|
|
LOBO, TEXAS
The Ghost Town
with a Swimming Pool
Culberson County, West
Texas
On U.S. 90
About 12 miles S of Van Horn
About 24 miles W of Valentine
|
"Albert
A. Ivy 1970's at that time Owner of Lobo Texas"
Photo courtesy Howard Ivy, January 05, 2008 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
The empty pool is appropriate for our first photo, since Lobo lived
and died on the availability of water.
The original Van Horn Wells were not far from present day Lobo
and the town (Lobo) was once a rival with Van Horn for the Culberson
county seat. The town actually appears on the 2000 Official Texas
Department of Transportation Map, but the sad truth is: the vacancy
sign is up, out in Lobo. |
|
|
This
may or may not have been the first child born in Lobo
TE Archives |
In
1907 Lobo had it's own post office and enough water to sustain the
people who had been lured there by land promoters a few years later.
The promoters lied, which is nothing new, but the buyers sued and
won, which is noteworthy. The promoters were forced to built the hotel
(later destroyed in a 1929 earthquake) and amenities that they had
promised.
The town's water had been discovered before the Civil War and the
wells were the reason for the town to be on the San Antonio-San Diego
Stagecoach Mail Route. The water even seemed abundant enough to make
the town a water stop for steam locomotives in the 1880s.
The town lost population after the seat went to Van Horn in 1911 and
the 20 remaining inhabitants lay in a sleepy twilight until efficient
pumps came into being just after WWII. (The post office had already
closed in 1942). Enough water was produced to irrigate hundreds of
acres of cotton and still have enough left over for an occasional
shower. The pumping proved expensive, though, and wells were shut
by the late 1960s. |
|
|
The
tumbleweeds kept clogging the filter
Photo courtesy of Jason Penney |
|
|
The
desert reclaims the motel
Photo courtesy Jason Penney |
|
|
Lobo
For Sale
"Originally a truck stop owned by Buddy Griffin, a farmer in
Lobo Valley" - Ron Segura
Photo Courtesy Jason Penney |
When
the population approached 90 people, the water table fell. The population
was estimated at 40 in the mid 1970s when a man named Bill Crist bought
the entire town. He opened the store for awhile, but crime reared
its familiar head and the building was burned. The entire town with
motel, diner, several houses and a gas station were offered for sale
in 1988 for $60,000. As you can see by Mr. Penney's photos, the place
remains as it was. A modern ghost town, with limited water and an
annual rainfall of 13.2 inches.
The Culberson County map shows a cemetery for Van Horn Wells, but
none for Lobo.
Nearby Destinations
12 miles north on Hwy 90 to
Van Horn, another 55 miles north on Hwy 54 to The Guadalupe
Mountains National Park. The park contains Guadalupe
Peak, the highest elevation in Texas (8749 ft.).
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Van
Horn Hotels
More
Hotels
© John Troesser |
Lobo Texas
Forum
My family
and I lived in Lobo from 1978-80. I had a welding and mechanic business
set up in the old service station. I provided services to the local
farms. In '79 Miller Beer made a commercial in Lobo. It was called
Jack's Chili Bus. Ruth Bussy was there because her husband was in
the commercial. She parked her motor-home along side of my shop.
They were very nice people and stayed for about 5 days. We really
enjoyed it. I can't remember the owners name but it was a couple
who sold rocks. In fact they moved to Marfa
and set up a rock shop and left us to take care of the town.
I just recently visited Lobo in October, 2004. There are three Germans
(I think they are Alexander, Claus and Annette) who now own Lobo
and are doing some restoration and repairs to some of the buildings.
... It's right on Highway 90. Interesting place to visit and sets
in a beautiful valley. - Clarence Louviere, November 09, 2004
My uncle, Edward
Eugene Johnson, was a section foreman in Lobo, Texas in the early
1930s. His father, my grandfather, William R. Johnson lived there
with him. They lived in the Railroad Section House. Uncle Eugene
took my grandfather to Valentine
to a doctor and he died there in March, 1936. The Section house
probably dose not exist now but sure would like to find a picture
of it or even of the water tower for the railroad there. - Jane
Johnson Taylor - September 10, 2003
It has come
to my attention some people are trying to resurrect Lobo, Texas.
See web site www.lobo-texas.com - Lon Braselton Allen, Texas,
August 01, 2003
In searching
for information on nearby, Candelaria,
Texas, I came upon the article on "Lobo For Sale", this particular
building was originally a truck stop owned by Buddy Griffin, a farmer
in Lobo Valley, I worked the truck stop during summer vacation and
Christmas vacation 1958 while a student at Texas Western College
(now UTEP) in El Paso, Texas. A great place to save money since
there was no place to spent it! - Ron Segura, April 29, 2002
Subject:
Albert Ivy owned Lobo
My name is Howard Ivy. Albert Ivy was my dad. Even named my hound
dog after the town. We used it for housing for Evergreen Farms for
a time in the 70`s - Howard Ivy, April 28, 2002
Well, except
for seeing it in person to totally round out my final decision,
I am, and let me make this clear, 95% positive that I will purchase
LOBO, Texas !!!! - Mike G., Pennsylvania
I enjoyed your
article immensely. Can you point me to any other information about
Lobo? Is it still for sale, and who owns it today? I'm actually
interested in buying it if it's available. I've always wanted my
own town. ;) - Larry T., Charlotte, NC
To share
history or photos of Lobo, Texas, please contact
us.
More Texas | Online
Magazine | Texas Towns | West
Texas | Ghost Towns |
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Van
Horn Hotels
More
Hotels |
|
|
