Sunnyside isn't the ghost town on the postcards, which is exactly why it's worth knowing about. Sunnyside is a community in southern Houston, Texas, United States, south of Downtown Houston.
Menard County holds 2 documented ghost towns, including Fort McKavett — Sunnyside keeps them company on the map.
The story of Sunnyside
Texas ghost towns run the full arc: cattle railheads, cotton towns the boll weevil broke, and oil booms that went bust.
Sunnyside is a community in southern Houston, Texas, United States, south of Downtown Houston. Sunnyside is outside the 610 Loop and inside Beltway 8 off State Highway 288 south of Downtown Houston and is predominantly African American. The community's slogan is "Sunnyside Pride." Sunnyside included a landfill, an adjacent garbage incinerator, and several salvage yards; the incinerator has closed. The city of Houston describes Sunnyside's housing as "suburban-style." As of 2007 Sandra Massie-Hines was the honorary Mayor of Sunnyside.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Sunnyside 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.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Sunnyside 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 Sunnyside is roughly 29.6620, -95.3640 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.
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.
Survey Map
Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting
Sunnyside FAQs
01Where is Sunnyside located?
02What county is Sunnyside in?
03What is the history of Sunnyside?
04What remains at Sunnyside today?
05Can you visit Sunnyside?
Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Sunnyside, Houston”), CC BY-SA.
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