis club More boring then those small towns 😊 nothing like living in a small town where there's no hight crimes,noise, drama and traffic..
My grandmother was born and raised in Toyah, we would walk around the whole town in under 20 minutes. fond memories of that itty bitty town.
Very interesting town to walk around and explore!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy we went into the school back then it was still usable and there were some very cool pictures. My great grandpa worked on the railroads.
I love going to local cafes in rural small towns :)
My sister and I were driving around near Fredericksburg, and decided to find Luckenbach, TX. We found it, but it was just a bar and a little store.We thought it would be bigger. On the way home, we sang the song and laughed!!
Small but historic!
Love the song.
I grew up in Texas and first heard of Luckenbach, when Jerry Jeff Walker released his album, Viva, Terlingua
I've always felt a sense of sadness for the dried-up little towns in Texas. I live in one. when I see the old businesses in pictures and view the abandoned buildings today it just seems like such a waste. there was so much life there at one point and now.... through circumstance, lack of foresight, vision, planning, adapting etc... take your pick.... it's all lost. What was is no more and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. God Bless the little man and the little town
❤️
The interstates killed a whole bunch of the small towns.
Same here… our little town dried up when they did a bypass for the state highway
My exact feeling when driving through Quitman, Texas. I see the old abandoned oil field buildings and sites. I know that that supported thriving livelihood for residents and their families and now it is mostly gone. But Quitman is not a dried up little town. It's just different that it used to be.
Loma alta texas bro
Native Texan, have family all over the state. It's amazing how oil, railroads, ports, cattle and even liquor laws shaped this state over the years.
Very interesting how all that happened!
Yes, Texas full of color charm. And some enterprising folks.
Native Texan? What tribe an clan?
@@CWoLF2001 one could argue that even native Americans are not native.. they migrated here during the last ice age
@@CWoLF2001@travelwithawiseguy
Cherokee aren't native to Texas, and I'm sick to death of Cherokee Two-Percenters running their mouths and guilting people who had nothing to do with the betrayal of the "Yellow Rose" of Texas, Chief Bowles. You remember him? He was the strawberry blonde chief of the Texas Cherokee that provided troop strength and movements to his kin, a man with a white mother, who's father was 1/8 white? Yeah, Jesse's big brother was pissed about the Alamo which is why the surname I carry outnumbered all others at San Jacinto.
But since you ask, *IF* we ignore the matrilineal requirements to be tribal Cherokee *LIKE YOU* did, well, I'd be Bear Clan. Bear eats wolf pup. Not even the Beloved man of the Eastern Band remembers how to clean his teeth like my father taught me in the Sabine National Forest in '82.
You need Jesus, we all do. You're welcome at the Baptist Church in Combine, Texas. Tim Brewer is the pastor, his mother in law is descended from Jesse if I recall correctly. Guess who I'm descended from? A forgotten man lying in an unmarked grave on the banks of the Neches. I'm fairly certain not a single living NATIVE TEXAN knows, but there's a craven coward in Katy who indoubatebly does. Ask him why the orange man doesn't. 🤠✌
When I was a kid in the '70's,I lived in a tiny desert town of Goldsmith ,Texas. The sheriff rode a horse lol.
Love that! 😊
Lived at Goldsmith as a baby, Dad was a PE with major oil company lived in a camp
As a native Texan, I found this video to be very informative. Thank you for sharing your research with us. 😊
Thank you very much!! 😊
That was enjoyable. Yeah, Texas is a whole-other-country!
Thank you! I agree - and I like it!
In Toyah round 05 the Post Office and bar were the same building. An old man made the best chilly relleno I have ever had.. Looks like the place is gone and I am sure the old man is also. I asked several times how he made them.. His answer " dos manos"
Tu sabe dos manos?
I stopped one time in Putnam and bought a soda at an old store. I pass through there about 6 times a year. I like seeing small towns.
Me too. I love seeing them and passing through. I find it fascinating.
😆 I just mailed a letter from putham mailbox last Friday. Crazy! Just about fell over when you opened this in the exact place I was.
Haha that’s awesome! Do you live there?
@@TravelwithaWiseguy No, I don't live in Putham. I live just north and west in a town almost that small, but I'm thankful that it isn't quite that small. Forgot to drop the letter off when I was in Abilene shopping at Sam's.
Everything in Texas I heard is bigger. Mr. Wise just that to rest with these ten. A great potpourri of size doesn't matter when you are chasing ghosts for miles around Texas. . Excellent video.
What about Texhoma?
Yep, been to Toyah back when it had about 100 people and a school building that was actually used--they had an arts and crafts fair there, plus our 3 year old son road a donkey! Other tiny towns or ghost towns you need to visit or drive through when in far west Texas: Lobo (a ghost town with maybe 10 people), Alamore (between Van Horn and Sierra Blanca which used to have a talc plant), Shafter (near Presidio, used to have quicksilver mines), Redford (where a shepherb boys was shot by a marine sniper because he thought the kid was an illegal), Lajitas (has a GOAT for a mayor!), Study Butte, Valentine (PO is used by folks sending Valentine's Day card, population about 120), Kent, Cherry Creek, Toyahvale (home to Balmorhea State Park, a must place to visit with cold spring swim pool full of catfish, turtles, pup fish, etc.), Saragosa (nearly destroyed by tornado in 1989), Pyote, Wink, and of course, Mentone--you've already been there though...and I'm sure there are more (and Mentone is unincorporated).
Awesome suggestions! Thank you! So many great places to find and explore!
Also, check out Cornudas.
It made my day when you went exploring in Toyah. It’s 25 miles from my hometown of Pecos.
Awesome! I really enjoyed exploring Toyah!
Wow! You covered some boot kickin Country! A Lot of Miles!
Previous video about Tulsa lived there in early 60 went to first grade there Mrs Brown was my teacher, Mrs Woods was my barber,Brother Luper was our preacher, and Dr Richards was everybody’s dr. Great memories!
Dad was a farmer went to Harmon- Toles grain elevator
Tulia not Tulsa
())$&&&)(;:///;;spell check
A carpenter I knew ten years ago bought old homes, transported them to other areas and made quite a living. He said nobody ever asks and there are folks who will gladly sell an old place in a deserted town rather than watch it rot.
Good gainful employment-!!!🤗.
As a native Texan, great video! Informative/well done with the drone shots.
Thank you very much! I appreciate the comment!
I love your content man! Most of us youtubers focus on urban areas but you got the midwest focused on!! Very interesting content
Thank you! There’s so much good stuff out there on CZcams and I’ve learned to stand out a little to “stay in my lane” - I’m from a small town so it makes sense for me. Great channel!
Really enjoyed this especially being a native born Texan from San Antonio originally who's mother and uncle often took me on back road drives around the different places in TX we lived at the time, my mom would drive the highways until we were in the middle of nowhere and then the 1st exit she'd see she'd get off, pick a road that had basically nothing around it and then drive it to another and another road and somehow always managed to find her way back to a major hwy for getting back home on, and I remember that my uncle was in charge of getting the map out so they could figure out which way to get back to the major hwys but I'm thinking that my mom HAD to have a compass with her too! Great time's and great memories cuz TX is a BIG state which even today is fantastic to drive across especially off the beaten path! 🚗🛣️🛣️🚗🛤️👍🏼🤠
Thank you! Nice comment - I loved exploring Texas. Can’t wait to go back again sometime!
Really something to see...
good that a few people like you are getting these places on video...they are going to set abandoned for a few more years and then more of our history will be gone
I appreciate that! I really enjoy seeing them in person, and am glad to document as many as I can!
3:02 that flag is still flying, but the building is crumbling onto the sidewalk. It's crazy the difference a little time makes.
sad for sure!
Great video! Another ghost town you might have checked out is Terlingua.
Thank you! It’s definitely on my list!
Yes, I’ve heard a few things about terlingua. It might be interesting. But, of course, they ALL are interesting! Thank you for your, hard work, time, and money!
Although it's not usually on the "side" of the law, I too love seeking abandoned buildings and enjoy looking inside of them - a "poor man's" treasure hunter, I reckon -
:)
If you did all the small towns in Texas, you could not do it. I live in one and at least within 25 miles there is about 60 places that have names.
Some the little towns in areas of Texas have beautiful old stone buildings in their downtowns.
Wow, the house at about the 3:48 mark, that must have been a mighty house when it was first built.
woow.
best thing between u and other vlogger who has been there in their videos is ,u enters the abandoned area to show how it looks like now .
thank u very much .
indeed .
quintana is the place where my soul calls to go .
it seems like u hit the bulls'eye of my soul .
Thank you very much! I appreciate the nice comment and for you watching!
Research is a little off---In Impact Perkins was a partner with Tom "Pinkie" Roden of Odessa. He got the name because of his reddish complexion---not a elephant sign. Pinkie bought the land , built all the houses and three liquor/mini mart stores and everyone that worked there worked for him. I know this first hand as I worked for Pinkies as Operations Mgr for several years in the early 70's and dealt with Impact supplies and operations. One of my favorite memories was that there was no cold beer sold in Impact. The beer companies would deliver beer by the pallet and set it on the showroom floor and then we would sell a styrofoam cooler and ice. I used to order a train car of coolers from Dart every month just for Impact. Also had three HUGE ice machines and three guys that did nothing except bag ice for sale. Texas does not allow this type of incorporation anymore---the law is called the Law of Impact.
Thank you for the great info! I was hoping these videos would bring in comments like this. It’s almost impossible to know the whole story for an outsider like me. I appreciate it!
Actually some of these DO have an eerie quality. Every place has its own unique atmosphere. Some where you can feel sadness and other places joy and peace is easily felt.
Very true!
Wow, I worked for UPS for 41 years in tractor trailers. I spent about 13 years running cross country. We ran from L.A. to Dallas twice a week. I went right through Putnam and never even knew it. There are certainly no signs. We ran I-10 until you get to mile marker 186 and that is where I-20 starts. Toyah is the first town you come to on I-20, its about 19 miles up from I-10 and we parked there several times, slept there etc. A local told us Toyah used to be a huge cattle shipping point at one time. Cool video, it brought back good memories.
Love that story! Thanks for watching!
Close to my Hometown Van Horn Texas
Well researched, filmed and MANY windy miles driven! Appreciate all your efforts. Liquor sales were a surprising theme. The Jetty walk and outtakes is a highlight! looking forward to your next tour.
Thank you very much!! I was surprised about that too when don’t the research.
I am almost 70 years of age and I grew up in Johnson County approximately 50 miles from Ft Worth. The impact of two things in the early 1900s was profound.First, the growth of the Protestant churches and second, the effects of Prohibition.
My little hometown was "dry" and is still "dry" in 2023. If you want to purchase alcoholic beverages you have to drive about 35 miles to the nearest "wet" town.
I remember the town's population was 961... seemingly until about 2000. The population is now nearly 1600 as the DFW metroplex grows and people live in the outlying little towns and commute to their employment places.
In the past few years as this modest growth has occurred... many locals attribute it to the nature of the K-12 education as people with children leave urban school districts.
When I grew up in the fifties and sixties, agriculture was the town's economic engine. For many reasons this is no longer the case... the agriculture nearby today is mostly gentlemen farmers and retirees. Not many farm families are able to get the economies of scale needed to sustain themselves.
I really enjoyed this video! Thanks!
Los Ybanez was a CCC labor camp back in the ‘30s. The Ybanez family bought it in the 80’s for the purpose of incorporating it and selling alcohol. They made a mint until the city of Lamesa went wet about 10 years ago.
I don't think I have ever seen the inside of a post office on CZcams without an 'auditor' ranting and filming people mailing something.
Must be so rewarding for you to see these unique places.
It's so sad to see little towns die away like this. I'm from a small town in Louisiana. All the stores have closed and most torn down.
Very sad 😞
Crazy there is a mustang Texas in Denton county too. I love watching your videos I've lived in Texas most of my life and love road trips through the state!
Thank you!
Thanks for the video on my home state.
Look forward to more of your travels. ✌
Thanks! Looking forward to releasing some more in the next couple months!
Happy to find a community that enjoys small rural towns and great architectural structures.
Like button smashed 👍🏻
Awesome! Lots of good people in the comments here! I appreciate you joining!
Notice that these towns although may be dilapidated are close to larger areas though small towns they can get to places near I've been to many more places than you've mentioned but have to say that I love Texas small towns and large, God bless Texas
My question: "How far do I have to drive to show my kids a tree?"
Very cool. I grew up in Pecos near Toyah, we used to break into that old high-school to drink...good times
😂😂
Love this episode!!
Good job!!
Thank you!
Watching these from western Europe. Fascinating content, thanks!
That’s awesome thank you!!
Saw that Bankhead Highway sign. That, if I remember right, goes through Midland, too. It would be fun to explore that highway start to finish one day.
Agreed!
Goes thru Big Spring, Texas too
I enjoy watching these, but sometimes I think some of the "abandoned town" channels fudge the truth a bit. Not you, but another guy was showing the barrios of towns near me that have half a million dollar houses and new schools he never showed. The drone shots are great because they give a true depiction. This old high-school is a beautiful piece of turn-of-century architecture. Thanks!
Thank you! I try to show it honestly and the drone definitely helps to show the perspective of the town. I appreciate the comment!
Great video, man!! We love these tiny towns and the stories behind them.
Thank you!!
My friend, the work you put into this is very impressive. Very interesting and well-done video.
Thank you very much! I really enjoyed it!
I really enjoy these videos!
Melvin. one of the many town thought to be in the heart of Texas, also used to have a much bigger population when the railroad went through there. It has around 300 now, at latest count.
Bagging the Texas towns takes commitment. Huge place
It was a heckuva trip!
Great vid!!!!! love it I like that you are finding these little gems
Thanks man! Same to you!
Just moved to Dallas area. Hope to explore some of these towns.
Have fun! Lots of interesting places to explore there!
You really found some interesting small towns. Very curious about Mark Cubans reasoning for buying this town. TFS
Yes! Will be interesting to see what happens! Thanks for watching again!
It was to help out a friend who was going through a financial drought of sort.
Sorry for all the comments, I just keep thinking of stuff as I watch. The old basketball hoops in the Toyah school. All I can think is I wonder when the last basketball to go through those hoops was.
Love all the comments! And I bet they had some crazy games in there!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy Take a basketball along with you, and you can say you had the most recent bucket in town!
This was quite a different video than what we have gotten use to riding along with you. But even then, it was as much fun and interesting as the rest. Once again, thank you for taking us along! I really appreciated the ride.
Thanks! It was a lot of fun and a great experience. Texas is like a whole different country!
Probably clanked off the rim and the ball went flat.
I was in 7th grade for Toyah's last school year, '73-'74. Pecos took Barstow in '69, and Toyah in '74. That's why the buses have Pecos-Barstow-Toyah I.S.D. on them. I remember the games in that gym, the pep rallies, the last Christmas program, the last graduation. The Toyah Buffaloes were no more. But the memories will always remain.
You could make a video of the Town's that are no longer there. Destroyed by fire or weather.
There's quite a few of them!
Yes Texas is full of abandoned ghost towns!
Enjoyed this video very much. Lots of history...and humor...
Thank you! It was a lot of fun to do!
Thank you for sharing,very informative history,freedom before fear, San Antonio Texas, thank you, Amigo 🍀🍀🍀🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you very much!! Very nice of you to say!
I grew up on the Left Coast. When I was stationed at Fort Hood I went to my roommates hometown Richards Texas. I graduated Highschool with more people than lived in Dick TX.
Comes to something when the local cemetery is the largest maintained parcel of land. I live close to Quintana, and nowadays, it's essentially a fee-based state park, even just to park and enjoy the Gulf for a few hours. Beautiful walkways, true, but that's about it. Right now, it's essentially a subscription based HOA. On the occasion, we skip all that, turn north on the Blue Water, and go to 3 Mile turnoff: just be sure to park near the Christmas trees as they become dunes so you don't lose your ride to the tide.
That stone church is beautiful
Holy cow. Raised my kids in Round Top population 80 and it didn’t even make the top 10. Dayton Lakes was devastated by multiple hurricanes and politics. You are very lucky you got out of there safely.
Thanks for the comment! Yeah I definitely got out of there pretty quickly. It just felt strange.
Live right by RT-Carmine.... In Snook Texas!
I was a writer for the San Angelo Standard-Times many years ago, and I was sent to do a story about Mentone in Loving County on the New Mexico border. I was asking the mayor, who owned the only store around, how many people lived in Mentone. He thought a minute and then he started ticking off his fingers, “There’s Sally and Ben, John, Mary…” I think they had about a dozen people there at the time. Big oil and gas country. Pump jacks working all over and they would have traded any one of them for one that could pump good water.
Love that story 😂
You should try out Gilliland! Less than 20 people left there. Majority of the buildings in the town have been abandoned for decades. About 50 years probably.
Lived in FreePort Tx. Next to Quintana and I believe the only reason both towns haven’t disappeared it’s because of the fishing, beach and Chemical plants.
I really enjoyed your video and am now a new subscriber. I live in Strawn, which is about 40 miles east Putnam off of I-20 and also along the historic Bankhead Highway. My husband and I love traveling to tiny towns around Texas and learning their history, just like this. Keep up the good work 👏
Thank you very much! I appreciate the support!
@Travel with a Wiseguy ... There are so many places like this in Texas and all over the country. Strawn grew up along the RR and also had a coal mine that supplied coal for the engines. In the 1920's Strawn had a population of over 2,000, and now it's about 600.
I live in Merkel and we drive to Strawn, about 80 miles, just to eat at Mary's. I always love driving by the Bankhead Hwy Hotel and that gorgeous mansion on the outskirts of town heading north. We drive through and marvel. What a beautiful place. And because I love 6-man football, the Strawn Greyhounds have to get a mention!😉
I just subscribed today!! Love seeing these tiny town's. Interesting to think about what it must be like to live there. It looked like there's more people in the cemetery than in the actual town. What do you do all day? There is probably not any neighbors in different age brackets for kids, teenagers ,young adults. It's fascinating!
@@nancydesrocher8338 Thank you very much Nancy! Most people in these towns live simple lives. Some travel many miles to work while others are probably into agriculture in the area. I'm always fascinated too!
I wish you would go to the cafes and talk to residents about their towns.
I’ve done that before (my Loving County video), but most people don’t want to be on camera. But I do go and talk to them off camera.
While not on this list, check out Edmondson in the southern panhandle. The last census taken there was way back in 2010, but the sign shows 111 people still. The town has undoubtedly declined since 2010, an old farming community that has slowly dwindled.
From what I’ve found, Edmondson’s population at the 2020 census was 86 so you’re correct about it dwindling.
I was raised on a farm out side of Kerrick Texas. On the Oklahoma state line on highway 287. It had a school at one time we use it as a community building. We had no major just a person that took money to pay the bills on the community building. There were 27 that lived in town don't know how many were in the farms around. We went to school in Srratford Tex. Also had a post office a restaurant an filling station. Thoes were the days
Good times!!
I see these towns as history you can see and touch. So many stories.
😊
It's funny to me that I've lived in or near the Texas panhandle for decades, and I still haven't heard of towns like Lakeview. It's actually just a few miles South of some farm land Wife and I will be inheriting from her Mom between Clarendon and Hedley.
Hedley has a big, 2 story, abandoned, brick schoolhouse, too. It can be seen from US 287 if you go slow.
So sad to see the abandoned buildings. I live in a small town in Texas. We do have one four way
stop.
Cool places out there!! Really enjoyed this one! So much of the " unusual"! So cool to see!
Thank you! Texas has so much to explore in terms of small and ghost towns!
God can’t believe Mustang has nobody 😄, Is there a part 2 but just other smaller towns in central Texas?🤘🏽 I’m from #lockharttexas there’s small towns all around maybe you can visit 🔜 🙏🏽
Thanks for watching! This is the smallest 10 towns in the entire state. I have a few ghost town videos on the channel if you're interested. I live in Kansas so I can't get down there as often as I'd like. So many great places to visit!
Quite interesting thanks for taking us along
Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing!
My Grandfather was bornded in Floydada Texas. On the high plains of the Llano Estacado in West Texas It is not too far from The second largest canyon in the country Palo Duro Canyon Palo Duro Canyon lies in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Palo Duro Canyon Palo Duro Canyon is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Texas, United States. This rural community lies on the high plains of the Llano Estacado in West Texas and is sometimes referred to as the Pumpkin Capital of Texas. The population was 3,038 at the 2010 census, down from 3,676 at the 2000 census
Ever heard of the Palo Duro Canyon Boys? How about Mr. Goodnight, the big land owner.
Quintana….the most unusual town in this series. So tidy and neat! A lot of hard work went into preserving this fascinating town. Some wonderful stories must have played out here!
I agree - it has a fascinating history and could've been so much bigger! Beautiful area :)
Putnam is not to far from Abilene. We moved to Abilene in 59 so I have been around here a long time. I well remember impact. It was a busy place. I was hoping you would show Putnams old abandoned school which is across the tracks. That road will take you into CrossPlains. I enjoyed seeing all the small towns.
Dang I wish I would’ve shown it too! I must’ve missed it!
Do you remember seeing the billboard in Abilene about 20 years ago, which said in big letters: Bless God, America!? It was on the edge of town.
Thank you. It was a lot of fun watching and learning about these towns. You did great.
Thank you very much!!
Did some goggling of Dayton Lakes and it has seen some rough times over the years.
I could sense that when I was there
Mainly because of flooding?
@@TheTruthFadeswithTime28 yes, and some infighting between their police and elected officials
I haven't been to Dayton Lake Estates since 2013 to visit a friend. Was told not to go any further down their road as there was a community of squatters and they hated outsiders. It wasn't safe. The school busses picked up the kids for school. No utilities due to the constant flooding. This is just what I was told. Things may have changed since then
If you're ever in Central Missouri around the Truman Lake area, the little town I grew up in is beautiful, historic and VERY small. 35 people to be exact. Iconium, Missouri has a small country store (Iconium Store) that has been in business since the depression and is still going strong. They have beautiful houses, a quiet main street and are just down the road from one of the oldest and most historic Boy Scout Camps in America, H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp. You'll be glad you visited.
Thank you for the heads up!!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy If you go there during Boy Scout Days, you'll see Ico Store (Home Of The World Famous Peach Float) busy as heck and in their full glory. The owner's name is Shannon Tucker. He'd probably be happy to show you around.
I went there and this Texan congratulated ya’ll. Iconium spotlessly clean, super friendly God-fearing folks everywhere we went.
I've enjoyed your videos so much but this particular one caught my eye since I am from a small Texas town, Zavalla. I was glad to see that Zavalla wasn't on this list. lol! I didn't realize that there are so many extremely small and almost completely abandoned towns in Texas. Thank you for the work you put into these videos.
Looks like Zavalla has a population of 603 - so it's HUGE compared to these towns haha. Texas has tons of these towns, hopefully I can explore more someday. Thank you for watching!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy I agree that Zavalla is a huge town compared to those in your video. I am trying to get back to my hometown and away from the Houston area. I love small towns!
The first one, Putnam, WOW!! It's like an original Western town...that one should be preserved and protected as an historical site!!
It definitely feels like stepping back in time!
Putnam is about 40 miles east of Abilene, used to stop in the little store to get something to drink to and from the DFW area, it just about 2 to 4 blocks long right off of I-20 blink and you will definitely miss it 🙂
I don't know how anybody moves into these towns if they wanted to, I don't know how they grow because I have looked up houses for sale in all of these towns and none of them do.
I taught school in Putnam in the early 70's and would have liked to see the 'all-grades, K-12 school on your video. It is on the other side of the Interstate. My experience with your #2 (Impact) was used while in school in Abilene. Thank you for this walk back into history.
Thanks for watching!!
I loved the facts and visuals of my great state of Texas. You seemed to be all around me (Gun Barrel City), as well as where I had lived. Let me help you with the dirt on Dayton lakes, it backs up to the Big Thicket. Bad news, the area is full of cover from the thick landscape and has been infested with meth addicts that stretch past Dayton area. This is why people have decided to leave the area, even I took my children out of those woods in 1990. The only ones left are those who are elderly and have no choices or the ones who created this situation. Many people come up missing in those woods because it's so inhabited. Hope the info gives you some insight.
Thank you for the comment! Very interesting! By the way Gun Barrel City - what a name! But the info about Dayton Lakes makes a lot of sense. I’ve not been many places that I was as uncomfortable as there. Thanks again - very insightful!
Thank you from central Texas. Kerrville
Thanks for watching!
OMG! I can't believe I've been (through) several of those towns. I drove through Putnam a few weeks ago.
Nice!
Love this stuff !
Interesting that you decided to visit these towns in the dead of winter, so that the trees would not have leaves and most of the grass would appear dead. I don't blame you for this, as this allowed you to avoid the horrible weather in the summer, but having bare trees and barren looking landscapes does enhance the hideousness of these towns.
Yeah I hear ya on that, and I mentioned it a couple times in the video where I’m sure it’s nicer and busier in the summer months. This was the only time I could do this because of my full-time job in Kansas. I find beauty in the hideousness!! 😊 Thank you for the comment.
Hi john intresting places all with a story to tell thanks for the tour . Cheers mate 🇦🇺
Thank you very much!
Glad you are back on ghost towns. What a great video. Thanks for sharing
Thank you! 😊
I'm a Texas native also and I loved your video, was so entertaining to watch and also let us know some history about this great state, the only small town I have passed by is Dryden Texas in Terrell county,, is driving by the US hwy 90 going to the west, is very small town, the population is about 45, hope to see more content like this soon.
Thank you! It was a fun video to make! I have several videos about small towns in Texas here - hope you enjoy!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy Thank you and I will !!
Thank you for sharing that was
You bet!
When we traveled to Mason TX, my Dad's hometown, we would pass thru "Art", if you blink, you missed it. Hope to see more videos on small towns in Texas. 🙏🤗
Thanks! Should have another one this weekend 😊
I was shocked when you began talking about Draper/Corral City, started by the Helton family. IF that's what you said then WOW! I did not know that... My maiden name is Helton by birth. I have wondered all my life who that side of the family is & any info I could get on them. My father was a Helton but the story of how it all came to be was always a secret that my grandmother took to her grave, being only 12 at the time she got pregnant. She was 13 when she gave birth so my greatgrands raise him. It get's very interesting since my biological grandfather appearantly worked for the railroad in a high representative position that required him to travel. He was also apparently married at the time with children & the youngest one being 1yr old at the time my father was conceived. We were just not ever able to find out how it came to be. My grandmother lived to about 99 & would NEVER talk about it. 🙁 My father searched for his father his whole life & never found him but years later, we (his kids), found out that our grandfather only lived in the next state over and they were only a few hours drive from each other. Also believed to have lived until the 80's/90's time frame & my dad died in the 90's as well... Supposedly our grandfather was out of VA to start with but before that, we don't know. I've also found out that my father was a large part Chippewa Native American as well. I grew up in Ky but have settled in TX for about the last 35yrs. I would love to know more.
Very interesting! I don’t know much more about the history than what I said. Would be fascinating to find out there was a connection!