Monthalia

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

Monthalia is a small unincorporated rural community. It is located along Gonzales County Road 143. The road joins US 90A and FM 466 as a bridge across the Guadalupe River. The road bypasses neighboring Belmont. The ghost town Oak Forest and the "MA Wade Dam" lie to the north. The community had only 65 people as of the 2000 census. It is primarily home to livestock ranchers and has no schools or businesses. Nolan Ryan Beef operates several ranches in the area raising cattle. Monthalia was first settled in 1846.

The on-the-ground condition of Monthalia 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 Monthalia 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 Monthalia is roughly 29.4689, -97.6086 — 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.