First and Last Ghost Town in Texas

8 months ago
18

Rock Island, now a ghost town, started its life around 1901/1903 as a railroad siding for the Rock Island Railroad. It formally became know as Glenrio in 1908 as more motorists arrived. By 1930s it had a paved, two-lane road, petrol stations, restaurant, and motel. With the road widening in 1950s the Texaco Station was added and the Brownlee Diner/Little Juarez Cafe were established.
The petrol stations were on the Texas side of the town (gas being cheaper in Texas) and the bar and motel were on the New Mexico side.
With the I40 by-passing the town in 1975 the people moved out and the post office closed, leaving Glenrio a ghost town.
The area has also been used in several movies. 1940 - The Grapes of Wrath. The Glenn Rio Motel is depicted in Radiator Springs from Disneys Cars movie. And the opening scene from the 2018 film Daylights End was also filmed here.

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