Islitas

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

Islitas is a ghost town in southwestern Webb County, Texas, United States. It was established as a railroad stop and coal shipping center on the Rio Grande and Pecos Valley Railroad in 1882. In 1914, Islitas experienced its peak population of 300. After that year, the local mines declined in production. As of 1920, the last census report for the community showed 100 people.

The on-the-ground condition of Islitas 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.

Here's the honest truth: access to Islitas 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 Islitas is roughly 27.6672, -99.6531 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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.