Ghost TownUSA

Ghost Town · Texas

Chinati

A ghost town of unknown status in Presidio County, Texas.

By the Ghost Town USA research team Last reviewed September 2026

Chinati ghost town, Texas
Plate I — Chinati, TexasPhoto: Jgc3 (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Some ghost towns feel like museums. Chinati feels like an interruption — a place that stopped mid-sentence. The Chinati Foundation/La Fundación Chinati is a contemporary art museum located in Marfa, Texas, based upon the ideas of its founder, artist Donald Judd.

Presidio County holds 14 documented ghost towns, including Adobes, Candelaria, Casa Piedra — Chinati keeps them company on the map.

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The story of Chinati

Texas ghost towns run the full arc: cattle railheads, cotton towns the boll weevil broke, and oil booms that went bust.

The Chinati Foundation/La Fundación Chinati is a contemporary art museum located in Marfa, Texas, based upon the ideas of its founder, artist Donald Judd.

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What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Chinati is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

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Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Chinati is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Chinati is roughly 29.8241, -104.6058 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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Good to know

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.

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Survey Map

Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting

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Chinati FAQs

01Where is Chinati located?
Chinati is in Presidio County, Texas, mapped near 29.8241, -104.6058.
02What county is Chinati in?
Chinati sits in Presidio County, Texas. See our full guide to ghost towns in Presidio County for its neighbors.
03What is the history of Chinati?
The Chinati Foundation/La Fundación Chinati is a contemporary art museum located in Marfa, Texas, based upon the ideas of its founder, artist Donald Judd.
04What remains at Chinati today?
The on-the-ground condition of Chinati is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
05Can you visit Chinati?
Here's the honest truth: access to Chinati is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Chinati is roughly 29.8241, -104.6058 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Chinati Foundation”), CC BY-SA.

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More in Presidio County

All 14 ghost towns in Presidio County →