Empty, Almost Ghost Towns In The Dusty Texas Plains

I lived in Spur in 1969, I shined shoes at the barber shop, when the regular guys was out. I play pool right down the street , bought my first cowboy hat at the general store. seen a bloody movie at Halloween, at the movie theater. Had my first real girl friend from there. A lot of memories from that little town. I was thirteen at the time.

One of the greatest high school prom dances I ever did was in Spur, May 11, 1979 (AmaChron The Z-93 Entertainers). The theme was "Saturday Night Fever" and the kids were enthralled with 'Disco Fever'. Started the dance with "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever", "Boogie Nights" and "How Deep Is Your Love". They danced to every song and a gave a huge round of applause at the end. Also did dances in Ralls and Dickens in later years.

Thank you again for bringing vistas of America that we would never see otherwise - it really is an education in how immense the country is and how the changing economic conditions cause towns to rise and fall. Appreciate everything you do !

I grew up in that area. Every August Roaring Springs would have the Old Settlers Reunion. In the 60s it was a big deal. Indoor dance hall with a live band. Outdoor dancing with a live band. Rodeo and full carnival with rides and games. I was playing Bingo for the first time. My father looked at my card and told me I had a Bingo. I asked him what I should do. The said yell Bingo. I was hooked on that game. Thousands of people would be there for the 3 days. Highway Patrol and Sheriff Deputies from all around the area would be there to keep order. Fun times

My grandfather operated a cotton gin near Lubbock. I remember when we would go visit our grandparents during cotton harvest. My grandmother would load my sister and I up in their 55 Chevy Belair. She would visit cotton gins in many of the small towns in this area and pick up cotton samples that would be taken back for testing. The samples were in these long sock looking canvas bags with tags on them. By the time we got back home the trunk, back seat, back floor board and sometimes the front seat would be full of these bags. Along the way gin owners would gift us with gin branded ink pens, pencils, buttons, caps, miniature cotton bales, and often dimes and quarters for candy and a coke!!! Fun times!!! Wish I still had all those branded items as they are now collectors pieces.

I lived in Spur, Texas on a small ranch when I was about 15 years old. I enjoyed living there and watched the old timers play dominoes downtown. They would tell stories about their cowboy days….good memories….

Red McCombs was also a brief owner of the Minnesota Vikings in 98 and sold the team to its current owners.. his catch phrase was" purple pride"! 😂

Fun Texas fact . Texas is the state with the most counties, 254.

I'm currently in a smallish town in Mississippi - it was good for small business' when there was bigger industry - like a brickyard, fence manufacturing and lumber yard for homes. They all left but we do still have a nice sized grocery store, hospital and post office and 30 min to the nearest populated town... But, the main street looks a lot like those blighted towns with a few hanger on shops.

Red McCombs owned several large Ford dealerships in San Antonio. He lived in a very affluent superb, Olmos Park. I was a fireman there in late 70s. Insiders say ol Red was not a very nice guy.

One of the best. We love the decay and roughness at the edges of society. Best for you and yours and be well in 2024.

I wish you would have the opportunity to speak with the locals. That would add a whole new level to your channel.

People pass away and the kids have grown up and moved away. People moved away, setup their new life and don’t look back. When the parents passed away, the house is either sold or left alone. It looks like a nice place to retire and take life nice and slow. Quiet and small community. Perfect place to have avoided Covid.

Enjoyed the tour of Texas small towns. Thank you for sharing.

Judge Henry Aldrich Carlos Brummett 1888-1965, he also had a son, Henry Aldrich Carlos Brummett Jr. 1915-1980 - born in Spur, Tx - served in WW2. Both are buried in Lubbock Co. Tx.

It’s so surreal to see these towns frozen in time

A lot of places you visit are pretty scary. I give you a lot of credit for showing us. Good job

The old train depot in Roaring Springs is beautiful! It was part of the Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railroad, and used until 1971; which is also the year Amtrak took over passenger service. The town purchased it the next year, and it's a Texas historical landmark. Can't get enough of historical Mission Revival train depots, simply beautiful!

Have a great weekend everyone!

24:45 You could imagine the veterans from the wars returning to this this town. Fought their way across the Pacific or Europe, Korea or Vietnam. Anxiously waiting to see this train station meaning they survived and successfully made it back to home. We all come from somewhere.