Texas is home to a lot of ghost towns, and with forgotten towns comes boarded-up, overgrown, abandoned places and buildings, too. These buildings once housed thriving businesses, homes, and attractions, but now we can only speculate about the memories made as nature devours the man-made structures. We may never know the stories of these decaying, mysterious buildings, but we can always visit them and wonder what went on inside the four walls of these oddly beautiful old places. Check these out:

1. Old Mosheim School: the crumbling ruins of a school once teeming with children sit in the small town of Mosheim near Waco.
Mosheim, TX 76689, USA
Nicolas Henderson/Flickr


Take a look at this video by @SparrowPublishings:
2. A boarded-up, moss-covered Administration Building in the popular town of Waco.
Matthew Rutledge/Flickr
If you're looking for "abandoned places near me" in Waco, you'll find several around town.
3. Falling Church located in South Bend: it looks on the verge of collapse, but the fragile wood stands strong against the mighty forces of nature. It's one of the most hauntingly beautiful abandoned places in Texas!
South Bend, TX 76481, USA
Nicolas Henderson/Flickr
4. J.P. Torres Dry Goods and Grocery Store in Langtry, now closed to the public -- but reopened for nature.
Langtry, TX 78871, USA
mlhradlo/Flickr
5. Here sits an abandoned store in Duffau, Texas.
Duffau, TX 76457, USA
Nicolas Henderson/Flickr
6. Zedler's Mill in Caldwell County just outside of Luling, a tiny Texas town.
Luling, TX 78648, USA
mlhradlo/Flickr

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7. Only a few dozen residents remain in the ghost town of Catarina, but the Diamond H Citrus Storefront still stands despite the encroaching vegetation.
Catarina, TX 78836, USA
mlhradlo/Flickr


Take a look at this footage of the ghost town of Catarina by @beyond_civilization:
8. What might have been a sprawling mansion or apartment building in Waco is now a defunct skeleton, forgotten and covered in ivy and moss.
Matthew Rutledge/Flickr
9. Terrell State Hospital, an abandoned insane asylum in Terrell, Texas. This building definitely should be investigated by the crew of "Ghost Adventures," wouldn't you agree?
Terrell, TX, USA
margaret/Flickr
10. Waco seems to be the king of abandoned buildings in Texas; if you want to go on an all-day tour of creepy forgotten buildings, this is the place to do it.
Matthew Rutledge/Flickr
11. The abandoned Cottle Hotel in Paducah: try to check in now, and you may not ever leave...
Paducah, TX 79248, USA
Nicolas Henderson/Flickr


Take a look at this video of abandoned places in Paducah by @drivewaytv4400:
12. A decaying warehouse in Texas once bustling with workers now lies in quiet abandon.
Brian Austin/Flickr

Are there any other forgotten or abandoned Texas places worth checking out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

And if you want to go and explore the state in search of abandoned places, don’t forget your camera! Don’t have a camera? No problem! Check out this GoPro on REI.com.

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More to Explore

Abandoned Places

Sarah M. | April 29, 2022

What are some of the most famous abandoned places in Texas?

Among the most famous abandoned places in Texas is Marfa:

  • Marfa is a place where time stands still save for the drifting of tumbleweeds down its deserted streets.
  • Eerie and strange, beautifully abandoned yet in a way that has completely captured the heart of the nation, it’s a Texas experience you simply won’t get anywhere else.
  • In addition to the town itself, there is an actual Prada store in the middle of the desert in Marfa. Located on a lonely stretch of U.S. 90, this is a roadside attraction that's as mysterious as it is intriguing and just beckons road-weary travelers to stop and investigate. When you do, you'll discover that this store is little more than a desert mirage, with no inventory or staff -- and you can’t even walk inside. (It does actually display the Fall 2005 Prada collection, which was donated by Miuccia Prada herself.) The Prada Marfa Sculpture is a postmodern pop-up sculpture that's a statement about consumerism and the fashion industry; it's easily the most iconic and famous abandoned place in Texas (and perhaps even the country!) and it's really something you have to see and experience.
  • However, not all of Marfa is abandoned, It has a thriving population of just under 2,000 residents.

 

What are some abandoned places near me that I can explore in Texas?

Texas is a massive state, which means there's lots to explore... and that includes an abundance of abandoned places! From ghost towns to decaying buildings, spots slowly being reclaimed by nature to haunted icons (hello, Alamo!), there's no shortage of creepy places to explore in the Lone Star State. That's why we put together this road trip to the most haunted places in Texas, and with nine spots on this adventure, there's bound to be a creepy spot near you!

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