Our slice of Earth is home to incredible legends. Stories of buried outlaw treasure, frontiersmen carving a life from the dirt, holy men and massacres all give our history on the high plains its unique flavor.

Here are twenty five ghost towns that helped shape the identity of the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma panhandle, and western Oklahoma.

KLAQ El Paso logo
Get our free mobile app

Texas Panhandle Ghost Towns

Texas is home to some wild frontier towns and stories. From shootouts and horse thieves, to towns that just can't seem to escape the wrath of God, we've got them all.

Tascosa is one of the panhandle's most famous examples of this. At one point it was a hub for all manner of vice and crime. The remnants are now part of Boys Ranch.

Google
Google
loading...

Many towns met their demise with the end of Route 66. Glenrio is a prime example of this.

The Oklahoma Panhandle And A Booze Haven

Beer City in the Oklahoma panhandle was a haven for people stuck in Liberal, Kansas who had to suffer through the tyranny of prohibition. Also, Beer City was considered the Sodom and Gomorrah of the high plains.

There was no shortage of crime, debauchery, and booze to be had just south of the Kansas line. At least that's how the legends have it.

Supposedly, Beer City existed south of Liberal and to the east of Tyrone.

Now, there's nothing that remains of Beer City. It's nothing but privately owned farmland.

Google
Google
loading...

Western Oklahoma And Route 66

Western Oklahoma is home to several ghost towns, many of which met their demise with the end of Route 66.

Google
Google
loading...

For instance, Texola. Texola is home to an iconic piece of Route 66 architecture. The town pretty much dried up with the end of the Mother Road's glory days.

Keep reading to see our list of Texas and Oklahoma ghost towns...

Check Out These Photos Of Ghost Towns On The High Plains

Ghost towns dot the landscape of the Texas panhandle, Western Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma panhandle. The best part? They're all within driving distance. Go take a look for yourself.

The Legendary Stories Behind These Six Weird Texas Town Names

It's no secret that Texas is home to some pretty strange town names. While the names of these places are strange enough on their own, sometimes the story behind the name is even stranger.

The Hidden Life of Chillicothe, the Littlest "Big Town" on US-287

If you've driven between Amarillo and Dallas at any point of your life, you've gone through Chillicothe. This sleepy town seems nearly abandoned at first glance.....but wait! There's a little glimmer of life in there yet....Take a look at what's stirring within the Iris Village.

More From KLAQ El Paso