Posted in New Mexico May 13, 2021 by

Glenrio Is A Ghost Town In New Mexico With A Fascinating History That You Should Know About

There are some small towns in New Mexico that were once a bustling area with successful businesses, a strong economy, and the potential for much growth. Unfortunately, today, these areas show little sign of life. Glenrio, located in the northeastern part of the Land of Enchantment, is one New Mexico town that was once busy and exciting but has since turned into a true ghost town.

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Glenrio sits on the New Mexico and Texas state border and was founded in 1901. This was once a beautiful small town filled with wheat fields and cattle. Some movies, such as “The Grapes of Wrath” even had scenes filmed in the area.
Lars Plougmann/Flickr
Due to this small town straddling the state border, it caused all sorts of trouble.
Shane Tepper/Google
There were two post offices in this town — one in Texas and the other in New Mexico. Depending on laws, prices, and other conditions, it would affect where certain accommodations were built. For example, the gasoline taxes were higher in New Mexico so all of the gas stations in this small town were built over the Texas state line.
The railroad was built in this New Mexico and Texas town. Years later, Route 66 traveled through the town as well. Glenrio quickly saw many tourists who would stop at a motel or diner as they passed through.
Jasperdo/Flickr
Life began to change for Glenrio residents in 1955 when the Rock Island Railroad Depot closed.
Harry Pherson/Flickr
Years later, more change occurred when Interstate 40 was paved outside of the town. Glenrio saw a drastic decrease in tourists and business. Many travelers began to avoid Route 66 and traveled on the interstate due to faster speeds and more direct routes.
Glenrio was never the same. In the late 1980s, only two residents remained in Glenrio. However, after a short time, they also left this rural town.
samspace81/Google
Today, as you drive around Glenrio, you will see many signs of what life was like in this small New Mexico town including old motel signs and gas stations.
Jasperdo/Flickr

Have you ever been to Glenrio, New Mexico? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience in this incredible ghost town.

If you are looking for other ghost towns to visit while in the Land of Enchantment, here are eight creepy ghost towns you’ll want to visit at your own risk.

Address: Glenrio, NM 88434, USA